Anders Ruus

• Grung, Merete; Meland, Sondre; Ruus, Anders; Ranneklev, Sissel Brit; Fjeld, Eirik; Kringstad, Alfhild; Rundberget, Thomas; Cruz, Majbrit Dela & Christensen, Jan H (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 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; 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.

• Andvik, Clare; 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.

• Jourdain, Eve; Andvik, Clare Margaret; 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), s 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.

• 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.  s 1- 12 . doi: 10.1002/ieam.4340
• Borgå, Katrine & Ruus, Anders (2019). Quantifying Bioaccumulation in the Aquatic Environment. Methods in pharmacology and toxicology.  ISSN 1557-2153.  s 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).

• 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, s 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.

• 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), s 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.

• Everaert, Gert; Ruus, Anders; Hjermann, Dag Øystein; Borgå, Katrine; Green, Norman Whitaker; Boitsov, Stepan; Jensen, Henning & Poste, Amanda (2017). Additive Models Reveal Sources of Metals and Organic Pollutants in Norwegian Marine Sediments. Environmental Science and Technology.  ISSN 0013-936X.  51(21), s 12764- 12773 . doi: 10.1021/acs.est.7b02964 Full text in Research Archive.
• Beyer, Jonny; Green, Norman Whitaker; Brooks, Steven; Allan, Ian; Ruus, Anders; Gomes, Tania; Bråte, Inger Lise Nerland & Schøyen, Merete (2017). Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis spp.) as sentinel organisms in coastal pollution monitoring: A review. Marine Environmental Research.  ISSN 0141-1136.  130, s 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.

• 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, s 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.

• 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, s 221- 232 . doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.07.025 Full text in Research Archive.
• de Gelder, Stefan; Bakke, Marit J.; Vos, Joelle; Rasinger, Josef D.; Ingebrigtsen, Kristian; Grung, Merete; Ruus, Anders; Flik, Gert; Klaren, Peter H.M. & Berntssen, Marc H. G. (2016). The effect of dietary lipid composition on the intestinal uptake and tissue distribution of benzo[a]pyrene and phenanthrene in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology.  ISSN 1532-0456.  185-186, s 65- 76 . doi: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2016.03.003
• Evenset, Anita; Hallanger, Ingeborg G.; Tessmann, Michael; Warner, Nicholas Alexander; Ruus, Anders; Borgå, Katrine; Gabrielsen, Geir W.; Christensen, Guttorm N. & Renaud, Paul (2016). Seasonal variation in accumulation of persistent organic pollutants in an Arctic marine benthic food web. Science of the Total Environment.  ISSN 0048-9697.  542, s 108- 120 . doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.10.092
• Grung, Merete; Ruus, Anders; Schneider, Susanne Claudia; Hjermann, Dag Øystein & Borgå, Katrine (2016). Toxicokinetics of pyrene in the freshwater alga Chara rudis. Chemosphere.  ISSN 0045-6535.  157, s 49- 56 . doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.04.128
• Øverjordet, Ida Beathe; Gabrielsen, Geir Wing; Berg, Torunn; Ruus, Anders; Evenset, Anita; Borgå, Katrine; Christensen, Guttorm; Lierhagen, Syverin & Jenssen, Bjørn Munro (2015). Effect of diet, location and sampling year on bioaccumulation of mercury, selenium and cadmium in pelagic feeding seabirds in Svalbard. Chemosphere.  ISSN 0045-6535.  122, s 14- 22 . doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.10.060
• Øverjordet, Ida Beathe; Kongsrud, Magnus Brunvoll; Gabrielsen, Geir Wing; Berg, Torunn; Ruus, Anders; Evenset, Anita; Borgå, Katrine; Christensen, Guttorm & Jenssen, Bjørn Munro (2015). Toxic and essential elements changed in black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) during their stay in an Arctic breeding area. Science of the Total Environment.  ISSN 0048-9697.  502, s 548- 556 . doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.09.058
• Ruus, Anders; Øverjordet, Ida Beathe; Braaten, Hans Fredrik Veiteberg; Evenset, Anita; Christensen, Guttorm N.; Heimstad, Eldbjørg Sofie; Gabrielsen, Geir W. & Borgå, Katrine (2015). Methylmercury biomagnification in an Arctic pelagic food web. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.  ISSN 0730-7268.  34(11), s 2636- 2643 . doi: 10.1002/etc.3143 Full text in Research Archive. Show summary

  Mercury (Hg) is a toxic element that enters the biosphere from natural and anthropogenic sources, and emitted gaseous Hg enters the Arctic from lower latitudes by long-range transport. In aquatic systems, anoxic conditions favor the bacterial transformation of inorganic Hg to methylmercury (MeHg), which has a greater potential for bioaccumulation than inorganic Hg and is the most toxic form of Hg. The main objective of the present study was to quantify the biomagnification of MeHg in a marine pelagic food web, comprising species of zooplankton, fish, and seabirds, from the Kongsfjorden system (Svalbard, Norway), by use of trophic magnification factors. As expected, tissue concentrations of MeHg increased with increasing trophic level in the food web, though at greater rates than observed in several earlier studies, especially at lower latitudes. There was strong correlation between MeHg and total Hg concentrations through the food web as a whole. The concentration of MeHg in kittiwake decreased from May to October, contributing to seasonal differences in trophic magnification factors. The ecology and physiology of the species comprising the food web in question may have a large influence on the magnitude of the biomagnification. A significant linear relationship was also observed between concentrations of selenium and total Hg in birds but not in zooplankton, suggesting the importance of selenium in Hg detoxification for individuals with high Hg concentrations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:2636–2643. © 2015 SETAC

