Levels of selected contaminants have been determined in sediment, blue mussel, seeweed and fish from harbour areas in Harstad, Tromsø, Hammerfest and Honningsvåg in northern Norway. The following contaminants were included in the study: PAH, PCB, 5CB, HCB, OCS, HCH, DDT, DDE, DDD, TBT, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn and Li. A few samples were also analysed for dioxines (PCDD and PCDF), non-ortho PCBs and PCN. The results were compared with the Norwegian State Pollution Control Authorities classification system for marine sediments (Molvær et al. 1997). Elevated (and in most cases very high) levels of most of the measured contaminants were found in all the investigated harbour areas.
Species sampled: blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), seeweed (Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesicolosus)
Sediment and biota were sampled in accordance with relevant JAMP guidelines (OSPAR 1997 and OSPAR in prep.) Laboratories: Norwegian Institute for Water Research Unilab Analyse AS Norwegian Institute for Air Research
All laboratories are accredited for most of the analyses they were responsible for, according to EN 45001. The analyses that are not accredited were performed according to procedures comparable to those enforced in accredited analyses.
Norwegian Institute for Water Research Norwegian National Institute of Public Health Norwegian Food Control Authority