Anders Ruus

• Keilen, Ellen Kristine; Borgå, Katrine; Thorstensen, Helene Skjeie; Hylland, Ketil; Helberg, Morten & Warner, Nicholas [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.
• 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 Marianne & Skogsberg, Stina Linnea 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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.
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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, p. 49–56. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.04.128.
• de Gelder, Stefan; Bakke, Marit J.; Vos, Joelle; Rasinger, Josef D.; Ingebrigtsen, Kristian & Grung, Merete [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (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, p. 65–76. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2016.03.003.
• Evenset, Anita; Hallanger, Ingeborg G.; Tessmann, Michael; Warner, Nicholas Alexander; Ruus, Anders & Borgå, Katrine [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (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, p. 108–120. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.10.092.
• Ruus, Anders; Øverjordet, Ida Beathe; Braaten, Hans Fredrik Veiteberg; Evenset, Anita; Christensen, Guttorm N. & Heimstad, Eldbjørg Sofie [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2015). Methylmercury biomagnification in an Arctic pelagic food web. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. ISSN 0730-7268. 34(11), p. 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

• Øverjordet, Ida Beathe; Kongsrud, Magnus Brunvoll; Gabrielsen, Geir Wing; Berg, Torunn; Ruus, Anders & Evenset, Anita [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (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, p. 548–556. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.09.058.
• Øverjordet, Ida Beathe; Gabrielsen, Geir Wing; Berg, Torunn; Ruus, Anders; Evenset, Anita & Borgå, Katrine [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (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, p. 14–22. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.10.060.
• Beyer, Jonny; Petersen, Karina; Song, You; Ruus, Anders; Grung, Merete & Bakke, Torgeir Heggelund [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2014). Environmental risk assessment of combined effects in aquatic ecotoxicology: A discussion paper. Marine Environmental Research. ISSN 0141-1136. 96, p. 81–91. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2013.10.008. Full text in Research Archive

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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. The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety. ISBN 9788282592321. 74 p.

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• 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.
• 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.
• 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
• 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.
• Ruus, Anders; Carlsson, Pernilla Marianne & Borchgrevink, Harald Bonaventura (2016). Mindre gamle miljøgifter i fisk fra verdenshavene. [Internet]. forskning.no.
• Ruus, Anders & Borchgrevink, Harald Bonaventura (2016). Urbane problemer for gråmåkene. [Newspaper]. Nationen.
• Ruus, Anders & Borchgrevink, Harald Bonaventura (2016). Urbane problemer for gråmåkene. [Internet]. forskning.no.
• Ruus, Anders; Allan, Ian; Bæk, Kine & Borgå, Katrine (2014). Partitioning of POPs into different lipid classes.
• 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.
• 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
• 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
• 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

  Overvåkingsprogrammet «Miljøgifter i norske kystområder 2017 - MILKYS» omhandler nivåer, trender og effekter av miljøgifter langs norskekysten. Undersøkelsen gir grunnlag for bestemmelse av miljøstatus langs norskekysten. Resultatene viser at det hovedsakelig var nedadgående trender for konsentrasjon av de undersøkte miljøgiftene. Indre Oslofjord er et område med flere miljøgifter med relative høye konsentrasjoner som gir grunnlag for bekymring og behov for nærmere undersøkelser. I dette området observeres det tillegg oppadgående langtidstrend for kvikksølv (Hg) i torskefilet og for mellomkjedete klorparafiner i torskelever. Det var ingen korttidstrender for kvikksølv i torskefilét fra Oslofjorden. Ingen langtids- eller kortidstrend ble funnet når konsentrasjoner i torsk fra indre Oslofjord var justert for fiskelengde. Undersøkelsen inngår som en del av OSPARs koordinerte miljøovervåkingsprogram Coordinated Environmental Monitoring Programme (CEMP). I 2017 omfattet overvåkingen miljøgifter i blåskjell (Mytillus edulis) fra 33 stasjoner, purpursnegl (Nucella lapillus) fra 8 stasjoner, strandsnegl (Littorina littorea) fra én stasjon, torsk (Gadus morhua) fra 17 stasjoner og ærfugl (Somateria mollissima) fra én stasjon. Stasjonene er plassert i områder med kjente eller antatt kjente punktkilder for tilførsler av miljøgifter, i områder med diffus tilførsel av miljøgifter slik som byens havneområder og i fjerntliggende områder med antatt lav eksponering for miljøgifter. Overvåkingen i 2017 omfattet analyser av metaller [kvikksølv (Hg), kadmium (Cd), bly (Pb), kobber (Cu), sink (Zn), sølv (Ag), arsen (As), nikkel (Ni), krom (Cr) og kobolt (Co)], tributyltinn, polyklorerte bifenyler (PCBer), pestisider (DDE), polysykliske aromatiske hydrokarboner (PAHer), polybromerte difenyletere (PBDEer), perfluorerte alkylforbindelser (PFAS), heksabromsyklododekan (HBCD), korte- og mellomkjedete klorparafiner (SCCP og MCCP), bisfenol A (BPA), tetrabrombisfenol A (TBBPA), alkyfenoler, siloksaner, samt biologiske effekt parametere (VDSI, OH-pyren, ALA-D, EROD) og i tillegg mikroplast. (...)

• 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
• 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.

• Ruus, Anders; Borgersen, Gunhild; Ledang, Anna Birgitta; Fagerli, Camilla With; Staalstrøm, Andre & Norli, Marit (2016). Operational monitoring of coastal waters in the Hardanger River Basin, 2015. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-6731-0. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The Norwegian Environment Agency sent a letter dated 05.28.2014 to several Norwegian companies regarding required operational monitoring in accordance with the Water Framework Directive. Earlier, DIHVA IKS had designed a coordinated monitoring program for coastal water in the Hardanger river basin for 2015, on behalf of the municipalities Odda, Kvam and Ullensvang, and the companies Boliden Odda AS and Tizir Titanium & Iron AS. This program was approved by the Environment Agency and conducted by NIVA in collaboration with Hardanger Miljøsenter.

