Anders Ruus

• Mariussen, Espen; Alexander, Jan; Bukhvalova, Barbara Alexandra; Dahl, Lisbeth Jane; Kvalem, Helen Engelstad & Olsen, Ann-Karin Hardie [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2024). Risk assessment of grilled and barbecued food. VKM Report. ISSN 2535-4019. 2024(2), p. 1–116. Full text in Research Archive
• Schultze, Sabrina; Andersen, Tom; Knudtzon, Nina; Ruus, Anders; Rundberget, Jan T. & Brooks, Steven J. [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2023). Do DOM quality and origin affect the uptake and accumulation of lipid-soluble contaminants in coastal filter feeders? An experimental simulation of teflubenzuron exposure to blue mussels. Aquatic Toxicology. ISSN 0166-445X. 263. doi: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106696. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The increased export of terrestrial dissolved organic matter (terrDOM) to coastal marine ecosystems may affect local filter feeders and the local food web via the altered uptake of organic material and associated contaminants. To compare terrDOM to marine DOM (marDOM) as contaminant vectors to coastal biota, we exposed blue mussels (Mytilus sp.) to the different DOM types in combination with teflubenzuron, a widely applied lipophilic aquaculture medicine targeting salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis). A 16-day exposure of the blue mussels to DOM and teflubenzuron was followed by a depuration phase of 20 days without teflubenzuron. We calculated teflubenzuron adsorption rates and bioaccumulation factors (BAF) using a Bayesian model, expecting teflubenzuron uptake to be greater with terrDOM than marDOM due to the higher prevalence of large amphipathic humic acids in terrDOM. Humic acids have strong absorption properties and are able to envelope lipophilic molecules. Thus, humic acids can function as an efficient contaminant vector when taken up by filter feeders. Although there were varying degrees of overlap, the mussels tended to accumulate higher amounts of teflubenzuron in the DOM treatments than in the seawater control (bioaccumulation factor [BAF] in seawater: median 106 L/kg; 2.5 %–97.5 % percentile: 69–160 L/kg). Contrary to expectations, mussels exposed to marDOM showed a trend toward more bioaccumulation of teflubenzuron than those exposed to terrDOM (BAF marine 144 L/kg; 102–221 L/kg versus BAF terrestrial: 121 L/kg; 82–186 L/kg). The highest teflubenzuron accumulation was observed with the 50:50 mixture of marDOM and terrDOM (BAF mix: 165 L/kg; 117–244 L/kg). The slight difference in DOM-type accumulation rates observed in this experiment—especially the accumulation rate of terrDOM compared to that of the seawater-only treatment type—was not considered environmentally relevant. Further studies are necessary to see if the observed trends transfer to complex environmental systems.

• Remili, Anaïs; Dietz, Rune; Sonne, Christian; Samarra, Filipa I. P.; Rikardsen, Audun H. & Kettemer, Lisa Elena [Show all 16 contributors for this article] (2023). Quantitative fatty acid signature analysis reveals a high level of dietary specialization in killer whales across the North Atlantic. Journal of Animal Ecology. ISSN 0021-8790. 92(6), p. 1216–1229. doi: 10.1111/1365-2656.13920. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Quantifying the diet composition of apex marine predators such as killer whales (Orcinus orca) is critical to assessing their food web impacts. Yet, with few exceptions, the feeding ecology of these apex predators remains poorly understood. Here, we use our newly validated quantitative fatty acid signature analysis (QFASA) approach on nearly 200 killer whales and over 900 potential prey to model their diets across the 5000 km span of the North Atlantic. Diet estimates show that killer whales mainly consume other whales in the western North Atlantic (Canadian Arctic, Eastern Canada), seals in the mid-North Atlantic (Greenland), and fish in the eastern North Atlantic (Iceland, Faroe Islands, Norway). Nonetheless, diet estimates also varied widely among individuals within most regions. This level of inter-individual feeding variation should be considered for future ecological studies focusing on killer whales in the North Atlantic and other oceans. These estimates reveal remarkable population- and individual-level variation in the trophic ecology of these killer whales, which can help to assess how their predation impacts community and ecosystem dynamics in changing North Atlantic marine ecosystems. This new approach provides researchers with an invaluable tool to study the feeding ecology of oceanic top predators.

• Lyche, Jan Ludvig; Boahene, Nana Yaa; Eklo, Ole Martin; Holth, Tor Fredrik; Dirven, Hubert & Engeset, Dagrun [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2022). Risikovurdering av kombinasjonseffekter av plantevernmiddelrester i stikkprøver fra importerte rosiner, druer, pærer og norske jordbær. Vitenskapelig uttalelse fra faggruppen for plantevernmidler i Vitenskapskomiteen for mat og miljø . VKM Report. ISSN 2535-4019. Full text in Research Archive
• Keilen, Ellen Kristine; Borgå, Katrine; Thorstensen, Helene Skjeie; Hylland, Ketil; Helberg, Morten & Warner, Nicholas Alexander [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2022). Differences in Trophic Level, Contaminant Load, and DNA Damage in an Urban and a Remote Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) Breeding Colony in Coastal Norway. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. ISSN 0730-7268. 41(10), p. 2466–2478. doi: 10.1002/etc.5441. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Herring gulls (Larus argentatus) are opportunistic feeders, resulting in contaminant exposure depending on area and habitat. We compared contaminant concentrations and dietary markers between two herring gull breeding colonies with different distances to extensive human activity and presumed contaminant exposure from the local marine diet. Furthermore, we investigated the integrity of DNA in white blood cells and sensitivity to oxidative stress. We analyzed blood from 15 herring gulls from each colony—the urban Oslofjord near the Norwegian capital Oslo in the temperate region and the remote Hornøya island in northern Norway, on the Barents Sea coast. Based on d13C and d34S, the dietary sources of urban gulls differed, with some individuals having a marine and others a more terrestrial dietary signal. All remote gulls had a marine dietary signal and higher relative trophic level than the urban marine feeding gulls. Concentrations (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) of most persistent organic pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyl ethers (PCBs) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), were higher in urban marine (PCB153 17 ± 17 ng/g wet weight, PFOS 25 ± 21 ng/g wet wt) than urban terrestrial feeders (PCB153 3.7 ± 2.4 ng/g wet wt, PFOS 6.7 ± 10 ng/g wet wt). Despite feeding at a higher trophic level (d15N), the remote gulls (PCB153 17 ± 1221 ng/g wet wt, PFOS 19 ± 1421 ng/g wet wt) were similar to the urban marine feeders. Cyclic volatile methyl siloxanes were detected in only a few gulls, except for decamethylcyclopentasiloxane in the urban colony, which was found in 12 of 13 gulls. Only hexachlorobenzene was present in higher concentrations in the remote (2.6 ± 0.42 ng/g wet wt) compared with the urban colony (0.34 ± 0.33 ng/g wet wt). Baseline and induced DNA damage (doublestreak breaks) was higher in urban than in remote gulls for both terrestrial and marine feeders.

• Allan, Ian; Vrana, Branislav & Ruus, Anders (2022). Passive Sampling Helps the Appraisal of Contaminant Bioaccumulation in Norwegian Fish Used for Regulatory Chemical Monitoring. Environmental Science and Technology. ISSN 0013-936X. 56(12), p. 7945–7953. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.2c00714. Full text in Research Archive
• Mcgovern, Maeve; Warner, Nicholas Alexander; Borgå, Katrine; Evenset, Anita; Carlsson, Pernilla & Skogsberg, Emelie [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2022). Is Glacial Meltwater a Secondary Source of Legacy Contaminants to Arctic Coastal Food Webs? Environmental Science and Technology. ISSN 0013-936X. 56(10), p. 6337–6348. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.1c07062. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Climate change-driven increases in air and sea temperatures are rapidly thawing the Arctic cryosphere with potential for remobilization and accumulation of legacy persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in adjacent coastal food webs. Here, we present concentrations of selected POPs in zooplankton (spatially and seasonally), as well as zoobenthos and sculpin (spatially) from Isfjorden, Svalbard. Herbivorous zooplankton contaminant concentrations were highest in May [e.g., ∑polychlorinated biphenyls (8PCB); 4.43, 95% CI: 2.72–6.3 ng/g lipid weight], coinciding with the final stages of the spring phytoplankton bloom, and lowest in August (∑8PCB; 1.6, 95% CI: 1.29–1.92 ng/g lipid weight) when zooplankton lipid content was highest, and the fjord was heavily impacted by sediment-laden terrestrial inputs. Slightly increasing concentrations of α-hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH) in zooplankton from June (1.18, 95% CI: 1.06–1.29 ng/g lipid weight) to August (1.57, 95% CI: 1.44–1.71 ng/g lipid weight), alongside a higher percentage of α-HCH enantiomeric fractions closer to racemic ranges, indicate that glacial meltwater is a secondary source of α-HCH to fjord zooplankton in late summer. Except for α-HCH, terrestrial inputs were generally associated with reduced POP concentrations in zooplankton, suggesting that increased glacial melt is not likely to significantly increase exposure of legacy POPs in coastal fauna.

• Schultze, Sabrina; Andersen, Tom; Hessen, Dag Olav; Ruus, Anders; Borgå, Katrine & Poste, Amanda (2022). Land-cover, climate and fjord morphology drive differences in organic matter and nutrient dynamics in two contrasting northern river-fjord systems. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. ISSN 0272-7714. 270. doi: 10.1016/j.ecss.2022.107831. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Climate and land-use changes are leading to impacts on individual ecosystems as well as shifts in transfer dynamics between interconnected systems. At the land-ocean interface, changes in riverine inputs of organic matter (OM) and nutrients have the potential to lead to shifts in coastal carbon and nutrient cycling with consequences for ecosystem structure and function. In this study, we assess OM and nutrient dynamics for two contrasting Norwegian river-to-fjord systems: a boreal system with a forested catchment draining into a narrow fjord (‘narrow boreal system’), and a subarctic system where lowland forests and mountainous regions drain into a broad fjord (‘broad subarctic system’). We characterized seasonal organic carbon and nutrient concentrations and DOM absorption properties for samples collected along transects from river to outer fjord during 2015/2016. While differences in catchment properties drove contrasts in river chemistry between the two study rivers, fjord morphology and hydrodynamics as well as dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nutrient concentrations in marine receiving waters predicted water-chemistry patterns along the transect. The narrow boreal system, with high riverine DOC and nutrient concentrations, was structured mainly by a horizontal salinity gradient from river to outer fjord, with limited impact of seasonality. In contrast, the broad subarctic system tended to be dominated by vertical salinity stratification, with strong between-date differences in surface water salinity linked to seasonality in river discharge. These dynamics were also reflected in the strong horizontal gradients in DOC, nutrients and DOM properties in the narrow boreal system, in contrast to the broad subarctic system, where strong seasonality paired with a lack of strong contrast between riverine and marine concentrations of DOC and most nutrients led to an uncoupling between salinity and other water chemistry variables. In the narrow boreal system, terrestrial OM dominated both the particulate and dissolved OM pools, while OM in the broad subarctic system was derived primarily from marine phytoplankton. Non-linear declines in NO3 + NO2 were observed consistently in the boreal system and during the productive spring season in the subarctic system, suggesting biological uptake and a potentially important role of these rivers as sources of bioavailable N to coastal ecosystems. The results from these two case studies highlight the complex and interacting effects of catchment land-cover, river water chemistry and discharge, fjord morphometry and hydrodynamics in structuring the transport, fate and potential impacts of terrestrially-derived nutrients and organic matter in northern coastal environments.