• Beyer, Jonny; Petersen, Karina; Song, You; Ruus, Anders; Grung, Merete; Bakke, Torgeir Heggelund & Tollefsen, Knut-Erik (2014). Environmental risk assessment of combined effects in aquatic ecotoxicology: A discussion paper. Marine Environmental Research.  ISSN 0141-1136.  96, s 81- 91 . doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2013.10.008 Full text in Research Archive.
• Ruus, Anders; Allan, Ian; Øxnevad, Sigurd; Schaanning, Morten; Borgå, Katrine; Bakke, Torgeir Heggelund & Næs, Kristoffer (2013). In vivo bioaccumulation of contaminants from historically polluted sediments - Relation to bioavailability estimates. Science of the Total Environment.  ISSN 0048-9697.  442, s 336- 343 . doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.10.060 Full text in Research Archive.
• Starrfelt, Jostein; Borgå, Katrine; Ruus, Anders & Fjeld, Eirik (2013). Estimating trophic levels and trophic magnification factors using Bayesian inference. Environmental Science and Technology.  ISSN 0013-936X.  47(20), s 11599- 11606 . doi: 10.1021/es401231e Full text in Research Archive.
• Allan, Ian; Ruus, Anders; Schaanning, Morten; Macrae, Kenneth John & Næs, Kristoffer (2012). Measuring nonpolar organic contaminant partitioning in three Norwegian sediments using polyethylene passive samplers. Science of the Total Environment.  ISSN 0048-9697.  423, s 125- 131 . doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.02.027
• Ruus, Anders; Daae, Ingrid Aarre & Hylland, Ketil (2012). Accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls from contaminated sediment by Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua): Direct accumulation from resuspended sediment and dietary accumulation via the polychaete Nereis virens. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.  ISSN 0730-7268.  31(11), s 2472- 2481 . doi: 10.1002/etc.1973 Full text in Research Archive.
• Ruus, Anders; Daae, Ingrid Aarre & Hylland, Ketil (2012). Accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls from contaminated sediment by Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua): Direct accumulation from resuspended sediment and dietary accumulation via the polychaete Nereis virens. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.  ISSN 0730-7268.  31(11), s 2472- 2481 . doi: 10.1002/etc.1973
• Sundt, Rolf; Ruus, Anders; Jonsson, Henrik; Skarphédinsdóttir, Halldóra; Meier, Sonnich; Grung, Merete; Beyer, Jonny & Pampanin, Daniela M. (2012). Biomarker responses in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) exposed to produced water from a North Sea oil field: Laboratory and field assessments. Marine Pollution Bulletin.  ISSN 0025-326X.  64(1), s 144- 152 . doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.10.005
• Hallanger, Ingeborg Gammelsæter; Ruus, Anders; Warner, Nicholas Alexander; Herzke, Dorte; Evenset, Anita; Schøyen, Merete; Gabrielsen, Geir W. & Borgå, Katrine (2011). Differences between Arctic and Atlantic fjord systems on bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants in zooplankton from Svalbard. Science of the Total Environment.  ISSN 0048-9697.  409(14), s 2783- 2795 . doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.03.015
• Berge, John Arthur; Hylland, Ketil; Schlabach, Martin & Ruus, Anders (2011). Accumulation of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins and Furans in Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua)-Cage Experiments in a Norwegian Fjord. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A.  ISSN 1528-7394.  74(7-9), s 455- 465 . doi: 10.1080/15287394.2011.550556
• Brooks, Steven; Harman, Christopher Peter; Grung, Merete; Finne, Eivind Farmen; Ruus, Anders; Vingen, Sjur; Godal, Brit Fjone; Barsiene, Janina; Andreikenaite, Laura; Skarphédinsdóttir, Halldóra; Liewenborg, Birgitta & Sundt, Rolf (2011). Water Column Monitoring of the Biological Effects of Produced Water from the Ekofisk Offshore Oil Installation from 2006 to 2009. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A.  ISSN 1528-7394.  74(7-9), s 582- 604 . doi: 10.1080/15287394.2011.550566
• Hallanger, Ingeborg Gammelsæter; Ruus, Anders; Herzke, Dorte; Warner, Nicholas Alexander; Evenset, Anita; Heimstad, Eldbjørg Sofie; Gabrielsen, Geir W. & Borgå, Katrine (2011). Influence of season, location, and feeding strategy on bioaccumulation of halogenated organic contaminants in Arctic marine zooplankton. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.  ISSN 0730-7268.  30(1), s 77- 87 . doi: 10.1002/etc.362
• Hallanger, Ingeborg Gammelsæter; Warner, Nicholas Alexander; Ruus, Anders; Evenset, Anita; Christensen, Guttorm; Herzke, Dorte; Gabrielsen, Geir W. & Borgå, Katrine (2011). Seasonality in contaminant accumulation in Arctic marine pelagic food webs using trophic magnification factor as a measure of bioaccumulation. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.  ISSN 0730-7268.  30(5), s 1026- 1035 . doi: 10.1002/etc.488
• Saloranta, Tuomo Mikael; Ruus, Anders & Borgå, Katrine (2011). Identification of the most influential factors in the Norwegian guidelines for risk assessment of dispersion of contaminants from sediments. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management.  ISSN 1551-3777.  7(4), s 657- 667 . doi: 10.1002/ieam.188
• Sundt, Rolf; Pampanin, Daniela M.; Grung, Merete; Baršienė, Janina & Ruus, Anders (2011). PAH body burden and biomarker responses in mussels (Mytilus edulis) exposed to produced water from a North Sea oil field: Laboratory and field assessments. Marine Pollution Bulletin.  ISSN 0025-326X.  62(7), s 1498- 1505 . doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.04.009

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• Skaar, Ida; Asare, Nana Yaa Ohene; Klein, Jörn; Okoli, Arinze Stanley & Ruus, Anders (2016). Health and risk evaluation of microorganisms used in bioremediation. Report from the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM).  ISBN 9788282592321.  74 s.

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• Petersen, Karina; Wolf, Raoul; Ruus, Anders & Tollefsen, Knut-Erik (2020). Characterisation of cumulative risk of pollutants to marine organisms in Sørfjorden, Norway.
• Ruus, Anders; Ledang, Anna Birgitta & Kristiansen, Trond (2020). Overvåking av kystvann i vannområde Hardanger 2019. NIVA-rapport. 7501. Full text in Research Archive. Show summary

  Overvåkingen av kystvann i vannområdet Hardanger i 2019 viste følgende: Oksygen ved største sondedyp (her antatt bunnvann) viste moderat tilstand på stasjonene Sø7/2, Lind1 og S22Sør. Siktedypet på disse stasjonene tilsvarte også moderat tilstand. Vannregionspesifikke stoffer i vann (metaller; særlig sink) oversteg grenseverdiene (EQS) på alle stasjoner hvor vann ble analysert (Lind1, Sø7/2 og S22Sør). Også prioriterte stoffer (kadmium og bly) oversteg grenseverdiene (EQS) i sjøvann på stasjon 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 910 μg/L.

• Ruus, Anders; Wolf, Raoul; Petersen, Karina & Tollefsen, Knut-Erik (2020). Characterisation of cumulative risk of contaminants to organisms exposed to stormwater in Oslo, 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.
• Amlund, Heidi; Rakkestad, Kirsten Eline; Ruus, Anders; Starrfelt, Jostein; Beyer, Jonny; Brantsæter, Anne Lise; Bremer, Sara; Eriksen, Gunnar Sundstøl; Mariussen, Espen; Samdal, Ingunn Anita; Thomsen, Cathrine & Knutsen, Helle Katrine (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. VKM Report. 2019:03.
• Green, Norman Whitaker; Schøyen, Merete; Hjermann, Dag Øystein; Øxnevad, Sigurd; Ruus, Anders; Beylich, Bjørnar; Lund, Espen; Tveiten, Lise Ann; Jenssen, Marthe Torunn Solhaug; Håvardstun, Jarle; Ribeiro, Anne Luise; Doyer, Isabel; Rundberget, Thomas & Bæk, Kine (2019). Contaminants in coastal waters of Norway 2018. NIVA-rapport. 7412. 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.

• McGovern, Maeve; Evenset, Anita; Borgå, Katrine; Wit, Heleen de; Braaten, Hans Fredrik Veiteberg; Hessen, Dag Olav; Schultze, Sabrina; Ruus, Anders & Poste, Amanda (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), s 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, 05. mai). Mye mer miljøgifter i fjordene enn i havet. [Internett].  Forskning.no.
• Ruus, Anders; Borgersen, Gunhild; Ledang, Anna Birgitta & Kristiansen, Trond (2019). Overvåking av kystvann i vannområde Hardanger 2018. NIVA-rapport. 7338. Full text in Research Archive. Show summary

  Overvåkingen av kystvann i vannområdet Hardanger i 2018 viste følgende: Bløtbunnsfauna viste god til svært god tilstand på samtlige stasjoner. Mhp. de fysisk-kjemiske kvalitetselemententene viste oksygen ved største sondedyp (her antatt bunnvann) moderat og dårlig tilstand (med forbehold om lavere verdier enda nærmere bunnen) på stasjonene Sø7/2, Lind1 og S22Sør. Siktedypet på disse stasjonene, samt på S16, tilsvarte moderat og dårlig tilstand. Vannregionspesifikke stoffer i vann (metaller; sink og arsen) og særlig sediment (metaller; sink og arsen, og PAH-forbindelser) oversteg i mange tilfeller grenseverdiene (EQS) og vil dermed begrense økologisk tilstand til maksimalt moderat tilstand på de fleste stasjoner. Også EUs prioriterte stoffer i sediment (metaller og PAH-forbindelser) oversteg grenseverdiene (EQS) og førte til at god kjemisk tilstand ikke ble oppnådd på de fleste stasjoner. I vann var det kun bly som oversteg grenseverdien på stasjon S22Sør. Konsentrasjoner av kvikksølv i blåskjell og brosme var også for høye til å klassifisere kjemisk tilstand som god. På stasjon Sø10 ble høyeste konsentrasjon av fluorid i ufiltrert sjøvann fra 2 m dyp målt til 310 μg/L. Det var ingen statistisk signifikant forskjell i fluoridkonsentrasjonene i bein fra torsk fra Sørfjorden, sammenlignet med en referanselokalitet (Bømlo-området).