• Knutsen, Helle Katrine; Amlund, Heidi; Brantsæter, Anne Lise; Engeset, Dagrun; Fæste, Christiane Kruse & Holene, Edel [Show all 15 contributors for this article] (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. Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM). ISSN 978-82-8259-167-6. Full text in Research Archive
• Brantsæter, Anne Lise; Knutsen, Helle Katrine; Lillegaard, Inger Therese L.; Amlund, Heidi; Eriksen, Gunnar Sundstøl & Fæste, Christiane Kruse [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (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. Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM). ISSN 978-82-8259-187-4. Full text in Research Archive
• Ruus, Anders; Arp, Hans Petter Heinrich; Oen, Amy M P; Grung, Merete & Breedveld, Gijs D. (2015). PAH in contaminated sediment: review of suitability of PAH- components/groups for assessment of remediation needs. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-6662-7. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The Norwegian Environment Agency has described the purpose of review/study follows: It should be investigated which PAH components or PAH groups in contaminated sediments that are best suited to assess the need for remedial measures. In Norway limit values (marginal values/quality standards) are developed for a total of 16 PAH compounds in sediment and water. The limit values are based on knowledge of the toxicity of individual compounds, and acceptable exposure in the environment. In addition to the limit values for individual compounds, Norwegian environmental authorities operate with limit values for SUM PAH-16 in sediment. These limit values are based on excess concentrations (relative to background) and not ecotoxicological data. Risk assessment of PAH-contaminated sediments is done using all individual PAH components. However, SUM PAH-16 is used to assess the need for remedial actions in PAH-contaminated sediments. The purpose of this review/study has been to provide alternatives to SUM PAH 16 in the assessment of need for remedial measures in PAH-contaminated sediments, either using individual PAH-components or appropriate groups of PAHs. To this end, important criteria have been the risk for human health, risk of ecological effects or practical considerations with regard to “Vannforskriften” (Norwegian law on water).

• Green, Norman Whitaker; Schøyen, Merete; Øxnevad, Sigurd; Ruus, Anders; Allan, Ian & Hjermann, Dag Øystein [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2015). Contaminants in coastal waters of Norway 2014. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-6652-8. 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 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.

• Ruus, Anders; Allan, Ian; Beylich, Bjørnar; Bæk, Kine; Schlabach, Martin & Helberg, Morten (2015). Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord, 2014. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-6619-1. 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.

• Green, Norman Whitaker; Schøyen, Merete; Øxnevad, Sigurd; Ruus, Anders; Allan, Ian & Hjermann, Dag Øystein [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2014). Contaminants in coastal waters of Norway 2013. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-6463-0. 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 [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2014). Tallknusing av miljøovervåkingsdata. NIVA rapport. ISSN 978-82-577-6333-6. 2014(6598).
• Ruus, Anders; Allan, Ian; Beylich, Bjørnar; Bæk, Kine; Schlabach, Martin & Helberg, Morten (2014). Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord. Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-6449-4. 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.

• Meltzer, Helle Margrete; Brandtzæg, Per; Knutsen, Helle Katrine; Løland, Beate Fossum; Odland, Jon Øyvind & Skåre, Janneche Utne [Show all 36 contributors for this article] (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. Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM). ISSN 978-82-8259-115-7.
• Bernhoft, Aksel; Eriksen, Gunnar Sundstøl; Sundheim, Leif; Berntssen, Marc; Brantsæter, Anne Lise & Brodal, Guro [Show all 39 contributors for this article] (2013). Risk assessment of mycotoxins in cereal grain in Norway. Opinion of the Scientific Steering Committee of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety. Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM). ISSN 978-82-8259-090-7. Full text in Research Archive
• Amlund, Heidi; Granum, Berit; Ruus, Anders; Lillegaard, Inger Therese L.; Steffensen, Inger-Lise & Alexander, Jan [Show all 20 contributors for this article] (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. Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) . ISSN 978-82-8259-088-4. Full text in Research Archive
• Knutsen, Helle Katrine; Brantsæter, Anne Lise; Fæste, Christiane Kruse; Ruus, Anders; Thomsen, Cathrine & Amlund, Heidi [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (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. Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM). ISSN 978-82-8259-096-9. Full text in Research Archive
• Oug, Eivind; Ruus, Anders; Norling, Karl & Bakke, Torgeir Heggelund (2013). Classification of environmental status in fjords with heavy industry – do chemical pollutants and soft bottom fauna correspond? Norsk institutt for vannforskning. ISSN 978-82-577-6329-9. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) has been implemented in Norway and will form the basis for the management of environmental quality in freshwater and marine coastal areas. The national authority for the directive is the Norwegian Ministry of Environment. The implementation is carried out by a Committee of Directorates that has been delegated the task of preparing national guidance and the development of classification systems. For coastal waters, national guidelines for classification of chemical pollutants (chemical status) and biological parameters (ecological status) have been developed. The guide for chemical pollutant status incorporates the list of 33 prioritised substances (45 substances as of 2013) identified by the EU that will form the basis for assigning the chemical status. To assign ecological status, classifications have been developed for phytoplankton, benthic algae and soft bottom fauna. The classifications systems are to be considered provisional (‘first generation tools’) and will be updated at intervals as new knowledge is obtained. The presently used guidelines were developed and taken into use in 2007 for chemical classification (SFT TA 2229) and in 2009 for ecological status (Veileder 01:2009), respectively.

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