• Mcgovern, Maeve; Borgå, Katrine; Heimstad, Eldbjørg Sofie; Ruus, Anders; Christensen, Guttorm & Evenset, Anita (2022). Small Arctic rivers transport legacy contaminants from thawing catchments to coastal areas in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard. Environmental Pollution (1987). ISSN 0269-7491. 304. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119191. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Decades of atmospheric and oceanic long-range transport from lower latitudes have resulted in deposition and storage of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Arctic regions. With increased temperatures, melting glaciers and thawing permafrost may serve as a secondary source of these stored POPs to freshwater and marine ecosystems. Here, we present concentrations and composition of legacy POPs in glacier- and permafrost-influenced rivers and coastal waters in the high Arctic Svalbard fjord Kongsfjorden. Targeted contaminants include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and chlordane pesticides. Dissolved (defined as fraction filtered through 0.7 μm GF/F filter) and particulate samples were collected from rivers and near-shore fjord stations along a gradient from the heavily glaciated inner fjord to the tundra-dominated catchments at the outer fjord. There were no differences in contaminant concentration or pattern between glacier and tundra-dominated catchments, and the general contaminant pattern reflected snow melt with some evidence of pesticides released with glacial meltwater. Rivers were a small source of chlordane pesticides, DDTs and particulate HCB to the marine system and the particle-rich glacial meltwater contained higher concentrations of particle associated contaminants compared to the fjord. This study provides rare insight into the role of small Arctic rivers in transporting legacy contaminants from thawing catchments to coastal areas. Results indicate that the spring thaw is a source of contaminants to Kongsfjorden, and that expected increases in runoff on Svalbard and elsewhere in the Arctic could have implications for the contamination of Arctic coastal food-webs.

• Haarr, Ane; Mwakalapa, Eliezer B.; Lyche, Jan Ludvig; Mmochi, Aviti J.; Polder, Anuschka & Ruus, Anders [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Spatial Variation in Contaminant Occurrence in Marine Fishes and Prawns from Coastal Tanzania. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. ISSN 0730-7268. 41(2), p. 321–333. doi: 10.1002/etc.5254. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  There are limited data on organic contaminants in marine biota from coastal Tanzania, especially on the occurrence of industrial-use contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The present study, performed in 2018–2019 in coastal Tanzania and Zanzibar Island, aimed at assessing spatial variation in the occurrence of PCBs; brominated flame retardants (BFRs), including PBDEs; and organochlorine pesticides, including dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), among three locations that differ in degree of anthropogenic activity. Analyzed samples included edible tissues of marine fishes and prawns representing different trophic levels and habitats. The results indicate a mainland–island difference, with fishes and prawns collected on Zanzibar having significantly lower PCB and DDT concentrations but higher concentrations of hexachlorobenzene compared to the two mainland locations. The highest contaminant concentrations were found in fishes and prawns collected around central Dar es Salaam harbor, with median ΣPCBs ranging from 22.3 to 577 ng/g lipid weight and ΣDDTs from 22.7 to 501 ng/g lipid weight, suggesting local sources. Concentrations of PBDEs were similar among locations, suggesting more diffuse sources. None of the “newer-type” BFRs, including compounds introduced as replacements for PBDEs, were detected in the present study. Stable isotope values of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) varied among locations, and the relationship between contaminants and δ15N varied among locations and habitat (pelagic/demersal). Concentrations measured in the present study are below European guidelines for human consumption of fishes and prawns. However, industrial-use contaminants should be monitored in developing countries because they are contaminants of emerging concern as a result of increasing industrialization and global trade of used products and wastes.

• Allan, Ian John; Vrana, Branislav; de Weert, Jasperien; Kringstad, Alfhild; Ruus, Anders & Christensen, Guttorm [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2021). Passive sampling and benchmarking to rank HOC levels in the aquatic environment. Scientific Reports. ISSN 2045-2322. 11. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-90457-3. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The identification and prioritisation of water bodies presenting elevated levels of anthropogenic chemicals is a key aspect of environmental monitoring programmes. Albeit this is challenging owing to geographical scales, choice of indicator aquatic species used for chemical monitoring, and inherent need for an understanding of contaminant fate and distribution in the environment. Here, we propose an innovative methodology for identifying and ranking water bodies according to their levels of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) in water. This is based on a unique passive sampling dataset acquired over a 10-year period with silicone rubber exposures in surface water bodies across Europe. We show with these data that, far from point sources of contamination, levels of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) in water approach equilibrium with atmospheric concentrations near the air/water surface. This results in a relatively constant ratio of their concentrations in the water phase. This, in turn, allows us to (i) identify sites of contamination with either of the two chemicals when the HCB/PeCB ratio deviates from theory and (ii) define benchmark levels of other HOCs in surface water against those of HCB and/or PeCB. For two polychlorinated biphenyls (congener 28 and 52) used as model chemicals, differences in contamination levels between the more contaminated and pristine sites are wider than differences in HCB and PeCB concentrations endorsing the benchmarking procedure.

• Eklo, Ole Martin; Boahene, Nana Yaa; Holth, Tor Fredrik; Klein, Michael; Dirven, Hubert & Engeset, Dagrun [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2021). Establishing the representativeness of available surface water scenarios for plant protection products in environmental risk assessment in Norway. Opinion of the Panel on Plant protection Products of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment . VKM Report. ISSN 2535-4019. Full text in Research Archive
• Knudtzon, Nina C; Thorstensen, Helene; Ruus, Anders; Helberg, Morten; Bæk, Kine & Enge, Ellen Katrin [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Maternal transfer and occurrence of siloxanes, chlorinated paraffins, metals, PFAS and legacy POPs in herring gulls (Larus argentatus) of different urban influence. Environment International. ISSN 0160-4120. 152. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106478. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Urban herring gulls (Larus argentatus) are exposed to contaminants from aquatic, terrestrial and anthropogenic sources. We aim to assess if differences in urbanisation affect ecological niche and contaminant concentrations in female herring gulls. Furthermore, we investigated maternal transfer from mothers to eggs for all the target compounds, including chlorinated paraffins (CPs) and cyclic volatile methyl siloxane (cVMSs), which to our knowledge have not been assessed in herring gulls previously. We compare concentrations of legacy and emerging contaminants and metals in blood and eggs between two herring gull colonies located 51 km apart, in the urban influenced Norwegian Oslofjord. While both colonies are within an urbanised area, the inner fjord is more so, as it is surrounded by Oslo, the capital and largest city in Norway Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen indicated a more marine ecological niche in the outer than the inner fjord colony, although with overlap. Persistent organic pollutant (POP) concentrations were similar in the inner and outer fjord colonies, while the short-chained chlorinated paraffins (SCCP), which are recently added to the Stockholm convention and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) varied, with higher concentrations of SCCP and the cVMS decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) in females and eggs of the inner fjord colony. Per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) concentrations were higher in the outer fjord colony, likely linked to releases from a point-source (airport and waste management facility with open access to food waste). In blood, chlorinated paraffins contributed most the total lipophilic contaminants (inner: 78%, outer: 56%), while polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were the most abundant lipophilic contaminants in eggs (inner: 62%, outer: 46%). Dechloranes and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) were detected in few samples. Maternal transfer, assessed by egg to blood ratios, of cVMSs were similar to the POPs with mean log ratio 0.39 (D5), while it was lower for SCCPs, with log ratios-0.77. Our results indicate comparable POP exposure of the herring gulls in the inner and outer Oslofjord, likely due to overlap in ecological niches between the colonies and wide distribution of POPs. The differences between the colonies in concentrations of PFAS, cVMS and CPs shows that point source exposures and urban influence may be more important than ecological niche for these compounds.

• Haarr, Ane; Mwakalapa, Eliezer B; Mmochi, Aviti J; Lyche, Jan L; Ruus, Anders & Othman, Halima [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2021). Seasonal rainfall affects occurrence of organohalogen contaminants in tropical marine fishes and prawns from Zanzibar, Tanzania. Science of the Total Environment. ISSN 0048-9697. 774. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145652. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Seasonal differences in precipitation may affect contaminant dynamics in tropical coastal regions due to terrestrial runoff of contaminants to the marine environment after the rainy seasons. To assess the effect of seasonal rainfall on occurrence of organohalogen contaminants in a coastal ecosystem, marine fishes and prawns were collected off the coast of Zanzibar, Tanzania in January and August 2018, representing pre- and post-rainy season, respectively. Samples were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and emerging BFRs, as well as the dietary descriptors stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N). Across all species and seasons, mean contaminant concentrations ranged from below limit of detection (LOD) to 129 ng/g lipid weight (lw) ΣPCBs; 5.6–336 ng/g lw ΣOCPs; and < LOD –22.1 ng/g lw ΣPBDEs. Most of the emerging BFRs were below LOD. Contaminant concentrations generally increased with higher pelagic carbon signal (δ13C) and higher relative trophic position (δ15N). The ratio of DDE/ΣDDTs in fishes and prawns was lower in August than in January, suggesting runoff of non-degraded DDT into the marine system during or after the seasonal rainfall. Contaminant patterns of OCPs and PCBs, and concentrations of BFRs, differed between seasons in all species. A higher relative concentration-increase in lower halogenated, more mobile PCB and PBDE congeners, compared to higher halogenated congeners with lower mobility, between January and August aligns with a signal and effect of terrestrial runoff following the rainy season.

• Grung, Merete; Meland, Sondre; Ruus, Anders; Ranneklev, Sissel ; Fjeld, Eirik & Kringstad, Alfhild [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2021). Occurrence and trophic transport of organic compounds in sedimentation ponds for road runoff. Science of the Total Environment. ISSN 0048-9697. 751. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141808. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Sedimentation ponds have been shown to accumulate several groups of contaminants, most importantly polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) and metals. But also, other urban organic pollutants have shown to be present, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organophosphate compounds (OPCs) and benzothiazoles (BTs). This investigation aimed at determining the occurrence of these four groups of contaminants in sedimentation ponds and determine their transport from water/sediment to organisms. PACs, including alkylated PACs, PBDEs; OPCs and BTs were determined in water, sediment, plants, dragonfly larvae and fish from two sedimentation ponds and one reference site. Fish were analysed for PAC metabolites. Overall, higher concentrations of all four pollutant groups were detected in water and sediment from sedimentation ponds compared to two natural lakes in rural environments (reference sites). The concentration difference was highest in sediments, and >20 higher concentration was measured in sedimentation ponds (3.6–4.4 ng/g ww) compared to reference (0.2 ng/g ww) for sum BDE6. For PACs and PBDEs a clear transport from water/sediment to organisms were observed. Fish were the highest trophic level organism (3.5–5) in our study, and all four pollutant groups were detected in fish. For PBDEs a trophic biomagnification (TMF) was found both in sedimentation ponds and reference, but higher concentrations in all matrices were measured in sedimentation ponds. TMF was not calculated for PACs since they are metabolised by vertebrates, but a transfer from water/sediment to organisms was seen. For BTs and OPCs, no consistent transfer to plants and dragonfly larvae could be seen. One OPC and two BTs were detected in fish, but only in fish from sedimentation ponds. It is therefore concluded that sedimentation ponds are hotspots for urban and traffic related contaminants, of which especially PACs and PBDEs are transferred to organisms living there.

• Ruus, Anders; Allan, Ian J; Bæk, Kine & Borgå, Katrine (2021). Partitioning of persistent hydrophobic contaminants to different storage lipid classes. Chemosphere. ISSN 0045-6535. 263. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127890. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Lipids generally represent the major matrix contributing to the absorptive capacity for hydrophobic organic contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. The aim of the present study was to determine whether contaminants partition to a different degree to the different storage lipid classes: wax ester (WE) and triacylglycerol (TAG). This was undertaken by studying experimentally the partitioning of organochlorine compounds between lipids (WE or TAG) and silicone rubber phase. Our results indicate that hydrophobic compounds have a slightly higher affinity for WE than for TAG. The findings thus corroborate earlier suggestions that contaminants accumulate to a greater extent in food webs with a higher reliance of on WE, such as in the Arctic. This knowledge is of interest since it implies that possible changes in planktonic community species composition, and thereby possible changes in the lipid composition, may have consequences for accumulation of hydrophobic contaminants in apex predators. However, the magnitude of these consequences remains unknown, and there may well be other factors of importance for previously observed higher accumulation of contaminants in Arctic systems. Thus, we have here identified aspects regarding partitioning of contaminants to lipids that need further scrutiny, and there is a need for further quantitative estimates of the suggested difference in absorptive capacities for hydrophobic contaminants between WE and TAG.

