Investigation of background contribution from different solvent brands used for sample preparation and analysis of persistent organic pollutants

In the times of pandemic, we experienced problems with supply bottlenecks for the solvents normally used for extraction and analysis of persistent organic pollutants (POPs; i.e. PCBs, PBDEs and organochlorine pesticides) in our laboratory and, considered to start using solvents from another producer alternatively. Since we analyze POPs at very low concentration levels and other consumables are background tested before use, it was decided to investigate solvents from different brands as applied for sample preparation of POPs in our in-house method. Solvents were tested as they were aliquoted out of the bottle together with upconcentrated solvent samples. For the upconcentrated samples the same amount of solvent was used as in the in-house method for extraction of POPs in human serum and plasma samples. The solvents investigated were n-hexane, isooctane, dichloromethane (DCM) and acetone

First assessment of pollutant exposure in two balaenopterid whale populations sampled in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Pollutant concentrations are poorly known for the largest animals on Earth, blue whales Balaenoptera musculus and fin whales Balaenoptera physalus. In this study, concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were determined in blubber biopsies and stable isotope values for nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) were measured using skin biopsies for 18 blue whales and 12 fin whales sampled in waters surrounding the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway. The samples were collected in summer during the period 2014-2018. POPs were dominated by DDTs, PCBs and toxaphenes, with median concentrations in blue/fin whales being 208/341, 127/275 and 133/233 ng/g lipid weight, respectively. Linear models indicated that pollutant concentrations were 1.6-3 times higher in fin whales than in blue whales, which is likely related to the higher trophic positions of fin whales, as indicated by their higher δ15N. Lower δ13C in fin whales suggests that they feed at higher latitudes than blue whales; these values were not correlated with pollutant concentrations. Pollutant levels were approximately twice as high in males compared to females (intraspecifically), which indicates that females of these species offload pollutants to their offspring during gestation and lactation, similar to many other mammalian species. Pollutant concentrations in balaenopterid whales from Svalbard waters were generally much lower than in conspecific whales from the Mediterranean Sea or the Gulf of California, but higher than those in conspecifics from the Antarctic Peninsula.publishedVersio

Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord, 2019

Project Manager Anders RuusThis 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.publishedVersio

Monitoring of environmental contaminants in freshwater ecosystems 2019 – Occurrence and biomagnification

Project Manager Morten JartunThis program, «Monitoring of environmental contaminants in freshwater ecosystems and single species in large Norwegian lakes”, has covered sampling and determination of environmental contaminants by analyses of organisms in an aquatic, pelagic food web of Lake Mjøsa, and in the top predator in Lake Femunden. Samples of different trophic levels, from epipelagic zooplankton to the top predator brown trout, were collected during the late stages of the growth season in 2019. In this report, the status of contamination in the food web, trends and biomagnification potential of various environmental contaminants is discussed.publishedVersio

Environmental pollutants in the terrestrial and urban environment

On behalf of the Norwegian Environment Agency, NILU - Norwegian Institute for Air Research in collaboration with NINA – Norwegian Institute for Nature Research analysed biological samples from terrestrial urban regions for various inorganic and organic contaminants. Stable isotope analysis for nitrogen and carbon was carried out by the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE). Sample collection was carried out by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) and others. The purpose of this report is to provide an updated assessment of pollution present within the terrestrial urban environment in Norway. In the case of earthworms, urban sites were compared with reference sites. Eggs of the terrestrial bird species golden eagle and pied flycatcher as well as liver from urban brown rats and urban and rural earthworms were investigated in this study

Monitoring of environmental contaminants in freshwater ecosystems 2019 – Occurrence and biomagnification

This program, «Monitoring of environmental contaminants in freshwater ecosystems and single species in large Norwegian lakes”, has covered sampling and determination of environmental contaminants by analyses of organisms in an aquatic, pelagic food web of Lake Mjøsa, and in the top predator in Lake Femunden. Samples of different trophic levels, from epipelagic zooplankton to the top predator brown trout, were collected during the late stages of the growth season in 2019. In this report, the status of contamination in the food web, trends and biomagnification potential of various environmental contaminants is discussed.publishedVersio

First assessment of pollutant exposure in two balaenopterid whale populations sampled in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Pollutant concentrations are poorly known for the largest animals on Earth, blue whales Balaenoptera musculus and fin whales Balaenoptera physalus. In this study, concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were determined in blubber biopsies and stable isotope values for nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) were measured using skin biopsies for 18 blue whales and 12 fin whales sampled in waters surrounding the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway. The samples were collected in summer during the period 2014–2018. POPs were dominated by DDTs, PCBs and toxaphenes, with median concentrations in blue/fin whales being 208/341, 127/275 and 133/233 ng/g lipid weight, respectively. Linear models indicated that pollutant concentrations were 1.6–3 times higher in fin whales than in blue whales, which is likely related to the higher trophic positions of fin whales, as indicated by their higher δ15N. Lower δ13C in fin whales suggests that they feed at higher latitudes than blue whales; these values were not correlated with pollutant concentrations. Pollutant levels were approximately twice as high in males compared to females (intraspecifically), which indicates that females of these species offload pollutants to their offspring during gestation and lactation, similar to many other mammalian species. Pollutant concentrations in balaenopterid whales from Svalbard waters were generally much lower than in conspecific whales from the Mediterranean Sea or the Gulf of California, but higher than those in conspecifics from the Antarctic Peninsula

Monitoring of environmental contaminants in freshwater ecosystems 2019 – Occurrence and biomagnification

This program, «Monitoring of environmental contaminants in freshwater ecosystems and single species in large Norwegian lakes”, has covered sampling and determination of environmental contaminants by analyses of organisms in an aquatic, pelagic food web of Lake Mjøsa, and in the top predator in Lake Femunden. Samples of different trophic levels, from epipelagic zooplankton to the top predator brown trout, were collected during the late stages of the growth season in 2019. In this report, the status of contamination in the food web, trends and biomagnification potential of various environmental contaminants is discussed

Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord, 2019

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