Concentrations and levels of POPs from long-range transboundary air pollution in freshwater fish and sediments (ICP Waters report 79/2005)

Abstract

This report gives an overview of recently observed levels of selected POPs in freshwater fish and sediments from North America, Europe and circumpolar Arctic, related to long-range transport based on data from some central surveys. It is shown that there is a general lack of coordinated monitoring or regional surveys that focus on POPs in the freshwater environments for which LRTAP is a major source. Methodological differences in sampling, analytical methods and reporting makes comparison among results from the different projects very difficult. There are very few sites with trend data, but they generally show decreasing levels of legacy POPs. Levels of some new substances, such as brominated flame retardants (PBDE) and PFAS, are probably rising. There is an urgent need to establish systematic long-term monitoring of new POPs in background areas, and coordinated international surveys with harmonized methodology and reporting. This report also shows that multimedia models are tools that can be used for an initial screening of organic substances. Their results are robust and give reliable information on persistence, the potential for long range transport and partitioning between compartments.