• Thorstensen, Helene; Ruus, Anders; Helberg, Morten; Bæk, Kine; Enge, Ellen Katrin & Borgå, Katrine (2020). Common Eider and Herring Gull as Contaminant Indicators of Different Ecological Niches of an Urban Fjord System. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management. ISSN 1551-3777. 17, p. 422–433. doi: 10.1002/ieam.4340. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Seabirds like gulls are common indicators in contaminant monitoring. The herring gull (Larus argentatus) is a generalist with a broad range of dietary sources, possibly introducing a weakness in its representativeness of aquatic contamination. To investigate the herring gull as an indicator of contamination in an urban‐influenced fjord, the Norwegian Oslofjord, we compared concentrations of a range of lipophilic and protein‐associated organohalogen contaminants (OHCs), Hg, and dietary markers in blood (n = 15), and eggs (n = 15) between the herring gull and the strict marine‐feeding common eider (Somateria mollissima) in the breeding period of May 2017. Dietary markers showed that the herring gull was less representative of the marine food web than the common eider. We found higher concentrations of lipophilic OHCs (wet weight and lipid weight) and Hg (dry weight) in the blood of common eider (mean ± SE ∑PCB = 210 ± 126 ng/g ww, 60 600 ± 28 300 ng/g lw; mean Hg = 4.94 ± 0.438 ng/g dw) than of the herring gull (mean ± SE ∑PCB = 19.0 ± 15.6 ng/g ww, 1210 ± 1510 ng/g lw; mean Hg = 4.26 ± 0.438 ng/g dw). Eggs gave opposite results; higher wet weight and lipid weight OHC concentrations in the herring gull (mean ± SE ∑PCB = 257 ± 203 ng/g ww, 3240 ± 2610 ng/g lw) than the common eider (mean ± SE ∑PCB = 18.2 ± 20.8 ng/g ww, 101 ± 121 ng/g lw), resulting in higher OHC maternal transfer ratios in gulls than eiders. We suggest that the matrix differences are due to fasting during incubation in the common eider. We suggest that in urban areas, herring gull might not be representative as an indicator of marine contamination but rather urban contaminant exposure. The common eider is a better indicator of marine pollution in the Oslofjord. The results are influenced by the matrix choice, as breeding strategy affects lipid dynamics regarding the transfer of lipids and contaminants to eggs and remobilization of contaminants from lipids to blood during incubation, when blood is drawn from the mother. Our results illustrate the benefit of a multispecies approach for a thorough picture of contaminant status in urban marine ecosystems. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2020;00:1–12. © 2020 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC)

• Jourdain, Eve; Andvik, Clare ; Karoliussen, Richard; Ruus, Anders; Vongraven, Dag & Borgå, Katrine (2020). Isotopic niche differs between seal and fish-eating killer whales (Orcinus orca) in northern Norway. Ecology and Evolution. ISSN 2045-7758. 10(9), p. 4115–4127. doi: 10.1002/ece3.6182. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Ecological diversity has been reported for killer whales (Orcinus orca) throughout the North Atlantic but patterns of prey specialization have remained poorly understood. We quantify interindividual dietary variations in killer whales (n = 38) sampled throughout the year in 2017–2018 in northern Norway using stable isotopic nitrogen (δ15N: 15N/14N) and carbon (δ13C: 13C/12C) ratios. A Gaussian mixture model assigned sampled individuals to three differentiated clusters, characterized by disparate nonoverlapping isotopic niches, that were consistent with predatory field observations: seal‐eaters, herring‐eaters, and lumpfish‐eaters. Seal‐eaters showed higher δ15N values (mean ± SD: 12.6 ± 0.3‰, range = 12.3–13.2‰, n = 10) compared to herring‐eaters (mean ± SD: 11.7 ± 0.2‰, range = 11.4–11.9‰, n = 19) and lumpfish‐eaters (mean ± SD: 11.6 ± 0.2‰, range = 11.3–11.9, n = 9). Elevated δ15N values for seal‐eaters, regardless of sampling season, confirmed feeding at high trophic levels throughout the year. However, a wide isotopic niche and low measured δ15N values in the seal‐eaters, compared to that of whales that would eat solely seals (δN‐measured = 12.6 vs. δN‐expected = 15.5), indicated a diverse diet that includes both fish and mammal prey. A narrow niche for killer whales sampled at herring and lumpfish seasonal grounds supported seasonal prey specialization reflective of local peaks in prey abundance for the two fish‐eating groups. Our results, thus, show differences in prey specialization within this killer whale population in Norway and that the episodic observations of killer whales feeding on prey other than fish are a consistent behavior, as reflected in different isotopic niches between seal and fish‐eating individuals.

• Andvik, Clare Margaret; Jourdain, Eve; Ruus, Anders; Lyche, Jan Ludvig; Karoliussen, Richard & Borgå, Katrine (2020). Preying on seals pushes killer whales from Norway above pollution effects thresholds. Scientific Reports. ISSN 2045-2322. 10. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-68659-y. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Killer whales (Orcinus orca) are at risk from high levels of biomagnifying pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and mercury (Hg). Previous toxicological risk assessments for the Norwegian killer whale population have assumed fish as the primary prey source, and assessed the population as below established effect thresholds. However, some individuals have recently been identified to also feed on seals. This study is the first to quantify levels of pollutants in seal-eating killer whales from northern Norway, and to measure Hg levels in the skin of killer whales worldwide. We found higher levels of all pollutants in seal-eating than fish-eating killer whales, including the emerging brominated flame retardants pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB), pentabromotoluene (PBT) and hexabromobenzene (HBB). Sum polychlorinated biphenyls (ΣPCBs) in the blubber of seal-eaters (n = 7, geometric mean = 46 µg/g l.w.) were four times higher than fish-eaters (n = 24, geometric mean = 11 µg/g l.w.), which pushed all seal-eating individuals above multiple thresholds for health effects. Total Hg levels in skin of seal-eaters (n = 10, arithmetic mean = 3.7 µg/g d.w.) were twice as high as in fish-eaters (n = 28, arithmetic mean = 1.8 µg/g d.w.). Our results indicate that by feeding on higher trophic prey, the Norwegian killer whale population is at higher risk of health effects from pollution than previously assumed.

• Borgå, Katrine & Ruus, Anders (2019). Quantifying Bioaccumulation in the Aquatic Environment. Methods in pharmacology and toxicology. ISSN 1557-2153. p. 1–18. doi: 10.1007/7653_2019_36. Show summary

  Marine and freshwater ecosystems are exposed to various organic contaminants. Here, we summarize useful tools to assess and quantify bioaccumulation of organic contaminants in biota from water, diet, and sediment exposure. These bioaccumulation metrics (bioaccumulation factor BAF, bioconcentration factor BCF, biota-sediment accumulation factor BSAF, biomagnification factor BMF, trophic magnification factor TMF) describe the enrichment of organic contaminants in biota relative to its surrounding environment or source of the chemicals (e.g., water, sediment, or food).

• Ono, Kotaro; Knutsen, Halvor; Olsen, Esben M; Ruus, Anders; Hjermann, Dag Ø & Stenseth, Nils Chr (2019). Possible adverse impact of contaminants on Atlantic cod population dynamics in coastal ecosystems. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Biological Sciences. ISSN 0962-8452. 286(1908), p. 1–9. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1167. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  While many in-laboratory ecotoxicological studies have shown the adverse impact of pollutants to the fitness of an individual, direct evidence from the field on the population dynamics of wildlife animals has been lacking. Here, we provide empirical support for a negative effect of pollution on Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) population dynamics in coastal waters of Norway by combining unique time series of juvenile cod abundance, body size, environmental concentration of toxic contaminants and a spatially structured population dynamics model. The study shows that mercury concentration might have decreased the reproductive potential of cod in the region despite the general decline in the environmental concentration of mercury, cadmium and hexachlorobenzene since the implementation of national environmental laws. However, some cod populations appeared to be more resistant to mercury pollution than others, and the strength and shape of mercury effect on cod reproductive potential was fjord-specific. Additionally, cod growth rate changed at scales smaller than fjords with a gradient related to the exposure to the open ocean and offshore cod. These spatial differences in life-history traits emphasize the importance of local adaptation in shaping the dynamics of local wildlife populations. Finally, this study highlights the possibility to mitigate pollution effects on natural populations by reducing the overall pollution level, but also reveals that pollution reduction alone is not enough to rebuild local cod populations. Cod population recovery probably requires complementary efforts on fishing regulation and habitat restoration.

• Brooks, S J; Ruus, A; Rundberget, J T; Kringstad, A & Lillicrap, A (2019). Bioaccumulation of selected veterinary medicinal products (VMPs) in the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis). Science of the Total Environment. ISSN 0048-9697. 655, p. 1409–1419. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.212. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Veterinary medicinal products (VMPs) are widely used within the fish farming industry to control sea lice infestations. There is concern that wild and farmed mussels in the vicinity to these fish farms may be exposed and subsequently bioaccumulate these chemicals, which could pose a threat to human health. To understand the fate of these chemicals in the environment, controlled laboratory exposures were performed to establish the uptake and depuration of selected VMPs in the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis). The VMPs included teflubenzuron, emamectin benzoate and deltamethrin. The effects of salinity on the bioaccumulation of teflubenzuron were also investigated to see whether mussels in brackish waters exhibit different bioaccumulation dynamics. Salinity had no significant effect on the uptake or depuration curves for teflubenzuron down to 15‰. The uptake rate constants (k1) for teflubenzuron, emamectin benzoate and deltamethrin in mussels were 192, 4.82 and 2003, with kinetic bioconcentration factors (BCFs) of 1304, 49 and 2516. Depuration rate constants (k2) were also found to differ between the three VMPs at 0.147, 0.048 and 0.796 for teflubenzuron, emamectin benzoate and deltamethrin, with calculated elimination half-lives (t1/2)of 4.7, 14 and 0.87 days. The longer elimination half-lives for teflubenzuron and emamectin benzoate, suggest that these chemicals accumulate in blue mussels and therefore have the potential to bioaccumulate in wild and farmed mussel populations in the environment.

• Everaert, Gert; Ruus, Anders; Hjermann, Dag Øystein; Borgå, Katrine; Green, Norman Whitaker & Boitsov, Stepan [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2017). Additive Models Reveal Sources of Metals and Organic Pollutants in Norwegian Marine Sediments. Environmental Science and Technology. ISSN 0013-936X. 51(21), p. 12764–12773. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.7b02964. Full text in Research Archive
• Schøyen, Merete; Allan, Ian; Ruus, Anders; Håvardstun, Jarle; Hjermann, Dag Øystein & Beyer, Jonny (2017). Comparison of caged and native blue mussels (Mytilus edulis spp.) for environmental monitoring of PAH, PCB and trace metals. Marine Environmental Research. ISSN 0141-1136. 130, p. 221–232. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.07.025. Full text in Research Archive
• Ruus, Anders; Hjermann, Dag Øystein; Beylich, Bjørnar; Schøyen, Merete; Øxnevad, Sigurd & Green, Norman Whitaker (2017). Mercury concentration trend as a possible result of changes in cod population demography. Marine Environmental Research. ISSN 0141-1136. 130, p. 85–92. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.07.018. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Mercury (Hg) in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) is one of many parameters that are monitored through OSPAR's Joint Assessment and Monitoring Programme. Time series for cod in the Inner Oslofjord (Norway) go back to 1984. Until 2014, annual median Hg-concentrations in cod from the Inner Oslofjord showed both significant upward long-term (whole time series) and short-term (recent 10 years) trends (when 2015 was included, the short-term trend was not significant). However, the median length of the cod sampled also showed upward trends. This may have been caused by low cod recruitment in the area since the start of the 2000s, as indicated by beach seine surveys. To investigate how length would impact the trend analysis, the Hg-concentrations in the cod were normalised to 50 cm. No significant short-term trend in Hg-concentrations could be detected for length-normalised concentrations. The results indicated that most of the upward trend in Hg-concentrations could be attributed to the sampling of larger fish. The reasons for the apparent change in the cod population demography are not conclusive, however, sampling bias must also be considered.

