Dawid Kramski from Wrocław University of Science and Technology is pioneering a novel method to eliminate arsenic from the Baltic Sea seabed using 3D printing polymers. He received a €30,000 grant from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to explore this promising approach. The project aims to address the hazardous remnants of WWII chemical weapons, which amount to approximately 40,000 tons submerged in the Baltic.
Chemical Weapons’ Toxic Legacy
The chemical weapon stockpiles from WWII have been decomposing, releasing arsenic into the water and sediment. This poses a significant threat to the marine ecosystem and human health. Kramski, currently writing his Ph.D. thesis on heavy metal removal using modified 3D-printed polymer structures, identified this method’s potential for arsenic removal during his research.
Kramski’s innovative solution involves using specially modified 3D-printed polymers that can either temporarily or permanently absorb arsenic from seawater. This technique offers a compelling alternative to the traditional methods, which involve extracting and destroying the sunken chemical weapons.
A Sustainable Future for the Baltic
According to the MARE Foundation, the Baltic Sea harbors around 40,000 tons of chemical weapons from WWII. Kramski’s research could pave the way for more sustainable and effective remediation methods, significantly reducing the ecological and health risks associated with these underwater arsenic deposits.