AMAP 2009 and 2010 core HM and POP programme Faroe Islands

Updated 2009-08-06

The project is a continuation of the monitoring activities of the AMAP POPs and Heavy metals programme in marine, terrestrial and freshwater environments of the Faroe Islands. The aims of the programme is to establish data for timetrend and spatial assessments as well as providing data of importance in human health risk assessment on mercury and POPs. The programme incorporates analyses on pilot whale, cod, black guillemots from the marine environment, sheep and hare from the terrestrial environment and arctic char from the freshwater environment. The compounds analysed are "legacy" POPs and mercury, cadmium and selenium. In addition, a retrospective analyses of PFOS in pilot whale tissues going back as far as possible (ie.1986) is part of the project.

This is a National Implementation Plan (NIP) project

Time frame

Status
Ongoing
Project time span
2009 - 2010
Data collection
1986 - 2010
Data processing
2009 - 2010
Data reporting
2009 - 2010

Contact information

Contact person
Maria Dam
Address
Umhvørvisstovan (Environment agency) Pob. 2048, FO-165 Argir, Faroe Islands
Phone
+298 342400 (central)/ 342470 (dir)/232470 (mob)
Fax
+298 342401
Email
of.su@dairam
Other project contacts
Katrin Hoydal Environment Agency (same as above) Tel.: + 298 342471 /232471 (mob)

Parameters and Media

Parameter groups measured/observed/modelled
Heavy metals
Other metals/elements
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
Media sampled/studied/modelled
Freshwater fish
Marine fish
Marine mammals
Seabirds
Terrestrial mammals

Geography

Regions studied
Terrestrial TDC

Data availability

Are data archived or planned to be archived at an AMAP Thematic Data Centre?
yes-all
Data centres
Freshwater TDC
Marine TDC
Terrestrial TDC
References to key publications (or planned publications) and data reports
In addition to the AMAP datacenters the data will be made available on our webpage and on a webpage being established to accomodate Faroese environmental data ENVOFAR.
Samples/specimens archived in specimen banks?
Yes
Specimen banking information

Samples are stores in our ESB at -20C to -25 C for possible future use. In some instances though no surplus material is left for the bank as could for instance be the case with birds eggs. There is no preset period of storage, but samples may be spent and thus no longer available.

Methods & Procedures

Procedures and methodology used for, e.g., sampling and sample storage, sample pretreatment, extraction and analysis, including which laboratories are involved, references to methods employed, etc.

The guidelines adopted for the AMAP and OSPAR programme are followed when feasible. Sampling, storage, pretreatment and analyses are otherwise as described in Hoydal, K. and Dam, M. 2005. AMAP Faroe Islands Heavy metals and POPs Core programme 2004. Food, Veterinary and Environmental Agency, Report no. 2005:2. Torshavn, Faroe Islands, pp.76. Available at www.hfs.fo/Ritgerðir. The laboratories involved are described in the same report, but in addition a laboratory for PFOS analyses will be contracted.

QA/QC Information (what QA/QC procedures are implemented, laboratories involvment in QA/QC activities, model verification/validation routines, etc.)

The QA/QC procedures employed varies for the various laboratories. Some are accredited, some participate in QUASIMEME and some participate in similar intercalibration programmes.

Additional Information

Is this a bi- AND multi-lateral project (i.e. a project involving cooperation between different countries)?
No
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