• Beyer, Jonny; Green, Norman Whitaker; Brooks, Steven; Allan, Ian; Ruus, Anders & Gomes, Tania [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2017). Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis spp.) as sentinel organisms in coastal pollution monitoring: A review. Marine Environmental Research. ISSN 0141-1136. 130, p. 338–365. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.07.024. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The blue mussel (Mytilus spp.) is widely used as a bioindicator for monitoring of coastal water pollution (mussel watch programs). Herein we provide a review of this study field with emphasis on: the suitability of Mytilus spp. as environmental sentinels; uptake and bioaccumulation patterns of key pollutant classes; the use of Mytilus spp. in mussel watch programs; recent trends in Norwegian mussel monitoring; environmental quality standards and background concentrations of key contaminants; pollutant effect biomarkers; confounding factors; particulate contaminants (microplastics, engineered nanomaterials); climate change; harmonization of monitoring procedures; and the use of deployed mussels (transplant caging) in pollution monitoring. Lastly, the overall state of the art of blue mussel pollution monitoring is discussed and some important issues for future research and development are highlighted.

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• Schultze, Sabrina; Langva, Hilde K.; Knudtzon, Nina Cathrine; Chatzigeorgiou, Marios; Rundberget, Jan Thomas & Brooks, Steven [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2023). Increases in Terrestrial Dissolved Organic Matter Will Not Increase Feeding Related Uptake of a common Lipid Soluble Contaminant In coastal Filter Feeders.
• Schultze, Sabrina; Langva, Hilde K.; Knudtzon, Nina Cathrine; Chatzigeorgiou, Marios; Rundberget, Jan Thomas & Brooks, Steven [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2023). Terrestrial dissolved organic matter is not an efficent vector for lipohilic contaminants in filter feeders.
• Petersen, Karina; Xie, Li; Wolf, Raoul; Ruus, Anders; Færgestad, E. M. & Tollefsen, Knut-Erik (2022). Characterisation of cumulative risk of pollutants to marine organisms in Sørfjorden, Norway.
• Ruus, Anders; Xie, Li; Wolf, Raoul; Petersen, Karina; Færgestad, E. M. & Heimstad, Eldbjørg Sofie [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2022). Characterisation of cumulative risk of contaminants to organisms exposed to stormwater in Oslo, Norway.
• Petersen, Karina; Xie, Li; Wolf, Raoul; Ruus, Anders; Færgestad, E. M. & Heimstad, Eldbjørg Sofie [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2022). Characterisation of cumulative risk of pollutants to marine organisms in Sørfjorden, Norway.
• Ruus, Anders; Xie, Li; Wolf, Raoul; Petersen, Karina; Færgestad, E. M. & Heimstad, Eldbjørg Sofie [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2022). Characterisation of cumulative risk of contaminants to organisms exposed to stormwater in Oslo, Norway.
• Petersen, Karina; Xie, Li; Wolf, Raoul; Ruus, Anders; Færgestad, E. M. & Tollefsen, Knut-Erik (2022). Characterisation of cumulative risk of pollutants to marine organisms in Sørfjorden, Norway.
• Schultze, Sabrina; Langva, Hilde K.; Nina, Knudtzon; Chatzigeorgiou, Marios; Rundberget, Thomas & Brooks, Steven [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2022). Effect of terrestrial and aquatic dissolved organic matter on uptake of teflubenzuron in mussels and ascidians.
• Ruus, Anders; Xie, Li; Petersen, Karina; Færgestad, Eline Mosleth; Heimstad, Eldbjørg Sofie & Harju, Mikael [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2022). Characterisation and evaluation of the environmental risk of stormwater emissions from Oslo, Norway.
• Hancke, Kasper; Gundersen, Hege; Borgersen, Gunhild; Anglès d'Auriac, Marc; Ruus, Anders & Andersen, Guri Sogn [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2022). Det Nordiske blått karbonbudsjettet.
• Gundersen, Hege; Hancke, Kasper; Borgersen, Gunhild; Anglès d'Auriac, Marc; Ruus, Anders & Andersen, Guri Sogn [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2022). Det Nordiske Blått karbon-prosjektet.
• Schultze, Sabrina; Andersen, Tom; Knudtzon, Nina Cathrine; Ruus, Anders; Rundberget, Jan Thomas & Brooks, Steven [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2021). Effect of terrestrial and aquatic dissolved organic matter on uptake rates of teflubenzuron in blue mussels (M. edulis).
• Rodriguez, Simon; Borgå, Katrine; Gomes, Tania; Lillicrap, Adam David; Martins, Samantha Eslava & Ruus, Anders [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Antifoulants, Veterinary Medicinal Products and Organic Material can affect marine sediment organisms, but to what extent? - ANTIVENOM.
• Rodriguez, Simon; Borgå, Katrine; Gomes, Tania; Lillicrap, Adam David; Petersen, Karina & Ruus, Anders [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Antifoulants, veterinary medicinal products and organic material can affect marine sediment organisms, but to what extent? – ANTIVENOM.
• Knudtzon, Nina Cathrine; Thorstensen, Helene; Ruus, Anders; Helberg, Morten; Bæk, Kine & Enge, Ellen Katrin [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Maternal Transfer and Occurrence of Siloxanes, Chlorinated Paraffins and Legacy POPs in Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) of Different Urban Influence.
• Moe, Jannicke; Ruus, Anders; Hjermann, Dag Øystein & Macken, Ailbhe Lisette (2020). A Bayesian Network Model for Assessment of Chemical Status in Fjords Affected by Aluminium Smelters.
• Ruus, Anders; Wolf, Raoul; Petersen, Karina & Tollefsen, Knut-Erik (2020). CHARACTERISATION OF CUMULATIVE RISK OF CONTAMINANTS TO ORGANISMS EXPOSED TO STORMWATER IN OSLO, NORWAY.
• Hancke, Kasper; Gundersen, Hege; Borgersen, Gunhild; d'Auriac, Marc Anglès; Ruus, Anders & Andersen, Guri Sogn [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2020). The Nordic Blue Carbon Project: Updates on the marine carbon cycle and estimates of an overall budget for carbon capture, export and storage in Nordic blue forests.
• Ruus, Anders; Helberg, Morten; Knudtzon, Nina Cathrine; Bæk, Kine; Enge, Ellen Katrin & Borgå, Katrine (2020). Emerging and legacy contaminants in two urban herring gull colonies.
• Ruus, Anders; Helberg, Morten; Bæk, Kine; Enge, Ellen Katrin & Borgå, Katrine (2020). Common eider and herring gull as indicators of contaminants in an urban fjord system.
• Ruus, Anders; Wolf, Raoul; Petersen, Karina & Tollefsen, Knut-Erik (2020). Characterisation of cumulative risk of contaminants to organisms exposed to stormwater in Oslo, Norway.
• Petersen, Karina; Wolf, Raoul; Ruus, Anders & Tollefsen, Knut-Erik (2020). Characterisation of cumulative risk of pollutants to marine organisms in Sørfjorden, Norway.
• Thorstensen, H. S.; Ruus, Anders; Helberg, Morten; Bæk, Kine; Enge, Ellen Katrin & Borgå, Katrine (2020). Herring gull and common eider as indicators of contaminants in an urban fjord.
• McGovern, Maeve; Evenset, Anita; Borgå, Katrine; Wit, Heleen de; Braaten, Hans Fredrik Veiteberg & Hessen, Dag Olav [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2019). Implications of Coastal Darkening for Contaminant Transport, Bioavailability, and Trophic Transfer in Northern Coastal Waters. Environmental Science and Technology. ISSN 0013-936X. 53(13), p. 7180–7182. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.9b03093. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The increased transport of terrestrially derived organic material (tOM) from catchments to rivers and lakes is leading to browning of northern freshwaters.(1) Although the same environmental drivers can be expected to lead to widespread increases in tOM and subsequent darkening in adjacent coastal systems,(2) this has received considerably less attention, and long-term monitoring data for detecting these changes are scarce. This is despite expectations that darkening is likely to have a range of implications for coastal biogeochemistry and food-web ecology. tOM is accompanied by other catchment-derived materials including contaminants, inorganic particles, and nutrients. Together, these terrestrial inputs can affect cycling and food-web accumulation of contaminants, in particular, methyl mercury (MeHg) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Because of the human and ecosystem health risks associated with these contaminants, and to ensure informed policy decisions, there is a need for a better understanding of the drivers of darkening and their direct and indirect impacts on the transport, bioavailability, and trophic transfer of contaminants in northern coastal waters.

• Omsted, Gunnar & Ruus, Anders (2019). Mye mer miljøgifter i fjordene enn i havet. [Internet]. Forskning.no.
• Jarosz, Emil; Skipperud, Lindis; Teien, Hans-Christian; Ruus, Anders & Tollefsen, Knut Erik (2018). Complex mixture of coastal water pollutants: speciation, bioavailability and toxicokinetics.
• Rostkowski, Pawel Marian; Schlabach, Martin; Gundersen, Hans; Herzke, Dorte; Ruus, Anders & Nygård, Torgeir (2017). Monitoring of bisphenol A and its analogues in environmental samples from Norway.
• Keilen, Ellen Kristine; Borgå, Katrine; Ruus, Anders; Helberg, Morten; Reiertsen, Tone & Warner, Nicholas Alexander [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2017). Levels and effects of environmental contaminants in herring gull (Larus argentatus) from an urban and a rural colony in Norway.
• Schultze, Sabrina; Poste, Amanda; Ruus, Anders; Hessen, Dag Olav; Andersen, Tom & Borgå, Katrine (2017). Do high levels of terrestrial DOM uptake lead to higher contaminant concentration and changes in energy allocation and growth? A study on three marine lower food web taxa.
• Øxnevad, Sigurd; Schaanning, Morten & Ruus, Anders (2017). In situ sediment flux measurements of metals by using DGT-probes.
• Beyer, Jonny; Schøyen, Merete; Brooks, Steven; Allan, Ian; Ruus, Anders & Gomes, Tania [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2017). Blue mussel (Mytilus edulis spp.) as environmental indicator.
• Ruus, Anders; Øverjordet, Ida Beathe; Braaten, Hans Fredrik Veiteberg; Evenset, Anita; Christensen, Guttorm & Heimstad, Eldbjørg Sofie [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2017). Methylmercury in an Arctic food web - With focus on seabirds.
• Ruus, Anders; Øverjordet, Ida Beathe; Braaten, Hans Fredrik Veiteberg; Evenset, Anita; Christensen, Guttorm & Gabrielsen, Geir W. [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2017). Methylmercury in Arctic Seabirds - Seasonal inter-tissue differences.
• Poste, Amanda; Koppelle, Sebastiaan; Seuthe, Lena; Christensen, Guttorm; Braaten, Hans Fredrik Veiteberg & Borgå, Katrine [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2017). Riverine inputs to Norwegian fjords: Effects on lower food web structure and mercury bioaccumulation.
• Poste, Amanda; Allan, Ian; Arts, Michael T.; Borgå, Katrine; Carlsson, Pernilla Marianne & Christensen, Guttorm [Show all 14 contributors for this article] (2017). The TerrACE project: Effects of terrestrial inputs on contaminant dynamics in Arctic coastal ecosystems.
• Schøyen, Merete; Grung, Merete; Lund, Espen; Hjermann, Dag Øystein; Ruus, Anders & Øxnevad, Sigurd [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2024). Contaminants in coastal waters 2022. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7648-0.
• Jonsson, Henrik; Staalstrøm, Andre; Eek, Espen; Norling, Magnus; Ruus, Anders & Dillinger, Benno (2024). Forprosjekt Ren Frier. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7673-2. Full text in Research Archive
• Mariussen, Espen; Alexander, Jan; Dahl, Lisbeth; Kvalem, Helen Engelstad; Olsen, Ann-Karin Hardie & Schlabach, Martin [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2023). Protocol for risk assessment of grilled and barbequed food. Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment .
• Mariussen, MS; Strøm, V; Valseth, ÅA; Vennemo, K; Bjorbækmo, Marit & Chen, Wenting [Show all 16 contributors for this article] (2023). Mariussen MS, Strøm V, Valseth ÅA, Vennemo K, Bjorbækmo MFM, Chen W, Furuseth IS, Bekkby T, Berg PR, Saesin P, Staalstrøm A, Walday MG, Kaste Ø, Ruus A, Hess-Erga O-K, Langaas S. Mulighetskartlegging for kystbaserte næringer i Viken – Indre Oslofjord og Drammensfjorden. Vista Analyse Report 2023/11. ISBN 978-82-8126-623-0. https://www.vista-analyse.no/site/assets/files/7886/va-rapport_2023- 11_mulighetskartlegging_for_kystbaserte_naeringer_i_viken.pdf. Vista Analyse .
• Jartun, Morten; Økelsrud, Asle; Bæk, Kine; Rundberget, Thomas; Øxnevad, Sigurd & Ruus, Anders [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2023). Monitoring of environmental contaminants in freshwater food webs (MILFERSK) 2022. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7611-4. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Samples of a benthic food chain in Lake Mjøsa have been collected, and the concentrations of emerging contaminants such as Siloxanes, PFAS, UV-compounds, Quaternary Ammonium Compounds, Musks, Benzothiazoles and Chlorinated paraffins in addition to legacy contaminants such as Mercury, other Metals and PBDEs have been determined. For comparison, samples of the top predator brown trout have been collected and analysed from Lake Femunden, a rural counterpart to the more urban Lake Mjøsa.