• Ruus, Anders; Bæk, Kine; Rundberget, Thomas; Allan, Ian; Beylich, Bjørnar; Schlabach, Martin; Warner, Nicholas Alexander; Borgå, Katrine; Helberg, Morten & Helberg, Morten (2019). Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord, 2018. NIVA-rapport. 7410. 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.

• Green, Norman Whitaker; Schøyen, Merete; Hjermann, Dag Øystein; Øxnevad, Sigurd; Ruus, Anders; Lusher, Amy; Beylich, Bjørnar; Lund, Espen; Tveiten, Lise Ann; Håvardstun, Jarle; Jenssen, Marthe Torunn Solhaug; Ribeiro, Anne Luise & Bæk, Kine (2018). Contaminants in coastal waters of Norway 2017. NIVA-rapport. 7302. 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.

• Jarosz, Emil; Skipperud, Lindis; Teien, Hans-Christian; Ruus, Anders & Tollefsen, Knut Erik (2018). Complex mixture of coastal water pollutants: speciation, bioavailability and toxicokinetics.
• Ruus, Anders; Bæk, Kine; Petersen, Karina; Allan, Ian; Beylich, Bjørnar; Schlabach, Martin; Warner, Nicholas Alexander; Borgå, Katrine & Helberg, Morten (2018). Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord, 2017. NIVA-rapport. 7368-2019. 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). Overvåking av kystvann i vannområde Hardanger 2017. NIVA-rapport. 7251. Full text in Research Archive. Show summary

  Overvåkingen av kystvann i vannområdet Hardanger, 2017 viste følgende: Oksygen ved største sondedyp (her antatt bunnvann) viste svært god tilstand (med forbehold om lavere verdier enda nærmere bunnen) på stasjonene Sø7/2 og Lind1. Siktedypet på disse stasjonene tilsvarte moderat tilstand. Vannregionspesifikke stoffer i vann (metaller; særlig sink) oversteg i mange tilfeller grenseverdien. I blåskjell var det kvikksølv som overskred grenseverdien på stasjonene Søb1 og B1. På stasjonene B1 og B3 var konsentrasjonene av Hg, Cd, Pb, Zn og Cu i 2017 blant de laveste som er observert siden 1980-årene. Ingen konsentrasjoner av fluorid over 300 μg/L kunne observeres i sjøvann.

• Beyer, Jonny; Schøyen, Merete; Brooks, Steven; Allan, Ian; Ruus, Anders; Gomes, Tania; Bråte, Inger Lise Nerland; Håvardstun, Jarle; Hjermann, Dag Øystein & Green, Norman Whitaker (2017). Blue mussel (Mytilus edulis spp.) as environmental indicator.
• Green, Norman Whitaker; Schøyen, Merete; Øxnevad, Sigurd; Ruus, Anders; Hjermann, Dag Øystein; Severinsen, Gunnar; Høgåsen, Tore; Beylich, Bjørnar; Håvardstun, Jarle; Lund, Espen; Tveiten, Lise Ann & Bæk, Kine (2017). Contaminants in coastal waters of Norway 2016. NIVA-rapport. 7200. 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.

• Keilen, Ellen Kristine; Borgå, Katrine; Ruus, Anders; Helberg, Morten; Reiertsen, Tone; Warner, Nicholas Alexander & Hylland, Ketil (2017). Levels and effects of environmental contaminants in herring gull (Larus argentatus) from an urban and a rural colony in Norway.
• Poste, Amanda; Allan, Ian; Arts, Michael T.; Borgå, Katrine; Carlsson, Pernilla Marianne; Christensen, Guttorm; Dunton, Ken; Evenset, Anita; Leu, Eva; Renaud, Paul E.; Ruus, Anders; Søreide, Janne; Varpe, Øystein & Braaten, Hans Fredrik Veiteberg (2017). The TerrACE project: Effects of terrestrial inputs on contaminant dynamics in Arctic coastal ecosystems.
• Poste, Amanda; Koppelle, Sebastiaan; Seuthe, Lena; Christensen, Guttorm; Braaten, Hans Fredrik Veiteberg; Borgå, Katrine; Ruus, Anders & Kaste, Øyvind (2017). Riverine inputs to Norwegian fjords: Effects on lower food web structure and mercury bioaccumulation.
• Ranneklev, Sissel Brit; Green, Norman Whitaker; Allan, Ian; Grung, Merete; Garmo, Øyvind Aaberg; Ruus, Anders; Gitmark, Janne Kim & Schøyen, Merete (2017). Overvåkingsmetoder for vannregionspesifikke og prioriterte stoffer i kystvann påvirket av ferskvann. NIVA-rapport. 7224. Full text in Research Archive. Show summary

  Miljøgifter i brakkvann har vært overvåket i flere tiår i Norge, men det er ikke etablert en felles overvåkingsstrategi, slik som det er for kystvann, elver og innsjøer. I denne rapporten viser vi eksempler på overvåkingsmetoder for vannregionspesifikke og prioriterte stoffer i brakkvann. Anbefalinger for valg av overvåkingsmetoder er gitt.

• 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.
• Ruus, Anders (2017). Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord, 2016. NIVA-rapport. 7199. 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.

• Ruus, Anders; Øverjordet, Ida Beathe; Braaten, Hans Fredrik Veiteberg; Evenset, Anita; Christensen, Guttorm; Gabrielsen, Geir W. & Borgå, Katrine (2017). Methylmercury in Arctic Seabirds - Seasonal inter-tissue differences.
• Ruus, Anders; Øverjordet, Ida Beathe; Braaten, Hans Fredrik Veiteberg; Evenset, Anita; Christensen, Guttorm; Heimstad, Eldbjørg Sofie; Gabrielsen, Geir W. & Borgå, Katrine (2017). Methylmercury in an Arctic food web - With focus on seabirds.
• 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.
• Ruus, Anders; Bæk, Kine; Petersen, Karina; Allan, Ian; Beylich, Bjørnar; Schlabach, Martin; Warner, Nicholas & Helberg, Morten (2016). Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord, 2015. NIVA-rapport. 7073. 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; Kvalem, Helen Engelstad; Miles, Christopher Owen; Ruus, Anders; Thomsen, Cathrine & Skåre, Janneche Utne (2016). Dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic in the Norwegian population. Assessment of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety. VKM Report. 2016: 11. Full text in Research Archive.
• Fagerli, Camilla With; Ruus, Anders; Borgersen, Gunhild; Staalstrøm, Andre; Green, Norman Whitaker; Hjermann, Dag Øystein & Selvik, John Rune (2016). Tiltaksrettet overvåking av Grenlandsfjordene i henhold til vannforskriften. Overvåking for konsortium av 11 bedrifter i Grenland.. NIVA-rapport. 7049. 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.

