Joint Assessment and Monitoring Programme (JAMP). National Comments regarding the Norwegian Data for 2002

Abstract

This report is part of the Norwegian contribution to the SIME 2004 meeting administrated by OSPAR. JAMP 2002 included the monitoring of contaminants in blue mussels (50 stations) and cod or flatfish (18 stations) along the coast of Norway from Oslo to Bergen, Lofoten and Varangerfjord. The results indicated elevated levels of contaminants, i.e., poorer than Class I in SFT's classification system, or over provisional "high background", in the inner Oslofjord (PCBs, mercury and lead in cod PCBs in mussels), Langesundsfjord (HCB and lindane in mussels) and Sørfjord and Hardangerfjord (cadmium, lead, mercury and DDT (ppDDE) in mussels, and PCBs and mercury in cod). Significant upward trends were found for mercury in cod from the inner Oslofjord and a downward trend was found for HCB in mussels from Langesundsfjord (since 1990) and cadmium in mussels from Sørfjord/Hardangerfjord. The results from the remaining stations showed low or moderate levels of contamination. The "Pollution" and "Reference" indices for respective groups of fjords was classified as severely (Cl.IV and a class higher than 2001) and moderately (Cl.II and the same as 2001) polluted, respectively. Contamination of organotin in mussels and imposex in dogwhelks were still apparent, especially in the Haugesund area. The results from studies using biological effects methods in cod (4 stations) and imposex/intersex in dogwhelks (9 stations) and investigations of DDT at supplementary mussel stations in the Sørfjord are discussed.