• Ruus, Anders; Grung, Merete; Jartun, Morten; Bæk, Kine; Rundberget, Thomas & Beylich, Bjørnar [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2023). Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord, 2022. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7609-1. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This report presents data from the second year of a new 5-year period of the Urban Fjord programme. The programme started in 2013 and has since been altered/advanced. In 2022 the programme covers sampling and analyses of sediment, polychaetes, krill, shrimps, blue mussels, herring, cod, eider, and herring gull from the Inner Oslofjord. In addition, samples of Harbour seals from the Outer Oslofjord are analysed. A total of ~300 single compounds/isomers were analysed, and frequent detection was found of certain PFAS compounds (such as PFOS) in most matrices, certain QACs in sediment, MCCPs in most matrices (also SCCPs in birds and seals, as well as LCCPs in seals), D5 (siloxane) in all matrices, certain PBDEs (such as BDE 100) in most matrices, PCBs in all matrices, BCPS (phenolic) in seals and certain metals in all matrices. Biomagnification was observed for 28 PCB congeners and 6 PBDEs (lipid wt. basis). Furthermore, biomagnification was observed for 5 PFAS compounds, as well as for the metals As, Ag and Hg (wet wt. basis).

• Ruus, Anders; Oughton, Deborah H; Beylich, Bjørnar; Saesin, Pipatthra; Borgersen, Gunhild & Jerome, Simon Mark [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2023). Kartlegging av radioaktive stoffer i Oslofjorden. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7620-6. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  DSA har ønsket å undersøke om utslipp av radioaktive stoffer fra helsesektoren kan gjenfinnes i miljøet og om I-131 tas opp og/eller oppkonsentrerer i Oslofjorden. Det ble ikke funnet I-131 eller Tc-99m i biota i detekterbare mengder. Dette tyder på lavt opptak, og liten tilknyttet risiko for organismer i Oslofjorden. Lave konsentrasjoner av Tc-99m og I-131 ble målt i noen vannprøver, samt I-131 i noen sediment prøver. Lu-177 ble ikke detektert i noen prøver. Disse observasjonene er ikke i konflikt med strømningsmønsteret i området, men partiklene skal også rekke å sedimentere til bunnen, tidsnok til at deteksjon er mulig (I-131 har halveringstid på 8 døgn). Selv med fordeling av prøvene over fire ulike prøveinnsamlingstidspunkter ble det for lang tid mellom prøvetaking og måling, med så lave konsentrasjoner av kortlevde radionuklider. Med så lave nivåer må man i fremtiden ta sikte på færre prøver og enda kortere tid mellom prøvesamling og måling, kanskje ved å fokusere på et mindre geografisk område. Resultatene gir et innblikk i situasjonen før en forventet økning i bruk av nukleærmedisin ved sykehusene.

• Ruus, Anders & Mengeot, Caroline (2023). Overvåking av kystvann i vannområde Hardanger 2022. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7566-7. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Overvåkingen av kystvann i vannområdet Hardanger i 2022 viste følgende: Mhp. de fysisk-kjemiske kvalitetselementene viste oksygen(minimum-) konsentrasjoner moderat tilstand på stasjon Lind1 og god tilstand på stasjonene Sø7/2 og S22Sør. Siktedypet tilsvarte dårlig tilstand på samtlige av disse tre stasjonene. Vannregionspesifikke stoffer i vann (metaller; særlig sink) oversteg grenseverdiene (EQS) på alle stasjoner hvor vann ble analysert (Lind1, Sø7/2, S22Sør og S1/4). Ingen analyserte prioriterte stoffer oversteg grenseverdiene (EQS) i overflatevann. Konsentrasjoner av kvikksølv i blåskjell var derimot for høye til å klassifisere kjemisk tilstand som god på samtlige stasjoner hvor blåskjell ble analysert. Konsentrasjoner av fluorid i sjøvann var i hovedsak lavere enn kvantifiseringsgrensen på 1,5 mg/L. gjennomsnittlige konsentrasjoner av fluorid i blåskjell var lave (1,53- 2,24 mg/kg våtvekt). Det ble kun observert konsentrasjoner av thallium på ≤0,05 μg/L i overflatevann. Tl ble funnet i blåskjell i gjennomsnittskonsentrasjoner på 0,003-0,005 mg/kg våtvekt.

• Jartun, Morten; Økelsrud, Asle; Bæk, Kine; Ruus, Anders; Rundberget, Thomas & Vogelsang, Christian [Show all 14 contributors for this article] (2022). Environmental contaminants in freshwater food webs, 2021. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7530-8. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This report presents monitoring data from freshwater food webs and abiotic samples from Lake Mjøsa and Femunden within the Milfersk programme. Studies and monitoring of legacy and emerging contaminants have been carried out through this programme for several years, focusing on the pelagic food web. This is the first report in the monitoring program focusing on a benthic food chain (Chironomids, ruffe, roach and perch) in addition to inputs to Lake Mjøsa by analysis of lake sediments, surface waters, stormwater, effluent and sludge from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The analytical programme includes the determination of a total of ̴ 260 single components.

• Ruus, Anders; Grung, Merete; Jartun, Morten; Bæk, Kine; Rundberget, Thomas & Vogelsang, Christian [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2022). Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord, 2021. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7498-1. Full text in Research Archive
• Schøyen, Merete; Grung, Merete; Lund, Espen; Hjermann, Dag Øystein; Ruus, Anders & Øxnevad, Sigurd [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2022). Contaminants in coastal waters 2021 / Miljøgifter i kystområdene 2021 . Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7520-9. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The Norwegian environmental monitoring programme “Contaminants in coastal waters” (Miljøgifter i kystområdene - MILKYS) examines levels, trends, and effects of contaminants in biota. The 2021 investigation included analyses of more than 180 different contaminants or biological effect parameters in five species (blue mussel, cod, dogwhelk, common periwinkle, and common eider). The contaminants measured include metals, TBT, PCBs, PAHs, PBDEs, PFAS, HBCDs, chlorinated paraffins, siloxanes, and pesticides. Biological effect parameters investigated include imposex (VDSI) and intersex (ISI), PAH-metabolites, ALA-D, and EROD. In this report, 27 contaminants and in addition, biological effect parameters were chosen for in-depth presentation. EQSs (environmental quality standard) were exceeded in samples of blue mussel (21%), cod (36%), and eider (23%). Contaminants above EQSs were sumPBDE6, mercury (Hg), sumPCB7, and fluoranthene. PROREF (Norwegian provisional high reference contaminant concentration) was exceeded for 35% in blue mussel and 11% in cod, and exceedances were higher in mussel (up to >20x PROREF) than cod (2-5x PROREF). Even though decreasing time trends dominated both long-term (>10 years) and short-term (≤ 10 years) where trends could be detected, notably increasing trends were observed which are discussed here. Notably increasing short-term trends for blue mussel were lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As) and some PCBs, and for cod were mercury (Hg), and silver (Ag).

• Ruus, Anders; Hjermann, Dag Øystein; Håvardstun, Jarle; Øxnevad, Sigurd & Macken, Ailbhe (2022). ESPIAL - Data review and evaluation of historical data (WP1). Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7511-7. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The present report details the outcome of work package 1 of ESPIAL, with the aim of compiling the historical data from previous surveys at the aluminium sites in a common database and further to analyse the data. A graphical data displaying tool was developed as a custom interactive tool for data visualisations and was designed to be intuitive and user friendly. The main outcomes and findings of this work package can be summarized as follows: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) constitute most data in the database; There is a decent amount of data on sediment samples in the data base, however these do not form time series; Most time series available in the data base are on blue mussel from Sunndal and northern horsemussel from Årdal; Most time series show a declining tendency; All statistically significant PAH time trends show declining concentrations; The database is likely not complete, and more data could be available; The graphical data displaying tool is a promising aid for instant insight in concentrations and time series of different analytes in environmental samples, historically collected in the vicinity of the smelters; The graphical data displaying tool makes it possible to view concentrations and trends in relation to the EQSs, giving insight in chemical status and sites of interest, in terms of possible need of remedial action or natural recovery.

• Jonsson, Henrik; Ruus, Anders & Staalstrøm, Andre (2022). Vurdering av miljøeffekter fra utslipp av thallium til sjø fra Boliden Odda. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7466-0. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Rapporten gir en samlet miljøvurdering av Bolidens utslipp av thallium (Tl) til Sørfjorden. Utslippet forventes utelukkende å gå til sjø som vannløselig Tl(I), men selv tett opp mot utslippet ligger Tl(I) lavere enn PNEC marin i vannprøver. Målte vannkonsentrasjoner er omtrent som forventet basert på utslippskonsentrasjon og modellert fortynning av utslippet. Tl(I) sedimenterer hovedsakelig i vannvolumet øst for Eitrheimsneset. Det er ikke identifisert Tl(I) over PNEC sediment på stasjoner i Sørfjorden, men spesiering av thallium i sediment er fortsatt usikker. Beregninger gir en forventning om at 13% av totalt thallium i sedimenter foreligger som biotilgjengelig Tl(I). Thalliumanalyser i blåskjell og tang viser at Tl(I) har begrenset bioakkumuleringspotensial omtrent som andre tungmetaller. Vurderingen viser at spill fra lossing av sink-konsentrat på kai er en viktig kilde til thalliumforurensing i Sørfjorden. Som konklusjon er det i 2021 ikke framkommet data som peker i retning at thalliumutslippet gir toksiske effekter i biota. Analyser i vann- og sedimentprøver viser derimot, at utslippet fra Boliden kan spores over store deler av Sørfjorden. Noen inngangsdata som er brukt i vurderingen, særlig spesiering av thallium i sediment, bør imidlertid revurderes.

