WP20 Contaminated Harbor and River Sediment
Wednesday, 16 November 2005: 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM in Exhibit Hall

(SAV-1117-721585) Environmental contaminant levels in bottom sediments and biota from the Kola Bay, Barents Sea, Russia.

Savinova, T¹, Dahle, S¹, Alexeeva, L², Chernik, G², Samsonov, D², Plotitsyna, N³, Zhilin, A³, Mokrotovarova, O⁴, Matishov, D⁵, Futsaeter, G⁶, ¹ Akvaplan-niva, Polar Environmental Centre, Tromso, Norway² SPA "Typhoon", Obninsk, Russia³ Knipovich Polar Research Institute on Fishery and Oceanography, Murmansk, Russia⁴ Murmansk Regional Department for Hydrometeorology and Environment Monitoring, Murmansk, Russia⁵ Murmansk Marine Biological Institute, Murmansk, Russia⁶ Norwegian State Pollution Control Authority, Oslo, Norway

ABSTRACT- The Joint Assessment and Monitoring Programme (JAMP) pilot study is a part of the bi-lateral project between Russia and Norway on harmonisation of monitoring of hazardous substances. The pilot study started in 2002, as a follow up a decision by the Joint Norwegian-Russian Environmental Commission to initiate co-operative activities on harmonisation to OSPAR standards. During 2002-2005 the surface sediment samples (0-2 cm) and biota (cod and blue mussels) were annually analysed for heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including both v established and new compounds, and polycyclicaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Sampling and analyses were carried out according to JAMP guidelines. Grain size, total organic carbon and total nitrogen content were determined in the bottom sediments as well as all morphological and biological parameters of cod and mussels. Analyses were performed at Typhoon analytical laboratory (Obninsk, Russia); PINRO laboratory (Murmansk, Russia) and Unilab Analyse (Polar Environmental Centre, Tromso, Norway). The analytes were: trace elements (Zn, Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb and Hg), PAHs v 21 compounds; basic POPs v PCBs (50 ortho-substituted congeners), DDT-family (6 isomers), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH, -,- and -isomers), chlordane compounds (heptachlor epoxide, oxychlordane, cis-and trans-chlordane, cis- and trans-nonachlor, heptachlor, endrin, dieldrin, mirex); new compounds – coplanar PCBs, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and dioxins/furans (PCDD/PCDF). Levels of all contaminants analysed in bottom sediment samples from the Kola were similar to those in the Norwegian harbors and varied, according the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority (SFT) classification system from slightly contaminated to moderately contaminated. POP levels in biological samples did not exceed current Russian criteria for quality of seafood. PCDFs contributed more than 50% to the TEQ in the bottom sediments, while in biological samples, PCBs were a major contributor. In 2005 this study will be continued in the White and Pechora seas.

Key words: environmental contaminants, bottom sediments, biota, Barents Sea