• Green, Norman W.; Schøyen, Merete; Øxnevad, Sigurd; Ruus, Anders; Allan, Ian; Hjermann, Dag; Severinsen, Gunnar; Høgåsen, Tore; Beylich, Bjørnar; Håvardstun, Jarle; Lund, Espen; Tveiten, Lise & Bæk, Kine (2016). Contaminants in coastal waters of Norway 2015. Miljøgifter i norske kystområder 2015. NIVA-rapport. 7087. 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 & Borchgrevink, Harald Bonaventura (2016, 04. januar). Urbane problemer for gråmåkene.  Nationen.
• Ruus, Anders & Borchgrevink, Harald Bonaventura (2016, 04. januar). Urbane problemer for gråmåkene. [Internett].  forskning.no.
• Ruus, Anders; Borgersen, Gunhild; Ledang, Anna Birgitta; Fagerli, Camilla With; Staalstrøm, Andre & Norli, Marit (2016). Tiltaksrettet overvåking av kystvann i vannområdet Hardanger 2015. NIVA-rapport. 6996. Full text in Research Archive. Show summary

  Overvåkingen av kystvann i vannområdet Hardanger, 2015 viste følgende: Makroalger indikerte svært god eller god økologisk tilstand på stasjonene i Samlafjorden, men dårlig tilstand på stasjonene i Sørfjorden. Fjæreindeksen er imidlertid foreløpig kun godkjent i enkelte vanntyper fra Korsfjorden ved Bergen til Polarsirkelen. Bløtbunnsfauna viste god økologisk tilstand på samtlige stasjoner. Fysisk-kjemiske kvalitetselementer viste god (eller svært god) tilstand på alle stasjoner, unntatt på to stasjoner i Sørfjorden hvor tilstanden var moderat. Dette pga. en relativt høy nitrat-nitrittmengde, pga. ferskvannspåvirkning fra Opo, og moderate O2- konsentrasjoner. Klassifiseringen er imidlertid basert kun på sommermålingene 2015, og uten vintervurdering av overflatevann. Vannregionspesifikke stoffer i vann (metaller), og særlig i sediment (metaller og PAH-forbindelser) oversteg i mange tilfeller grenseverdien og reduserte økologisk tilstand til moderat på de fleste stasjoner. Også EUs prioriterte miljøgifter i vann (metaller) og særlig i sediment (metaller og PAH-forbindelser) oversteg grenseverdien (ikke god kjemisk tilstand) på de fleste stasjoner. Konsentrasjoner av DDT i blåskjell var også for høye (ikke god kjemisk tilstand). Det var stor variasjon i kvikksølvinnholdet mellom individuelle brosmer og samtlige oversteg verdien som er tillatt for å omsette som sjømat innenfor EU. Ingen konsentrasjoner av fluorid i vannsøylen oversteg grenseverdien på 4000 μg/l. Tellinger av termotolerante koliforme bakterier indikerte god/utmerket badevannskvalitet både i henhold til norske vannkvalitetsnormer for friluftsbad og EUs badevannsdirektiv.

• Ruus, Anders; Carlsson, Pernilla Marianne & Borchgrevink, Harald Bonaventura (2016, 12. mai). Mindre gamle miljøgifter i fisk fra verdenshavene. [Internett].  forskning.no.
• Skaar, Ida; Asare, Nana Yaa Ohene; Klein, Joern; Okoli, Arinze Stanley; Ruus, Anders; Gjøen, Tor; Godfroid, Jacques; Jelmert, Anders; Tronsmo, Arne & Ytrehus, Bjørnar (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. VKM Report. 2016:42. Full text in Research Archive.
• Ruus, Anders; Allan, Ian; Beylich, Bjørnar; Bæk, Kine; Schlabach, Martin & Helberg, Morten (2015). Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord, 2014. NIVA-rapport. 6884. Full text in Research Archive. Show summary

  This programme, “Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord” has covered sampling and analysis of organisms in a marine food web of the Inner Oslofjord, in addition to samples of sediment, blue mussel and polychaetes at selected locations in the fjord. The programme also included inputs of pollutants via surface water (storm water). Results from other monitoring programmes such as "Contaminants in coastal areas" (MILKYS) and "Riverine inputs and direct discharges to Norwegian coastal waters" (RID), as well as results from other input measurements to the inner Oslofjord, and measurements of contaminants at Bekkelaget sewage treatment plant are referred and placed in context with the results of the present programme. A vast number of chemical parameters have been quantified, 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.

• Brantsæter, Anne Lise; Knutsen, Helle Katrine; Lillegaard, Inger Therese L.; Amlund, Heidi; Eriksen, Gunnar Sundstøl; Fæste, Christiane Kruse; Kvalem, Helen Engelstad; Miles, Christopher Owen; Oskam, Irma Caroline; Ruus, Anders; Thomsen, Cathrine & Skåre, Janneche Utne (2015). Risk assessment of dietary exposure to acrylamide in the Norwegian population. Opinion of the Panel on Contaminants of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety. VKM Report. 2015:32. Full text in Research Archive.
• Green, Norman Whitaker; Schøyen, Merete; Øxnevad, Sigurd; Ruus, Anders; Allan, Ian; Hjermann, Dag Øystein; Høgåsen, Tore; Beylich, Bjørnar; Håvardstun, Jarle; Lund, Espen; Tveiten, Lise Ann & Bæk, Kine (2015). Contaminants in coastal waters of Norway 2014. NIVA-rapport. 6917. 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 2014-investigation included analyses of 136 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 (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ag, As, Ni, Cr and Co), organochlorines (e.g. PCBs, DDT), PAHs, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS) as well as contaminants that have recently received more attention such as hexabromcyclododecane (HBCDs), chlorinated paraffins (SCCP, MCCP), phosphorus flame retardants (PFRs),bisphenol A (BPA), tetrabrombisphenol A (TBBPA), alkyphenols, phthalates, triclosan, Diuron and Irgarol. Biological effects parameters included VDSI, OH-pyrene metabolites, ALA-D and EROD. In the report, thirty representative substances or parameters were chosen for analyses of 759 time series (last 10 years). Of these there were statistically significant trends in 104 cases: 86 were downwards and 18 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 759 cases, 403 could be classified by the environmental classification system used by the Norwegian Environment Agency, 374 were classified as insignificantly polluted, 26 as moderately polluted, two as markedly polluted and one as extremely 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. Very 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 mercury concentration and affect of different sizes of pooled samples were examined. Alternatives to using cod liver as a target tissue was discussed.

• Knutsen, Helle Katrine; Amlund, Heidi; Brantsæter, Anne Lise; Engeset, Dagrun; Fæste, Christiane Kruse; Holene, Edel; Ruus, Anders; Lillegaard, Inger Therese L.; Eriksen, Gunnar Sundstøl; Kvalem, Helen Engelstad; Miles, Christopher Owen; Nordeng, Hedvig Marie Egeland; Oskam, Irma Caroline; Thomsen, Cathrine & Skåre, Janneche Utne (2015). Risk assessment of dietary cadmium exposure in the Norwegian population. Opinion of the Panel on Contaminants of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety. VKM Report. 2015:12. Full text in Research Archive.
• Ruus, Anders; Arp, Hans Petter Heinrich; Oen, Amy M P; Grung, Merete & Breedveld, Gijs D. (2015). PAH i forurenset sediment: Utredning av egnethet av PAHkomponenter/ grupperinger for vurdering av tiltaksbehov. NIVA-rapport. 6927. Full text in Research Archive. Show summary

  I Norge er det utarbeidet klassegrenser for til sammen 16 PAH-forbindelser i sediment og vann. Grenseverdiene baserer seg på kunnskap om toksisitet av de ulike stoffene og hva som er akseptabel eksponering for miljøet. I tillegg til grenseverdiene for enkeltkomponentene av PAH opererer norske miljømyndigheter med klassegrenser for PAH-grupperingen SUM PAH-16 i sediment. Disse klassegrensene bygger på overkonsentrasjoner i forhold til bakgrunnsnivå, og ikke økotoksikologiske data. Risikovurderinger av PAH-forurenset sediment gjøres for alle PAH-komponentene. SUM PAH-16 benyttes imidlertid til å vurdere behov for tiltak i PAH-forurenset sjøbunn. Det foreslås her en ny tilnærming som tillater bruk av de 16 PAH-forbindelsene. Dette er en gjennomsnittlig PAH-16 tilnærming, snarere enn en total PAH-16 tilnærming hvor konsentrasjonen av hver enkeltforbindelse ses relativt til sin respektive grenseverdi.

