Table 1 Original statements (in italics) in the seven chapters of the RBC Elbe background document “pollutants” [10] and further information in the present work (citations in square brackets refer to this work; last column: reference to WFD-near EU-directives, treated in this work, and key sections of this work)

1. Introduction, page 5

 The document actualizes the contents of the background paper for the Deduction of Supra-Regional Management Objectives in the German Part of the Elbe River Basin for the Contaminant Focus” (RBC Elbe 2009a [6])

Introduction: Dioxin from Bitterfeld (Box 1)

2. Supra-regional objectives, p 6–7

 “To attain the objectives according to the EG-WFD (2000/60/EG) [4] and EG Marine Strategy Directive 2008/56/EG [5, 13] direct source-related or at least near-source measures are needed in many water bodies of the Elbe catchment”

2008/56/EG MSFD Land-sea interface; Conclusions/outlook

3. Evaluation—chemical status p 8–15

 As a result of an actualization of the assessment from 2013 it has been found that a good chemical status of the Elbe River cannot be met area-wide due to an excess of EQS of mercury (Hg) in biota” (ca. 60 % from re-emissions—soils, sediment, etc).

2013/39/EU new PHS EQS for dioxins/DLSs (RWTH Aachen et al.)

4. Catchment areas, sources, p 16–20

 “In the Mulde catchment, the organic pollutants HCH and PCDD/Fs are on the top of the agenda. The middle Elbe is a relevant interim reservoir; its stagnant areas (cut-off meanders, harbors, groin fields) can easily be transferred during floodwater events”

Prioritization (Box 3) Elbe R. basin sediment remediation (Table 4)

5. Hitherto activities, p 21–22

 “The Sediment Management Concept of the RBC Elbe [7] should contribute to attain a good chemical and ecological status; as such it is a basis for the second RBMP Elbe according to WFD and for the achievement of the environmental objectives of MSRL”

Dioxin stabilization with activated carbon; passive sampling (Box 4)

6. State of implementation, success, p 23–25

 “Investigation on organic pollutants in suspended matter, sediments and floodplains of the Spittelwasser and the Lower Mulde River shows, that the massive fine sediment depots in the Spittelwasser do no more exist today”

Radiometric mapping (Box 2 LAF vs Tauw)

7. Challenges, p 26–27

 The biggest challenges exist with the very rare flood events from August 2002 (HHQ^a: upper Elbe R.), March/April 2006, January 2011 and June 2013 (HHQ: lower Elbe R.). “Without a targeted stabilization or removal of highly contaminated historical deposits the flood-induced pollutant releases would remain a significant handicap in attaining the objectives of a good chemical (and biological) quality according to WFD”

2007/60/EC Flood risks, Climate change (Box 5); FloodSearch, DioRAMA (RWTH Aachen et al.)