AMAP 2017 and 2018 core HM and POP programme Faroe Islands

Updated 2018-08-17

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 and Northern fulmars from the marine environment, sheep from the terrestrial environment and arctic char from the freshwater environment. The compounds analysed are "legacy" POPs and mercury, cadmium and selenium. In addition, PFAS and HBDCs are analysed in pilot whale as a continuation of timetrend analyses, initialized in previous projects, and PFAS are analysed in Northern fulmar tissues from the last ten years.

This is a National Implementation Plan (NIP) project

http://us.fo/Default.aspx?ID=13798

Status: Ongoing
Project time span: 2017 - 2018
Data collection: 2008 - 2018
Data processing: 2017 - 2018
Data reporting: 2017 - 2018

Contact information

Contact person

Maria Dam

Address

Umhvørvisstovan (Environment agency) Pob. 2048, FO-165 Argir, Faroe Islands

Phone

+298 342400 (central)/234370 (mob)

Email

of.su@dairam

Other project contacts

Katrin Hoydal, Environment Agency (same as above) Tel.: + 298 234371 (mob)

Birgitta Andreasen, Environment Agency (same as above) Tel.: + 298 234373 (mob)

Parameters and Media

Parameter groups measured/observed/modelled

Heavy metals

Other metals/elements

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

Media sampled/studied/modelled

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 (www.us.fo), and on the ENVOFAR webpage established to accomodate Faroese environmental data (www.envofar.fo).

Samples/specimens archived in specimen banks?: Yes

Specimen banking information: Samples are stored 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 previous AMAP reports, the most recent: Nielsen et al. 2014. AMAP Faroe Islands Heavy metals and POPs Core programme 2009-2012. Environment Agency, US journal no. 12/00109-35. Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, pp.64. Available at www.us.fo. The laboratories involved are described in the same report.
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