• Ruus, Anders; Øverjordet, Ida Beathe; Braaten, Hans Fredrik Veiteberg; Anita, Evenset; Gabrielsen, Geir Wing & Borgå, Katrine (2014). Methylmercury biomagnification in an arctic food web. Show summary

  The Arctic is considered an important area for mercury accumulation, because of long-range atmospheric transport and deposition. Following transformation to organic mercury (e.g. methylmercury, MeHg) the toxicity and bioaccumulative potential in Arctic biota is high. In the International Polar Year project "Contaminants in Polar Regions" (COPOL), the aim was inter alia to study how prospective climate changes may affect the dynamics of environmental contaminants in Arctic marine food chains.This aim was addressed by scrutinising bioaccumulation of contaminants across years, seasons and locations (i.e. locations affected by Arctic or Atlantic water masses). In the COPOL project we have shown that trophic magnification of lipid soluble organohalogen contaminants may vary across species, seasons and locations in an Arctic food web. The enrichment in organic contaminant concentrations from plankton to higher trophic organisms did, for instance, increase throughout the year, and the time for concentration peak differed between plankton, fish and birds, with a delay up through the food chain. In the present work, the food web biomagnification of mercury and methylmercury, and its comparability to organic halogens, was analysed.

• Granum, Berit; Laugsand Lillegaard, Inger Therese; Steffensen, Inger-Lise; Ruus, Anders & Amlund, Heidi (2014). Antiperspirants contribute considerably to the total systemic exposure to aluminium in humans. Toxicological Sciences.  ISSN 1096-6080.  138, s 782
• Green, Norman Whitaker; Schøyen, Merete; Øxnevad, Sigurd; Ruus, Anders; Allan, Ian; Hjermann, Dag Øystein; Høgåsen, Tore; Beylich, Bjørnar; Håvardstun, Jarle; Rogne, Åse K Gudmundson & Tveiten, Lise Ann (2014). Contaminants in coastal waters of Norway 2013. NIVA-rapport. 6728. 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 2013-investigation included analyses of 120 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, organochlorines (e.g. PCB, DDT), PAH, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), perfluroinated alkylated substances (PFAS) as well as contaminants that have recently received more attention such as hexabromcyclododecane (HBCD), chlorinated paraffins (SCCP, MCCP), phosphorus flame retardants (PFR), bisphenol A (BPA), tetrabrombisphenol A (TBBPA), phthalates and akylphenols. In the report, thirty representative substances or parameters were chosen for analyses of 750 time series (last 10 years). Of these there were statistically significant trends in 90 cases: 66 (9 %) were downwards and 24 (3 %) 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 750 cases, 399 could be classified by the environmental classification system used by the Norwegian Environment Agency, 360 (90 %) were classified as insignificantly polluted, 27 (7 %) as moderately polluted, 10 (3 %) as markedly polluted, 1 (<1 %) as severely polluted and 1 (<1 %) as extremely 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. Very high concentrations of DDE in mussels from the Sørfjord were related to earlier use of DDT as pesticide in orchards along the fjord.

• Hjermann, Dag; Ruus, Anders; Borgå, Katrine; Gundersen, Hege; Knudsen, Halvor; Olsen, Esben Moland & Olsen, Esben Moland (2014). Tallknusing av miljøovervåkingsdata. NIVA-rapport. 6598.
• Ruus, Anders; Allan, Ian; Beylich, Bjørnar; Bæk, Kine; Schlabach, Martin & Helberg, Morten (2014). Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord. NIVA-rapport. 6714. Full text in Research Archive. Show summary

  This programme, “Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord” has covered sampling and analysis of organisms in a marine food web of the Inner Oslofjord, in addition to samples of sediment, blue mussel and polychaetes at selected locations in the fjord. The programme also included inputs of pollutants via surface water (storm water). Results from other monitoring programmes such as "Contaminants in coastal areas" (MILKYS) and "Riverine inputs and direct discharges to Norwegian coastal waters" (RID), as well as results from other input measurements to the inner Oslofjord, and measurements of contaminants at Bekkelaget sewage treatment plant are referred and placed in context with the results of the present programme. A vast number of chemical parameters have been quantified, 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.

• Ruus, Anders; Allan, Ian; Bæk, Kine & Borgå, Katrine (2014). Partitioning of POPs into different lipid classes.
• Amlund, Heidi; Granum, Berit; Ruus, Anders; Lillegaard, Inger Therese L.; Steffensen, Inger-Lise; Alexander, Jan; Arukwe, Augustine; Binderup, Mona-Lise; Brantsæter, Anne Lise; Dahl, Knut Helkås; Eriksen, Gunnar Sundstøl; Fæste, Christiane Kruse; Hetland, Ragna Bogen; Husøy, Trine; Knutsen, Helle Katrine; Paulsen, Jan Erik; Sanner, Tore; Thomsen, Cathrine; Thrane, Vibeke & Skåre, Janneche Utne (2013). Risk assessment of the exposure to aluminium through food and the use of cosmetic products in the Norwegian population. Opinion of the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids, Materials in Contact with Food and Cosmetics and of the Panel on Contaminants of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety. VKM Report. 2013:20. Full text in Research Archive.
• Bernhoft, Aksel; Eriksen, Gunnar Sundstøl; Sundheim, Leif; Berntssen, Marc; Brantsæter, Anne Lise; Brodal, Guro; Fæste, Christiane Kruse; Hofgaard, Ingerd Skow; Rafoss, Trond; Sivertsen, Tore; Tronsmo, Anne Marte; Amlund, Heidi; Arukwe, Augustine; Aursand, Marit; Haugen, Margaretha; Hemre, Gro Ingunn; Hofsvang, Trond; Knutsen, Helle Katrine; Krogdahl, Åshild; Lassen, Jørgen Fredrik; Magnusson, Christer; Nerland, Audun Helge; Nesse, Live Lingaas; Næss, Bjørn; Ringø, Einar; Ruus, Anders; Skåre, Janneche Utne; Solheim, Halvor; Sletten, Arild; Steffensen, Inger-Lise; Sverdrup, Line Charlotte; Svihus, Birger; Torrissen, Ole; Torstensen, Bente Elisabeth; Thomsen, Cathrine; Ørnsrud, Robin; Økland, Bjørn; Østerås, Olav & Alexander, Jan (2013). Risk assessment of mycotoxins in cereal grain in Norway. Opinion of the Scientific Steering Committee of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety. VKM Report. 2013:21. Full text in Research Archive.
• Green, Norman Whitaker; Schøyen, Merete; Øxnevad, Sigurd; Ruus, Anders; Allan, Ian; Høgåsen, Tore; Beylich, Bjørnar; Håvardstun, Jarle; Rogne, Åse K Gudmundson & Tveiten, Lise Ann (2013). Contaminants in coastal waters of Norway 2012. NIVA-rapport. 6582. Full text in Research Archive. Show summary