• Ruus, Anders; Borgersen, Gunhild; Mengeot, Caroline & Kristiansen, Trond (2022). Overvåking av kystvann i vannområde Hardanger 2021. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7458-5. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Overvåkingen av kystvann i vannområdet Hardanger i 2021 viste følgende: Bløtbunnsfauna viste god til svært god tilstand på samtlige stasjoner. Mhp. de fysisk-kjemiske kvalitetselementene viste oksygen(minimum-)konsentrasjon moderat tilstand på stasjonene Lind1 og S22Sør, og dårlig tilstand på Sø7/2. Siktedypet på disse stasjonene tilsvarte moderat tilstand på stasjon Lind1 og dårlig tilstand på Sø7/2 og S22Sør. Vannregionspesifikke stoffer i vann (metaller; særlig sink) og særlig i sediment (metaller; sink, arsen og kobber, samt PAH-forbindelser) oversteg i mange tilfeller grenseverdiene (EQS) og vil dermed begrense økologisk tilstand til maksimalt moderat tilstand på de fleste stasjoner. Også prioriterte stoffer i sediment (metaller og PAHforbindelser) oversteg grenseverdiene (EQS) og førte til at god kjemisk tilstand ikke ble oppnådd på de fleste stasjoner. I sjøvann var det kun bly, blant de prioriterte stoffene, som oversteg grenseverdien på stasjon S16. Konsentrasjoner av kvikksølv i blåskjell var også for høye til å klassifisere kjemisk tilstand som god på samtlige stasjoner hvor blåskjell ble analysert. På stasjon Sø10 ble høyeste konsentrasjon av fluorid i ufiltrert sjøvann fra 2 m dyp målt til 1300 μg/L i mai. Med unntak av en målt thalliumkonsentrasjon på 0,06 μg/L Tl på stasjon Sø7/2 i januar 2021, ble det kun observert konsentrasjoner ≤0,05 μg/L Tl i sjøvann i Sørfjorden.

• Jonsson, Henrik; Ruus, Anders & Staalstrøm, Andre (2022). Miljøkonsekvensvurdering av kjølevannsutslipp til Frierfjorden fra Vianode Herøya. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7467-7. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Vianode AS søker om etablering av ny virksomhet i Herøya industripark for produksjon av karbon-baserte anoder. NIVA leverer her delutredningen på bedriftens miljøpåvirkning i Frierfjorden. Delutredningen er del i en full konsekvensutredning av omsøkte tiltak på Herøya. Beregninger viser begrenset sedimentoppvirvling fra etablering av ny utslippsledning i Frierfjorden sammenlignet med oppvirvling fra skipstrafikk i området. Oppvirvlet sediment forventes avsatt svært lokalt, og beregninger viser at biotilgjengelig fraksjon av miljøgifter i sedimentene er svært lav. Sedimentoppvirvling øker med økende utslippsdyp/rørlengde, og minst miljøbelastning i anleggsfasen vil derfor komme fra et utslipp tett opp mot kai på Herøya. Modellering av et kjølevannsutslipp fra Vianode til Frierfjorden viser bedre innblanding, og dermed lavere overtemperatur i resipienten med økende utslippsdyp. Et ferskvannsbasert system gir bedre innblanding, og dermed lavere overtemperatur i resipienten sammenlignet med et sjøvannsbasert system. Bedre innblanding og lavere overtemperatur oppnås også med økt utslippshastighet, enten ved å redusere diameteren på utslippsrøret, eller ved å øke vannraten. Et utslipp med plumen rettet oppover mot sjøoverflaten vil begrense miljøbelastningen i driftsfasen. Biologiske effekter i driftsfasen forventes da å være begrenset til små tap av i første rekke fiskeegg og larver innenfor plumens primærfortynningssone. Modelleringer viser at primærfortynningssonen vil strekke seg opptil 34m fra utslippet.

• Green, Norman Whitaker; Schøyen, Merete; Hjermann, Dag Øystein; Øxnevad, Sigurd; Ruus, Anders & Grung, Merete [Show all 14 contributors for this article] (2022). Contaminants in coastal waters of Norway 2019. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7477-6. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This monitoring programme examines levels, trends and effects of contaminants in biota along the coast of Norway. The 2019- investigation included analyses of more than 176 different contaminants or biological effect parameters in six species (blue mussel, dogwhelk, common periwinkle, cod, flounder and common eider). The contaminants measured includes metals (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ag, As, Ni, Cr and Co), tributyltin (TBT), organochlorines (e.g. PCBs (PCB-7), DDT, HCB, OCS and QCB), PAHs, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS), as well as contaminants that have recently received much attention such as hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), chlorinated paraffins (SCCP, MCCP) and siloxanes (D4, D5 and D6). Biological effects parameters includes the imposex parameter VDSI, OH-pyrene metabolites, ALA-D and EROD. In the report, 30 contaminants or biological effects parameters were chosen for statistical analyses of 670 time series (last 10 years). Of these, there were statistically significant trends in 100 cases: 72 were downwards and 28 upwards. The upward trends were associated with metals (67.9 %), primarily Cr (14.3 %). The downwards trends for TBT-concentrations and effect parameter VDSI confirmed that the legislation banning the use of TBT has been effective. Of the 2019-medians (last year) for all 670 time series, there were 346 cases that could be classified against EQS, of which 232 (67.1 %) were below the EQS and 114 (32.9 %) were above the EQS. Of the 2019-medians for the 670 time series, 582 cases could be classified using Norwegian provisional high reference contaminant concentrations (PROREF). Of these, 407 were below PROREF and 175 exceeded PROREF: 82 by a factor of less than two, 51 by a factor between two and five, 31 by a factor between five and 10, four by a factor between 10 and 20, and seven by a factor greater than 20. Some cases warrant special concern, such as high concentrations of several organic contaminants in cod liver from the Inner Oslofjord. Results of analyses of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen are presented to investigate the role of food origin and trophic levels for observed concentrations of contaminants. Results from supplementary studies that investigated geographical trends in contaminants and trophic levels are also presented.

• Schøyen, Merete; Lund, Espen; Hjermann, Dag Øystein; Ruus, Anders; Beylich, Bjørnar & Jenssen, Marthe Torunn Solhaug [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2021). Contaminants in coastal waters of Norway 2020. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7422-6. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The monitoring programme “Contaminants in coastal waters of Norway” (Miljøgifter i norske kystområder - MILKYS) examines levels, trends and effects of contaminants in biota. The 2020-investigation included analyses of more than 176 different contaminants or biological effect parameters in six species (blue mussel, cod, dogwhelk, common periwinkle, flounder and common eider). The contaminants measured includes metals (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ag, As, Ni, Cr and Co), tributyltin (TBT), organochlorines (e.g. PCBs (PCB-7), DDT, HCB, OCS and QCB), PAHs, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS), hexabromocyclododecane (α-, γ- and β HBCD), chlorinated paraffins (SCCP, MCCP) and siloxanes (D4, D5 and D6). Biological effects parameters includes imposex (VDSI) and intersex (ISI), OH-pyrene metabolites as a marker of PAH-exposure, ALA-D as a marker of exposure to lead, and EROD as a marker to exposure to planar PCBs, PAHs and dioxines. In this report, 30 contaminants or biological effects parameters were chosen for statistical analyses of 739 time series (short-term trends for the last 10 years). Of these, there were statistically significant trends in 96 cases: 67 (9.1 %) were downwards and 29 (3.9 %) upwards. The dominance of downward trends indicated that contamination was decreasing. The downward trends were primarily accociated with metals, α-HBCD and PBDEs, and the upward trends with metals. Of the 2020-medians for all 739 time series, 380 cases could be classified against EQS, of which 264 (35.7 %) were below the EQS and 116 (15.7 %) were above. Of the 739 time series, 644 cases could be classified using Norwegian provisional high reference contaminant concentrations (PROREF). Of these, 447 (69.4 %) were below PROREF. The remaining 197 (30.6 %) cases exceeded PROREF: 105 (16.3 %) by a factor of less than two, 57 (8.9 %) by a factor between two and five, 30 (4.7 %) by a factor between five and 10, three (0.5 %) by a factor between 10 and 20, and two (0.3 %) by a factor greater than 20. Some cases warrant special concern, such as high concentrations of several organic contaminants in cod liver from the Inner Oslofjord.

• Grung, Merete; Jartun, Morten; Bæk, Kine; Ruus, Anders; Rundberget, Thomas & Allan, Ian [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2021). Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord, 2020. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7410-3. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This programme, “Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord” has covered sampling and analyses of sediment and organisms in a marine food web of the Inner Oslofjord, in addition to samples of blood and eggs from herring gull. The programme also included inputs of pollutants via surface water (stormwater), and effluent water and sludge from a wastewater treatment plant. The bioaccumulation potential of the contaminants in the Oslo fjord food web was evaluated. The exposure to/accumulation of the contaminants was also assessed in birds. A vast number of chemical parameters have been quantified, in addition to some biological effect parameters in cod, and the report serves as a status description of the concentrations of these chemicals in different compartments of the Inner Oslofjord marine ecosystem.

• Ruus, Anders; Kristiansen, Trond; Mengeot, Caroline & Jonsson, Henrik (2021). Overvåking av kystvann i vannområde Hardanger 2020. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7345-8. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Overvåkingen av kystvann i vannområdet Hardanger i 2020 viste følgende: Oksygen ved største sondedyp (her antatt bunnvann) viste moderat tilstand på stasjonene Sø7/2, Lind1 og S22Sør. Siktedypet på disse stasjonene tilsvarte hhv. dårlig, moderat og dårlig tilstand. Vannregionspesifikke stoffer i vann (metaller; særlig sink) oversteg grenseverdiene (EQS) på alle stasjoner hvor vann ble analysert (Lind1, Sø7/2, S22Sør og S1/4). Også prioriterte stoffer (bly) oversteg grenseverdiene (EQS) i sjøvann på stasjon Sø7/2 og S22Sør og førte til at god kjemisk tilstand ikke ble oppnådd. Konsentrasjoner av kvikksølv i blåskjell var også for høye til å klassifisere kjemisk tilstand som god på samtlige stasjoner hvor blåskjell ble analysert. På stasjon Sø10 ble høyeste konsentrasjon av fluorid i ufiltrert sjøvann fra 2 m dyp målt til 600 μg/L. Thallium kunne detekteres i 2 av 14 sjøvannsprøver, men dette ble ikke bekreftet av parallelle analyser på annet laboratorium. Tl ble funnet i blåskjell i konsentrasjoner på 4-6 μg/kg.

• Ruus, Anders; Beyer, Jonny & Green, Norman Whitaker (2021). Proposed Environmental Quality standards (EQS) for blue mussel (Mytilus edulis). Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 1894-7948. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The Norwegian Environment Agency recognizes the need to further develop Environmental Quality Standards (EQSs) under EU’s Water Framework Directive. As one step in this direction the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) was tasked to propose EQSs for a selection of contaminants in blue mussel (Mytilus edulis). The proposed EQS are derived either from the current EQS for coastal water, using a bioconcentration factor (BCF) or bioaccumulation factor (BAF) that is most relevant for blue mussel, or from the current EQS for biota, e.g. by correcting for a lower trophic level than fish. EQS are proposed for 24 selected contaminants that included six metals, 16 PAH compounds and two perfluorinated alkylated substances. The practical applicability of a few are questionable.