  This programme examines long term changes for legacy and some emerging contaminants in biota along the coast of Norway from the Oslofjord and Hvaler region in the southeast to the Varangerfjord in the northeast, in both polluted areas and areas remote from point sources. The 2012-investigation included the monitoring of blue mussel (23 stations), dog whelk (8 stations), common periwinkle (1 station) cod (14 stations) and seawater (passive samplers, 3 stations). Thirty contaminants were chosen for this report as reasonable representation of the chemicals investigated. This selection has 272 time series of which there were statistically significant trends in 50 cases: 34 (12.5 %) were downwards and 16 (5.9 %) upwards. The dominance of downward trends indicates that contamination is decreasing. Of the 272 cases, 156 could be classified by the environmental classification system used by the Norwegian Environment Agency, 81.4 % were classified as insignificantly polluted, 13.5 % as moderately polluted, 4.5 % as markedly polluted, 0 % as severely polluted and 0.6 % as extremely polluted. Analyses of HBCD, SCCP, MCCP, PFRs, BPA, and TBBPA and the use of passive samplers were included in this programme for the first time. Some cases warrant special concern. These were for example upward trend for mercury in cod fillet from the inner Oslofjord, high concentrations of hexabromocyclododecane (a-HBCD) in cod liver from the same area, and high concentrations of medium chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCP) in cod liver from Sørfjord

• Knutsen, Helle Katrine; Brantsæter, Anne Lise; Fæste, Christiane Kruse; Ruus, Anders; Bernhoft, Aksel; Ørnsrud, Robin & Thomsen, Cathrine (2013). Risk assessment of lead exposure from cervid meat in Norwegian consumers and in hunting dogs.
• Knutsen, Helle Katrine; Brantsæter, Anne Lise; Fæste, Christiane Kruse; Ruus, Anders; Thomsen, Cathrine; Amlund, Heidi; Arukwe, Augustine; Eriksen, Gunnar Sundstøl & Skåre, Janneche Utne (2013). Risk assessment of lead exposure from cervid meat in Norwegian consumers and in hunting dogs. Opinion of the Panel on Contaminants of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety. VKM Report. 2013:27. Full text in Research Archive.
• Meltzer, Helle Margrete; Brandtzæg, Per; Knutsen, Helle Katrine; Løland, Beate Fossum; Odland, Jon Øyvind; Skåre, Janneche Utne; Torheim, Liv Elin; Amlund, Heidi; Arukwe, Augustine; Bernhoft, Aksel; Brantsæter, Anne Lise; Dierkes, Jutta; Eggesbø, Merete Åse; Eriksen, Gunnar Sundstøl; Frølich, Wenche; Frøyland, Livar; Fæste, Christiane Kruse; Halvorsen, Ragnhild; Haugen, Margaretha; Hemre, Gro Ingunn; Iversen, Per Ole; Krogdahl, Åshild; Lassen, Jørgen Fredrik; Lindemann, Rolf; Lyche, Jan Ludvig; Mansoor, Mohammad Azam; Nerland, Audun Helge; Næss, Bjørn; Ruus, Anders; Skålhegg, Bjørn Steen; Steffensen, Inger-Lise; Sundheim, Leif; Sverdrup, Line Emilie; Thomsen, Cathrine; Østerås, Olav & Alexander, Jan (2013). Benefit and risk assessment of breastmilk for infant health in Norway. Opinion of the Steering Committee of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety. VKM Report. 2013:44.
• Oug, Eivind; Ruus, Anders; Norling, Karl & Bakke, Torgeir Heggelund (2013). Klassifisering av miljøtilstand i industrifjorder – hvor godt samsvarer miljøgifter og bløtbunnsfauna?. NIVA-rapport. 6594. Full text in Research Archive. Show summary

  Rapporten gir en oversikt over klassifisering av miljøtilstand i henhold til Vannforskriften for norske industrifjorder med betydelig forurensning av miljøgifter i bunnsedimentene. I rapporten sammenlignes kjemisk tilstand på basis av data for PAH, dioksiner, metaller, TBT og PCB i bunnsedimentene med økologisk tilstand på basis av bløtbunnsfauna fra til sammen 45 lokaliteter. Datagrunnlaget er hentet fra nyere undersøkelser i Grenlandsfjordene, Vikkilen ved Grimstad, Kristiansandsfjorden, Sørfjorden i Hardanger, Sunndalsfjorden og Ballangsfjorden. Alle vurderte lokaliteter klassifiseres til moderat eller dårligere kjemisk tilstand, samtidig som de fleste lokalitetene klassifiseres til god eller svært god økologisk tilstand. Forklaringene til forskjellig klassifisering er dels en følge av ulikt grunnlag for klassifiseringene og dels en følge av forutsetninger som legger til grunn for klassifiseringene. Kjemisk klassifisering tar sikte på å beskytte hele økosystemet og inkluderer sikkerhetsfaktorer for dette (‘føre var’), mens økologisk klassifisering bygger på faktiske endringer som finner sted. I rapporten gis en gjennomgang av prinsipper og usikkerheter ved kjemisk klassifisering. Ved påvirkning av miljøgifter kan det skje endringer i bløtbunnsfauna som ikke fanges opp ved klassifiseringen før påvirkningen er betydelig. Indeksen AMBI som inngår i den sammensatte indeksen NQI1 er mindre egnet for miljøgifter. Det blir anbefalt å foreta videre utviklingsarbeid med begge klassifiseringssystemer for å kunne fastsette mer presise klassegrenser ved kjemisk klassifisering og øke følsomheten for effekter av miljøgifter ved økologisk klassifisering.

• Ruus, Anders; Bakke, Torgeir Heggelund; Bjerkeng, Birger & Knutsen, Halvor (2013). Overvåking av miljøgifter i fisk og skalldyr fra Grenlandsfjordene 2012. NIVA-rapport. 6571. Full text in Research Archive. Show summary

  Overvåkingen i 2012 omfatter fettinnhold, dioksiner og n.o.-PCB i torsk, sjøørret, taskekrabbe, blåskjell og reker, samt Hg, TBT, PBDE og PFAS i torsk. Fettinnhold i torskelever gikk klart ned fra midt på 1990-tallet til 2006, spesielt i Frierfjorden, men synes å ha stabilisert seg på et noe høyere nivå etter 2006 både i Frierfjorden og områdene utenfor. Sammenhengen mellom dioksin- og fett-innhold i torskelever er svekket ut fra data etter 2006. Tidligere overvåking har indikert at den kraftige nedgangen i dioksinforurensning i fisk og skalldyr de første årene etter utslippsstans flatet ut eller stoppet opp etter 1995-2000. Overvåkingen i 2008-2012 har bekreftet denne hovedtrenden, som i praksis gjelder for de fleste undersøkte arter og områder. TBT, PBDE og PFAS i torskelever viser en synkende tendens. Det samme gjelder kvikksølv i torskefilet, men er i Frierfjorden fortsatt ikke nede på nivået fra 1999.

• Ruus, Anders; Kvassnes, Astri J.S.; Ledang, Anna Birgitta; Green, Norman Whitaker & Schøyen, Merete (2013). Overvåking av miljøforholdene i Sørfjorden 2012. Metaller i vannmassene, Oksygen, nitrogen og fosfor i vannmassene, Miljøgifter i organismer. NIVA-rapport. 6549. Full text in Research Archive. Show summary

  Resultatene av overvåkingen i 2012 kan oppsummeres som følger: Årsgjennomsnitt for konsentrasjoner av sink i overflatevann tilsvarte Kl. III ytterst i fjorden og Kl. IV innerst. Kadmium tilsvarte i hovedsak Kl. II. Konsentrasjoner av kobber varierte lite mellom stasjoner og representerte i hovedsak Kl. III. Bly tilsvarte i hovedsak Kl. II. Kvikksølv viste høy konsentrasjon i overflatevann ved Børve i mars (Kl. IV), men tilsvarte ellers Kl. I. Ved Digranes, Eitrheim, Havnebassenget og Lindenes tilsvarte årsgjennomsnittene av kvikksølv Kl. I-II. Sinkkonsentrasjoner varierer sterkt vertikalt i fjorden, med de høyeste konsentrasjonene i overflaten og nært bunnen. Ved Tyssedal i mars opptrer de høyeste konsentrasjonene ved ca. 20 m dyp. Kvikksølv viser tilsynelatende lavere konsentrasjoner i dypereliggende vannlag, enn i 2011. Etter at utslippet fra Odda smelteverk har opphørt har konsentrasjonen av nitrogen i indre Sørfjorden avtatt. Siden 2010 har imidlertid konsentrasjonen tilsynelatende økt noe. Konsentrasjoner av fosfor i vannmassene 2005-2008 var ganske stabilt. I 2010 økte det litt for siden å synke igjen i 2012. Kvikksølv i torsk tilsvarte Kl. II, men innholdet i brosme var høyt. Det var ingen overskridelser av Kl. I for kobber og sink i blåskjell, mens kvikksølv viste konsentrasjoner opp til Kl. II-III, og kadmium og bly fra Kl. I til II. PCB7- og DDT-konsentrasjonene i torsk (lever) tilsvarte Kl. II. DDT i blåskjell tilsvarte opp til Kl. V. Blåskjell fra Sørfjorden var lite/ubetydelig forurenset med PCB7 (Kl. I)

• Ruus, Anders; Røyset, Oddvar; Schaanning, Morten & Øxnevad, Sigurd (2013). DGT-probes applied for determination of metal distribution and metal exchange across the sediment-water interface in Sørfjorden, Norway.
• Green, Norman Whitaker; Schøyen, Merete; Øxnevad, Sigurd; Ruus, Anders; Høgåsen, Tore; Beylich, Bjørnar; Håvardstun, Jarle; Rogne, Åse K Gudmundson & Tveiten, Lise Ann (2012). Coordinated environmental monitoring programme (CEMP). Hazardous substances in fjords and coastal waters – 2011. Levels, trends and effects. Long-term monitoring of environmental quality in Norwegian coastal waters. NIVA-rapport. 6432. Show summary

  The Norwegian contribution to OSPAR’s Coordinated Environmental Monitoring Programme (CEMP) includes the monitoring of micropollutants (contaminants) in sediment and marine organisms (blue mussel, snails, prawns, cod, flatfish and deep water fish) along the coast of Norway from the Oslofjord and Hvaler region in the southeast to the Varangerfjord in the northeast. The stations are located both in areas with known or presumed point sources of contaminants, in areas of diffuse load of contamination like city areas, and in more remote areas exposed to presumed low and diffuse pollution. The mussel sites include supplementary stations for the Norwegian Index Programme. The programme includes the monitoring metals, organochlorines, pesticides, dioxins, brominated flame retardants, perfluorinated compounds, as well as biological effects methods. The results from 2011 supplied data to a total of 1035 time series of selected contaminants or biomarkers. Of these, 329 showed statistically significant trends of which 277 were downwards and 52 upwards. The dominance of downward trends indicates that the level of most contaminants is decreasing. Of the 628 median contaminant concentrations assessed in 2011 that could also be classified by Klifs environmental classification system, 78.5% were classified as insignificantly polluted, 16.9% as moderately polluted, 3.5% as markedly polluted (mostly cadmium, lead, chromium, HCB, PAHs), 0.6% as severely polluted (benzo[a]pyrene, carcinogen-PAHs, ppDDE) and 0.5% as extremely polluted (dioxins).

• Husøy, Trine; Arukwe, Augustine; Binderup, Mona-Lise; Brantsæter, Anne Lise; Fæste, Christiane Kruse; Hetland, Ragna Bogen; Alexander, Jan; Amlund, Heidi; Dahl, Knut Helkås; Eriksen, Gunnar Sundstøl; Granum, Berit; Grave, Kari; Knutsen, Helle Katrine; Paulsen, Jan Erik; Ruus, Anders; Sanner, Tore; Steffensen, Inger-Lise; Thomsen, Cathrine; Thrane, Vibeke & Skåre, Janneche Utne (2012). Risk assessment of furan exposure in the Norwegian population. Opinion of the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids, Materials in Contact with Food and Cosmetics and the Panel on Contaminants of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety. VKM Report. 2012:30. Full text in Research Archive.
• Kallenborn, Roland; Borgå, Katrine; Christensen, Jesper H.; Dowdall, Mark; Odland, Jon Øyvind; Ruus, Anders; Pfaffhuber Aspmo, Katrine; Pawlak, janet & Reiersen, Lars-Otto (2012). Combined Effects of Selected Pollutants and Climate Change in the Arctic Environment.
• Næs, Kristoffer; Håvardstun, Jarle & Ruus, Anders (2012). Overvåking av Høyangsfjorden: Vannmasser, skjell og sedimenter i 2011, fisk og krabbe i 2012. NIVA-rapport. 6430. Show summary

  NIVA gjennomfører en overvåking over en 3-årsperiode av Høyangsfjorden på oppdrag av ERAS Metal a.s. og Hydro Aluminium a.s. Høyanger. Undersøkelsene i 2011 har omfattet vannmasser, blåskjell og sedimenter. I vannmassene er metaller målt både ved bruk av passive prøvetakere (tidsintegrerte prøver av oppløste metaller) og analyser av metaller i ordinære vannprøver (øyeblikksbilder av totalkonsentrasjon). Videre har akkumulering av metaller og PAH i blåskjell og o-skjell blitt målt. I tillegg er det i 2012 gjennomført analyser av metaller og organiske miljøgifter (PCB og PAH) i torsk, brosme, skrubbeflyndre og taskekrabbe. Påvirkningen fra PCB i fisk var lav. Det var også lave konsentrasjoner av PAH i blåskjell og o-skjell. Metallkonsentrasjonen i sedimentene var lave, men PAH-innholdet høyt. Det har imidlertid vært en nedgang i sistnevnte over tid. Generelt viste målingene at det er en påvirkning av metaller i vannmasser, blåskjell, torsk, brosme og krabbe fra indre Høyangsfjord. Påvirkningen varierer fra ubetydelig til moderat/markert, i noen enkelttilfeller sterk. Det var ingen store forskjeller fra tidligere undersøkelser fra Høyangsfjorden. Når det gjelder kvikksølv i fisk er det generelle inntrykket at konsentrasjonene ikke er høyere enn i kjente urbane og industripåvirkede områder. Sammenlignes det med mindre påvirkede kystområder, er konsentrasjonene i Høyangsfjorden høyere.