• Frigstad, Helene; Gundersen, Hege; Andersen, Guri Sogn; Borgersen, Gunhild; Kvile, Kristina Øie & Krause-Jensen, Dorte [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2021). Blue Carbon – climate adaptation, CO2 uptake and sequestration of carbon in Nordic blue forests. Results from the Nordic Blue Carbon Project. . Nordic Council of Ministers. ISSN 978-92-893-6861-2. Show summary

  This report presents the main findings of the Nordic Blue Carbon Project (2017–2020) on the areal distribution and carbon budget of blue forests (kelp forests, seagrass meadows and rockweed beds) in the Nordic region. We have identified the main ecosystem effects of climate change and other human pressures on Nordic blue forests, tested the effect of moderating some of these pressures, and give scientific advice on management measures aimed at safeguarding these important coastal ecosystems for the future. Recently, there has been an increased focus on salt marshes as a blue forest habitat, however salt marshes were not covered in the Nordic Blue Carbon Project.

• Green, Norman Whitaker; Schøyen, Merete; Hjermann, Dag Øystein; Øxnevad, Sigurd; Ruus, Anders & Beylich, Bjørnar [Show all 14 contributors for this article] (2021). Contaminants in coastal waters of Norway 2018. Norsk insitutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7316-8. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This programme examines the levels, trends and effects of contaminants in biota along the coast of Norway. The 2018-investigation included analyses of more than 133 different contaminants or biological effect parameters in five species (blue mussel, dogwhelk, common periwinkle, cod and the common eider). The contaminants include metals (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ag, As, Ni, Cr and Co), tributyltin (TBT), organochlorines (e.g. PCBs (PCB-7), DDT), PAHs, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS), as well as contaminants that have recently received much attention such as hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDs), chlorinated paraffins (SCCP, MCCP), bisphenol A (BPA), tetrabrombisphenol A (TBBPA), alkyphenols, siloxanes (D4, D5 and D6) and dechlorane plus. Biological effects parameters included VDSI, OHpyrene metabolites, ALA-D and EROD. In the report, 30 representative substances or parameters were chosen for analyses of 713 time series (last 10 years). Of these there were statistically significant trends in 102 cases: 79 were downwards and 23 upwards. The upward trends were also associated with metals (78.3 %), primarily Hg (17.4 %).The dominance of downward trends indicated that contamination is decreasing for the measured substances. The downwards trends for TBT-concentrations and effect parameter (VDSI) confirmed that the legislation banning the use of TBT has been effective. Of the 2018-medians (last year) for all 713 time series, there were 323 cases that could be classified against EQS, of which 203 (62.8 %) were below the EQS and 120 (37.2 %) were above the EQS. Of the 2018-medians for the 713 time series, 641 cases could be classified using Norwegian provisional high reference contaminant concentrations (PROREF). Of these, 463 were below PROREF and 173 exceeded PROREF: 117 by a factor of less than two, 45 by a factor between two and five, eight by a factor between five and 10, four by a factor between 10 and 20, and four by a factor greater than 20. Some cases warrant special concern, such as high concentrations of several organic contaminants in cod liver from the Inner Oslofjord. High concentrations of DDE in mussels from the Sørfjord were related to earlier use of DDT as pesticide in orchards along the fjord. Concentrations of an expanded list of PFAS in cod liver from the Inner Oslofjord sampled since 1990 are presented. Results of analyses of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen are presented to investigate the role of food origin and trophic levels for observed contaminant concentrations.

• Green, Norman Whitaker; Schøyen, Merete; Hjermann, Dag Øystein; Øxnevad, Sigurd; Ruus, Anders & Lusher, Amy [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2021). Contaminants in coastal waters of Norway 2017. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7315-1. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This programme examines the levels, trends and effects of contaminants in biota along the coast of Norway. The 2017-investigation included analyses of 93 different contaminants or biological effect parameters in five species (blue mussel, dogwhelk, common periwinkle, cod and the common eider). The contaminants include metals (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ag, As, Ni, Cr and Co), tributyltin (TBT), organochlorines (e.g. PCBs, DDT), PAHs, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS) as well as contaminants that have recently received much attention such as hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDs), chlorinated paraffins (SCCP, MCCP), bisphenol A (BPA), tetrabrombisphenol A (TBBPA), alkyphenols and siloxanes. Biological effects parameters included VDSI, OH-pyrene metabolites, ALA-D and EROD. In the report, 30 representative substances or parameters were chosen for analyses of 809 time series (last 10 years). Of these there were statistically significant trends in 193 cases: 83 were downwards and 35 upwards. The dominance of downward trends indicated that contamination is decreasing for the measured substances. The downwards trends for TBT-concentrations and effect parameter (VDSI) confirmed that the legislation banning the use of TBT has been effective. Of the 2017-medians (last year) for all 809 time series, there were 262 cases that could be classified against EQS, of which 157 (59.9 %) were below the EQS and 105 (40.1 %) were above the EQS. All of the 2017-medians from the 809 time series could be classified using a provisional high reference concentrations (PROREF). Of these 578 were below PROREF and 231 exceeded PROREF: 148 by a factor of less than two, 61 by a factor between two and five, 13 by a factor between five and 10, seven by a factor between 10 and 20, and two by a factor greater than 20. Some cases warrant special concern, such as high concentrations of several organic contaminants in cod liver from the Inner Oslofjord. High concentrations of DDE in mussels from the Sørfjord were related to earlier use of DDT as pesticide in orchards along the fjord. The influence of fish length on contaminant concentration was examined. Results of analyses of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen are presented to investigate the role of food origin and trophic levels for observed contaminant concentrations. In addition microplastics were investigated in blue mussel collected in 2016 and 2017.

• Green, Norman Whitaker; Schøyen, Merete; Øxnevad, Sigurd; Ruus, Anders; Hjermann, Dag Øystein & Severinsen, Gunnar [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2021). Contaminants in coastal waters of Norway 2016. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7314-4. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This programme examines the levels, trends and effects of contaminants in biota along the coast of Norway. The 2016- investigation included analyses of 104 different contaminants or biological effect parameters in five types of samples (blue mussel, dog whelk, common periwinkle and cod). The contaminants include metals (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ag, As, Ni, Cr and Co), tributyltin (TBT), organochlorines (e.g. PCBs, DDT), PAHs, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS) as well as contaminants that have recently received much attention such as hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDs), chlorinated paraffins (SCCP, MCCP), phosphorus flame retardants (PFRs), bisphenol A (BPA), tetrabrombisphenol A (TBBPA) and alkyphenols. Biological effects parameters included VDSI, OH-pyrene metabolites, ALA-D and EROD. In the report, 30 representative substances or parameters were chosen for analyses of 800 time series (last 10 years). Of these there were statistically significant trends in 135 cases: 107 were downwards and 28 upwards. The dominance of downward trends indicated that contamination is decreasing for the measured substances. The downwards trends for TBT-concentrations and effect parameter (VDSI) confirmed that the legislation banning the use of TBT has been effective. Of the 2016-medians for all 800 time series, there were 403 cases that could be classified against EQS, of which 254 (63 %) were below the EQS and 149 (37 %) were above the EQS. All of the 2016-medians from the 800 time series could be classified using a new concept denoted provisional high reference concentrations (PROREF). Of these 594 were below PROREF and 206 exceeded PROREF: 124 by a factor of less than two, 59 by a factor between two and five, 11 by a factor between five and 10, six by a factor between 10 and 20, and six by a factor greater than 20. Some cases warrant special concern, such as high concentrations of several organic pollutants in cod liver from the Inner Oslofjord. High concentrations of DDE in mussels from the Sørfjord were related to earlier use of DDT as pesticide in orchards along the fjord. The influence of fish length on contaminant concentration was examined. Results of analyses of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen are presented to investigate the role of food origin and trophic levels for observed contaminant concentrations.

• Ruus, Anders; Ranneklev, Sissel Brit; Golmen, Lars Gunder; Grung, Merete; Allan, Ian & Øxnevad, Sigurd (2020). Utredning av konsekvenser av uhellsutslipp av PAH fra Tizir Titanium & Iron AS. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7270-3. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Tizir Titanium & Iron AS hadde et uhellsutslipp av 217 kg PAH-forbindelser i løpet av 28 timer i juni 2020. Kortsiktige og langsiktige effekter av utslippet ble vurdert. Tidligere modellering av fortynning og spredning av bedriftens regulerte utslippspunkt ble benyttet. Beregnede konsentrasjoner av PAH-forbindelser i vannsøyle ved diffusor og ca. 1 km fra diffusor (nordvestlig retning) viste at grenseverdier for flere PAH-forbindelser ble oversteget i løpet av de 28 timene uhellsutslippet vedvarte. Beregnede kortvarige konsentrasjoner kan gi akutte toksiske effekter på organismer inntil 1 km fra diffusor. Blåskjell innsamlet ca. to måneder etter uhellsutslippet hadde tilsvarende konsentrasjoner av PAH som i blåskjell samlet inn i 2019. Konsentrasjonene var godt under grenseverdier gitt i vannforskriften. En konservativ og teoretisk beregning av tilførsler av PAH til sedimenter utenfor Tizir Titanium & Iron AS, indikerer at tilførslene av PAH er beskjedne i forhold til de eksiterende konsentrasjonene i sedimentene. NIVA kan ikke se at det noen tiltak som kan iverksettes for å motvirke konsekvenser av utslippet. En blåskjellstasjon ved Apold bør følges opp videre.

• Ruus, Anders; Bæk, Kine; Rundberget, Thomas; Allan, Ian; Beylich, Bjørnar & Vogelsang, Christian [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2020). Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord, 2019. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7290-1. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This programme, “Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord” has covered sampling and analyses of sediment and organisms in a marine food web of the Inner Oslofjord, in addition to samples of blood and eggs from herring gull. The programme also included inputs of pollutants via surface water (storm water), and effluent water and sludge from a sewage treatment plant. The bioaccumulation potential of the contaminants in the Oslo fjord food web was evaluated. The exposure to/accumulation of the contaminants was also assessed in birds. A vast number of chemical parameters have been quantified, in addition to some biological effect parameters in cod, and the report serves as a status description of the concentrations of these chemicals in different compartments of the Inner Oslofjord marine ecosystem.

• Ruus, Anders; Ledang, Anna Birgitta & Kristiansen, Trond (2020). Monitoring of coastal waters in the Hardanger River Basin, 2019. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7236-9. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  DIHVA IKS designed a monitoring program for coastal water in the Hardanger river basin for 2017- 2021, on behalf of the companies Boliden Odda AS and Tizir Titanium & Iron AS. The program was approved by the Norwegian Environment Agency in a letter of 22.12.2016. The program for 2019 was carried out by NIVA, in collaboration with Hardanger Miljøsenter. In this program (2017-2021), measurements of the following quality elements should be carried out at certain stations in the water bodies Sørfjorden inner part (ID 0260040900-1-C), Sørfjorden outer part (ID 0260040900-2-C) and Samlafjorden (ID 0260040800-C): In the water column: Secchi depth, temperature, salinity, oxygen, metals and fluoride. On the sea bottom: Benthic fauna and sediments habitat characteristics, metals and PAHs in sediment. In biota: Metals in fish (tusk), metals and PAHs in mussels. In 2019, the program comprised stations in Sørfjorden inner part (ID 0260040900-1-C) and Sørfjorden outer part (ID 0260040900-2-C), as well as the following quality elements: In the water column: Secchi depth, temperature, salinity, oxygen, metals and fluoride. In biota: Metals and PAHs in mussels. Biological quality elements were not evaluated in 2019. (...)

• Ruus, Anders; Bæk, Kine; Rundberget, Thomas; Allan, Ian; Beylich, Bjørnar & Schlabach, Martin [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2019). Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord, 2018. Norsk insitutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7145-4. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This programme, “Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord” has covered sampling and analyses of sediment and organisms in a marine food web of the Inner Oslofjord, in addition to samples of blood and eggs from herring gull and eider duck. The programme also included inputs of pollutants via surface water (storm water), and effluent water and sludge from a sewage treatment plant. The bioaccumulation potential of the contaminants in the Oslo fjord food web was evaluated. The exposure to/accumulation of the contaminants was also assessed in birds. A vast number of chemical parameters have been quantified, in addition to some biological effect parameters in cod, and the report serves as valuable documentation of the concentrations of these chemicals in different compartments of the Inner Oslofjord marine ecosystem.

• Ruus, Anders; Borgersen, Gunhild; Ledang, Anna Birgitta & Kristiansen, Trond (2019). Monitoring of coastal waters in the Hardanger River Basin, 2018. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7073-0. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  DIHVA IKS designed a monitoring program for coastal water in the Hardanger river basin for 2017- 2021, on behalf of the companies Boliden Odda AS and Tizir Titanium & Iron AS. The program was approved by the Norwegian Environment Agency in a letter of 22.12.2016. The program for 2017 was carried out by NIVA, in collaboration with Hardanger Miljøsenter. In this program (2017-2021), measurements of the following quality elements should be carried out at certain stations in the water bodies Sørfjorden inner part (ID 0260040900-1-C), Sørfjorden outer part (ID 0260040900-2-C) and Samlafjorden (ID 0260040800-C): In the water column: Secchi depth, temperature, salinity, oxygen, metals and fluoride. On the sea bottom: Benthic fauna and sediments habitat characteristics, metals and PAHs in sediment. In biota: Metals in fish (tusk), metals and PAHs in mussels. In 2018, the program comprised stations in all above mentioned water bodies, as well as all the mentioned quality elements. In addition, fluoride in bone of fish (from the Sørfjord and a reference locality) is analysed. (...)

• Amlund, Heidi; Rakkestad, Kirsten Eline; Ruus, Anders; Starrfelt, Jostein; Beyer, Jonny & Brantsæter, Anne Lise [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2019). Scenario calculations of mercury exposure from fish and overview of species with high mercury concentrations. Opinion of the Panel on Contaminants of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment. Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM). ISSN 978-82-8259-319-9.
• Ruus, Anders; Bæk, Kine; Petersen, Karina; Allan, Ian; Beylich, Bjørnar & Schlabach, Martin [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2018). Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord, 2017. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-7103-4. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This programme, “Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord” has covered sampling and analyses of sediment and organisms in a marine food web of the Inner Oslofjord, in addition to samples of blood and eggs from herring gull and eider duck. The programme also included inputs of pollutants via surface water (storm water), and effluent water and sludge from a sewage treatment plant. The bioaccumulation potential of the contaminants in the Oslo fjord food web was evaluated. The exposure to/accumulation of the contaminants was also assessed in birds. A vast number of chemical parameters have been quantified, in addition to some biological effect parameters in cod, and the report serves as valuable documentation of the concentrations of these chemicals in different compartments of the Inner Oslofjord marine ecosystem.

• Ruus, Anders; Kristiansen, Trond & Staalstrøm, Andre (2018). Monitoring of coastal waters in the Hardanger River Basin, 2017. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-6986-4. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  DIHVA IKS designed a monitoring program for coastal water in the Hardanger river basin for 2017-2021, on behalf of the companies Boliden Odda AS and Tizir Titanium & Iron AS. The program was approved by the Norwegian Environment Agency in a letter of 22.12.2016. The program for 2017 was carried out by NIVA, in collaboration with Hardanger Miljøsenter. In this program (2017-2021), measurements of the following quality elements should be carried out at certain stations in the water bodies Sørfjorden inner part (ID 0260040900-1-C), Sørfjorden outer part (ID 0260040900-2-C) and Samlafjorden (ID 0260040800-C): In the water column: Secchi depth, temperature, salinity, oxygen, metals and fluoride. On the sea bottom: Benthic fauna and sediments habitat characteristics, metals and PAHs in sediment. In biota: Metals in fish (tusk), metals and PAHs in mussels. In 2017, the program comprised stations in the water bodies Sørfjorden inner part (ID 0260040900-1-C) and Sørfjorden outer part (ID 0260040900-2-C), as well as the following quality elements: In the water column: Secchi depth, temperature, salinity, oxygen, metals and fluoride. In biota: Metals and PAHs in mussels. Biological quality elements were not evaluated in 2017. The results showed the following: Ecological status was not classified as there were no data on biological quality elements. With regard to the physico-chemical support elements, oxygen at the deepest probe depth (here regarded as bottom water) showed very good condition (with the reservation that lower oxygen concentrations may exist even closer to the bottom) at Sø7/2 and Lind1 stations. The secchi depth at these stations corresponded to moderate condition. (...)

• Ranneklev, Sissel Brit; Green, Norman Whitaker; Allan, Ian; Grung, Merete; Garmo, Øyvind Aaberg & Ruus, Anders [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2017). Monitoring methods for river basin specific pollutants and priority substances in transitional waters. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-6959-8. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Although that environmental hazardous substances have been monitored in brackish water in Norway for decades, no common monitoring strategy has been established, equivalent to those used in coastal waters, rivers, and lakes. In this report we provide examples of monitoring methods for river basin specific substances pollutants and priority substances in transitional waters. Recommendations for the selection of monitoring methods are given.

• Ruus, Anders (2017). Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord, 2016. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-6934-5. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This programme, “Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord” has covered sampling and analysis of sediment and organisms in a marine food web of the Inner Oslofjord, in addition to samples of blood and eggs from herring gull. The programme also included inputs of pollutants via surface water (storm water). The bioaccumulation potential of the contaminants in the Oslo fjord food web was evaluated. The exposure to/accumulation of the contaminants was also assessed in herring gull, as an indicator of an urban fjord inhabitant. A vast number of chemical parameters have been quantified, in addition to some biological effect parameters in cod, and the report serves as valuable documentation of the concentrations of these chemicals in different compartments of the Inner Oslofjord marine ecosystem. Furthermore, this report presents relationships between the contaminant concentrations and various biological variables.

• Amlund, Heidi; Lillegaard, Inger Therese L.; Brantsæter, Anne Lise; Eriksen, Gunnar Sundstøl; Fæste, Christiane Kruse & Knutsen, Helle Katrine [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2016). Dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic in the Norwegian population. Assessment of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety. Norwegian Scientific Committe for Food Safety. ISSN 978-82-8259-201-7. Full text in Research Archive
• Skaar, Ida; Asare, Nana Yaa Ohene; Klein, Joern; Okoli, Arinze Stanley; Ruus, Anders & Gjøen, Tor [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2016). Health and environmental risk evaluation of microorganisms used in bioremediation. Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Microbial Ecology of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety. Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM). ISSN 978-82-8259-232-1. Full text in Research Archive
• Green, Norman W.; Schøyen, Merete; Øxnevad, Sigurd; Ruus, Anders; Allan, Ian & Hjermann, Dag [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2016). Contaminants in coastal waters of Norway 2015. Miljøgifter i norske kystområder 2015. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-6822-5. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This programme examines the levels, trends and effects of contaminants in biota along the coast of Norway. The 2015-investigation included analyses of 108 different contaminants or biological effect parameters in five types of samples (blue mussel, dog whelk, common periwinkle, cod and passive samplers). The contaminants include metals (Ag, As, Hg, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn), tributyltin (TBT), organochlorines (e.g. PCBs, DDT), PAHs, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS) as well as contaminants that have recently received much attention such as hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDs), chlorinated paraffins (SCCP, MCCP), phosphorus flame retardants (PFRs), bisphenol A (BPA), tetrabrombisphenol A (TBBPA) and alkyphenols. Biological effects parameters included VDSI, OHpyrene metabolites, ALA-D and EROD. In the report, 30 representative substances or parameters were chosen for analyses of 829 time series (last 10 years). Of these there were statistically significant trends in 98 cases: 81 were downwards and 17 upwards. The dominance of downward trends indicated that contamination is decreasing for the measured substances. The downwards trends for TBT-concentrations and effect parameter (VDSI) confirmed that the legislation banning the use of TBT has been effective. Of the same 829 cases, 431 could be classified by the environmental classification system used by the Norwegian Environment Agency. 378 were classified as insignificantly polluted, 48 as moderately polluted, four as markedly polluted and one as severely polluted. Some cases warrant special concern, such as upward trend for mercury in cod fillet and high concentrations of several organic pollutants in cod liver from the Inner Oslofjord. High concentrations of DDE in mussels from the Sørfjord were related to earlier use of DDT as pesticide in orchards along the fjord. The relation of fish length on contaminant concentration was examined. Application of quality standards in biota were discussed.

• Ruus, Anders; Bæk, Kine; Petersen, Karina; Allan, Ian; Beylich, Bjørnar & Schlabach, Martin [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2016). Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord, 2015. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-6808-9. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This programme, “Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord” has covered sampling and analysis of sediment and organisms in a marine food web of the Inner Oslofjord, in addition to samples of blood and eggs from herring gull. The programme also included inputs of pollutants via surface water (storm water). The bioaccumulation potential of the contaminants in the Oslo fjord food web was evaluated. The exposure to/accumulation of the contaminants was also assessed in herring gull, as an indicator of an urban fjord inhabitant. A vast number of chemical parameters have been quantified, in addition to some biological effect parameters in cod, and the report serves as valuable documentation of the concentrations of these chemicals in different compartments of the Inner Oslofjord marine ecosystem. Furthermore, this report presents relationships between the contaminant concentrations and various biological variables.

• Fagerli, Camilla With; Ruus, Anders; Borgersen, Gunhild; Staalstrøm, Andre; Green, Norman Whitaker & Hjermann, Dag Øystein [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2016). Tiltaksrettet overvåking av Grenlandsfjordene i henhold til vannforskriften. Overvåking for konsortium av 11 bedrifter i Grenland. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-6784-6. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  NIVA har gjennomført tiltaksrettet overvåking i Grenlandsfjordene for et konsortium bestående av 11 bedrifter som har eller har hatt utslipp til Grenlandsfjordene. Overvåkingsprogrammet er utarbeidet av NIVA i henhold til vannforskriften og godkjent av Miljødirektoratet. Programmet er utformet på bakgrunn av bedriftenes utslippskomponenter til Grenlandsfjordene. I overvåkingen er det gjort undersøkelse av de biologiske kvalitetselementene bløtbunnsfauna, makroalger og planteplankton. Fysisk-kjemiske støtteparametere inngår i vurderingen av økologisk tilstand. For vurdering av kjemisk tilstand er sediment og biota (blåskjell, torsk og krabbe) undersøkt for EUs prioriterte miljøgifter og for vannregionspesifikke stoffer, som inngår i vurdering av økologisk tilstand. Supplerende undersøkelser av strandsonesamfunn, konsentrasjon av cyanid i vann og tidstrender er integrert i rapporten. Tre av fire stasjoner for bløtbunnsfauna oppnår ikke god økologisk tilstand. Planteplankton oppnår moderat økologisk tilstand på en stasjon, mens klassegrenser ikke er utviklet for vannforekomsten Frierfjorden, der den andre planteplanktonstasjonen er lokalisert. Makroalger oppnår god økologisk tilstand på begge stasjonene som ble undersøkt i vannforekomsten Langesundsfjorden. Fem sedimentstasjoner ble undersøkt, ingen av dem oppnår god kjemisk tilstand. Det var særlig PAH-forbindelser, kvikksølv, TBT og klororganiske forbindelser (som dioksiner) som ble oversteget i sedimentene. TBT og kvikksølv oversteg grenseverdiene også i blåskjell. Flere vannregionspesifikke stoffer oversteg grenseverdiene i sediment (PAH-forbindelser og enkelte metaller). Økologisk og kjemisk tilstand i Grenlandsfjordene var «ikke god» i 2015. Overskridelsene skyldes særlig tidligere utslipp. Tilførselsbidragene fra Skienselva, renseanlegg og avrenning fra urbane flater er også viktige.

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