• Ruus, Anders; Bjerkeng, Birger; Bakke, Torgeir Heggelund & Knutsen, Halvor (2012). Overvåkning av miljøgifter i fisk og skalldyr fra grenlandsfjordene 2011.
• Ruus, Anders; Kvassnes, Astri J.S.; Skei, Jens; Green, Norman Whitaker & Schøyen, Merete (2012). Overvåking av miljøforholdene i Sørfjorden 2011. Metaller i vannmassene. Miljøgifter i organismer. NIVA-rapport. 6399. Show summary

  Resultatene av overvåkingen i 2011 kan oppsummeres som følger: Det var noe økning av metaller i overflatevannet i Sørfjorden (i fht. 2010), tross i reduserte utslipp til vann. Bly viser imidlertid reduserte konsentrasjoner. I dypere vannlag er nivåene sporadisk høyere enn i overflatevannet. I overflatevannet var sink og kobber i Kl. III (moderat) ytterst i fjorden og IV (dårlig) innerst i fjorden. Kadmium var i Kl. II (god) for gjennomsnittet av alle overflatevannanalysene, med de høyeste konsentrasjonene innerst i fjorden. Bly viser en reduksjon men er fremdeles i Kl. II (god). Kvikksølv er også i Kl. II (god). Konsentrasjonene av kvikksølv i torsk fra Sørfjorden tilsvarte Kl. II (moderat). Innholdet av kvikksølv i dypvannsfisk var høyt. Kvikksølv i blåskjell viste konsentrasjoner opp til Kl. III (markert). Det var ingen overskridelser av Kl. I (lite/ubetydelig forurenset) for kobber og sink i blåskjell, med unntak av en anomali for kobber ved Kvalnes (Kl. III). Kadmium og bly i blåskjell viste konsentrasjoner fra Kl. I og opp til Kl. III. PCB7- og DDT-konsentrasjonene i torsk fra Sørfjorden tilsvarte hhv. Kl. II og Kl. III i lever og Kl. I og Kl. II i filet. Dioksiner og furaner (uttrykt som TEPCDD/F) i torskelever representerte grensen mellom Kl. I og Kl. II. DDT i blåskjell tilsvarte opp til Kl. V (meget sterkt forurenset) og de høyeste konsentrasjonene ble observert ved Kvalnes og Utne. Blåskjell fra Sørfjorden var lite/ubetydelig forurenset med PCB7 (Kl. I). Konsentrasjoner av PAH i blåskjell tilsvarte Kl. I.

• Skåre, Janneche Utne; Amlund, Heidi; Arukwe, Augustine; Brantsæter, Anne Lise; Eriksen, Gunnar Sundstøl; Fæste, Christiane Kruse; Knutsen, Helle Katrine & Ruus, Anders (2012). Zearalenone exposure from breakfast cereals in Norwegian children. Opinion of the Panel on Contaminants of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety. VKM Report. 2012:04. Full text in Research Archive.
• Aursand, Marit; Hamre, Kristin; Knutsen, Helle Katrine; Maage, Amund; Arukwe, Augustine; Alexander, Jan; Amlund, Heidi; Bernhoft, Aksel; Brantsæter, Anne Lise; Eriksen, Gunnar Sundstøl; Fæste, Christiane Kruse; Krogdahl, Åshild; Haugen, Margaretha; Hemre, Gro Ingunn; Lassen, Jørgen Fr; Nerland, Audun Helge; Nesse, Live Lingaas; Næss, Bjørn; Ringø, Einar; Ruus, Anders; Skåre, Janneche Utne; Steffensen, Inger-Lise; Sundheim, Leif; Sverdrup, Line Emilie; Svihus, Birger; Thomsen, Cathrine; Torrissen, Ole; Østerås, Olav; Torstensen, Bente Elisabeth; Ørnsrud, Robin & Mozuraityte, Revilija (2011). Description of the processes in the value chain and risk assessment of decomposition substances and oxidation products in fish Oils. Opinion of Steering Committee of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety. VKM Report. 2011:19. Full text in Research Archive.
• Green, Norman Whitaker; Schøyen, Merete; Øxnevad, Sigurd; Ruus, Anders; Høgåsen, Tore; Beylich, Bjørnar; Håvardstun, Jarle; Rogne, Åse K Gudmundson & Tveiten, Lise Ann (2011). Coordinated environmental monitoring programme (CEMP). Hazardous substances in fjords and coastal waters – 2010. Levels, trends and effects. Long-term monitoring of environmental quality in Norwegian coastal waters. NIVA-rapport. 6239. Show summary

  The Norwegian contribution to OSPAR’s Coordinated Environmental Monitoring Programme (CEMP) in 2010 included the monitoring of micropollutants (contaminants) in blue mussel (40 stations), dogwhelk (8 stations), common periwinkle (1 station), cod (11 stations) and flatfish (dab, flounder, plaice, megrim; 8 stations) along the coast of Norway from the Oslofjord and Hvaler region in the southeast to the Varangerfjord in the northeast. The stations are located both in areas with known or presumed point sources of contaminants, in areas of diffuse load of contamination like city areas, and in more remote areas exposed to presumed low and diffuse pollution. The mussel sites include supplementary stations for the Norwegian Index Programme. The results from 2010 supplied data to a total of 1039 time series of selected contaminants or biomarkers. Of these, 280 showed statistically significant trends of which 248 were downwards and 32 upwards. The dominance of downward trends indicates that contamination is decreasing. In 154 cases, concentrations were above what is expected in only diffusely contaminated areas.

• Ruus, Anders; Skei, Jens; Daae, Kjersti L.; Green, Norman Whitaker & Schøyen, Merete (2011). Overvåking av miljøforholdene i Sørfjorden 2010. Metaller i vannmassene. Oksygen, nitrogen og fosfor i vannmassene. Miljøgifter i organismer. NIVA-rapport. 6199. Show summary

  Resultatene av overvåkingen i 2010 kan oppsummeres som følger: Til tross for en økning i utslipp til vann sammenlignet med 2009 er det små forskjeller i konsentrasjonene av metaller i overflatevannet. I dypere vannlag er nivåene sporadisk høyere enn i overflatevannet. Nitratkonsentrasjonene i fjorden var de laveste observert siden 2001, som viser at utviklingen med avtakende utlekking av nitrogen fra sedimentene fortsetter. Fosfor viser en økning i 2010, sammenlignet med perioden 2005-2008 som har vært stabil. Konsentrasjonene av kvikksølv i torsk fra Sørfjorden tilsvarte Kl. II (moderat). Kvikksølv i blåskjell viste konsentrasjoner opp til Kl. II. Det var ingen overskridelser av Kl. I (lite/ubetydelig forurenset) for kobber og sink i blåskjell, med unntak av kobber ved Utne (Kl. II). Kadmium og bly i blåskjell viste konsentrasjoner fra Kl. I og opp til Kl. III (markert). PCB7- og DDT-konsentrasjonene i torsk fra Sørfjorden tilsvarte Kl. III i lever og Kl. II i filet. DDT i blåskjell tilsvarte opp til Kl. V (meget sterkt forurenset) og de høyeste konsentrasjonene ble observert ved Utne. Blåskjell fra Sørfjorden var lite/ubetydelig forurenset med PCB7 (Kl. I), unntatt ved Tyssedal (Kl. II). TEPCDF/D i blåskjell var moderat (Kl..II) til markert (Kl. III).

• Skåre, Janneche Utne; Amlund, Heidi; Arukwe, Augustine; Brantsæter, Anne Lise; Eriksen, Gunnar Sundstøl; Fæste, Christiane Kruse; Knutsen, Helle Katrine; Ruus, Anders & Thomsen, Cathrine (2011). Forhold mellom BaP og PAH4 i skjell og konsekvenser for gjeldende kostholdsråd i Norge. Uttalelse fra Faggruppen for forurensninger, naturlige toksiner og medisinrester. VKM Report. 2011:15. Full text in Research Archive.

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