Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis spp.) as sentinel organisms in coastal pollution monitoring: A review

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

Miljøgifter i kystområdene 2012

En Corrigendum ble tilføyd til rapporten den 24.09.2014. Den er også lagt inn som vedlegg i selve rapportsfil.A Corrigendum was added to the report on 09/24/2014. It is also added as an attachment in the report's file.This programme examines long term changes for legacy and some emerging contaminants in biota along the coast of Norway from the Oslofjord and Hvaler region in the southeast to the Varangerfjord in the northeast, in both polluted areas and areas remote from point sources. The 2012-investigation included the monitoring of blue mussel (23 stations), dog whelk (8 stations), common periwinkle (1 station) cod (14 stations) and seawater (passive samplers, 3 stations). Thirty contaminants were chosen for this report as reasonable representation of the chemicals investigated. This selection has 272 time series of which there were statistically significant trends in 50 cases: 34 (12.5 %) were downwards and 16 (5.9 %) upwards. The dominance of downward trends indicates that contamination is decreasing. Of the 272 cases, 156 could be classified by the environmental classification system used by the Norwegian Environment Agency, 81.4 % were classified as insignificantly polluted, 13.5 % as moderately polluted, 4.5 % as markedly polluted, 0 % as severely polluted and 0.6 % as extremely polluted. Analyses of HBCD, SCCP, MCCP, PFRs, BPA, and TBBPA and the use of passive samplers were included in this programme for the first time. Some cases warrant special concern. These were for example upward trend for mercury in cod fillet from the inner Oslofjord, high concentrations of hexabromocyclododecane (a-HBCD) in cod liver from the same area, and high concentrations of medium chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCP) in cod liver from SørfjordMiljødirektorate

Contaminants in coastal waters of Norway 2016

Revised version of 7200-2017 / M-856This 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.Norwegian Environment AgencypublishedVersio

A baseline study of the occurrence of non-indigenous species in Danish harbours

Project Manager/Main Author Jesper H. AndersenWe report the first ever nation-wide study of the occurrence of non-indigenous species in Danish harbours. The sampling was car-ried out using both conventional and biomolecular methods (eDNA). In total, 16 harbours were covered – Esbjerg and Aarhus, the two largest harbours in Denmark, with intensive sampling and 14 harbours with a reduced programme. 26 non-indigenous species were recorded using conventional sampling and 13 species were recorded using eDNA-based methods. Excluding overlapping rec-ords, we have recorded a total of 34 non-indigenous species in the 16 harbours studied. Based on the results, we conclude the following: 1) more non-indigenous species are found in the western parts of Denmark (North Sea region) then in the eastern parts (Baltic Sea), and 2) a few species previously unseen in Danish marine waters were recorded, i.e. the two bristle worms Eteone het-eropoda (fam. Phyllodocidae) and Streblospio benedicti (fam. Spionidae). Further, we provide a proof-of-concept regarding the overarching objectives of the MONIS 1-3 projects and the eDNA-based test systems developed. The results constitute a baseline for future studies in Danish ports and other hotspot areas.publishedVersio

First results from the L3+C experiment at CERN

The L3+C experiment combines the high-precision spectrometer of the L3 detector at LEP, CERN, with a small air shower array. The momenta of cosmic ray induced muons can be measured from 20 to 2000 GeV/c. During the 1999 data taking period 5 billion muon events were recorded in the spectrometer. From April until mid Summer 2000 an additional 3 billion muon events have been recorded as well as 25 million air shower events. Here the first results on the muon momentum spectrum and charge ratio will be presented

Antiinflammatory Therapy with Canakinumab for Atherosclerotic Disease

Background: Experimental and clinical data suggest that reducing inflammation without affecting lipid levels may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Yet, the inflammatory hypothesis of atherothrombosis has remained unproved. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial of canakinumab, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1β, involving 10,061 patients with previous myocardial infarction and a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level of 2 mg or more per liter. The trial compared three doses of canakinumab (50 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg, administered subcutaneously every 3 months) with placebo. The primary efficacy end point was nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: At 48 months, the median reduction from baseline in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level was 26 percentage points greater in the group that received the 50-mg dose of canakinumab, 37 percentage points greater in the 150-mg group, and 41 percentage points greater in the 300-mg group than in the placebo group. Canakinumab did not reduce lipid levels from baseline. At a median follow-up of 3.7 years, the incidence rate for the primary end point was 4.50 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group, 4.11 events per 100 person-years in the 50-mg group, 3.86 events per 100 person-years in the 150-mg group, and 3.90 events per 100 person-years in the 300-mg group. The hazard ratios as compared with placebo were as follows: in the 50-mg group, 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.07; P = 0.30); in the 150-mg group, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.98; P = 0.021); and in the 300-mg group, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.99; P = 0.031). The 150-mg dose, but not the other doses, met the prespecified multiplicity-adjusted threshold for statistical significance for the primary end point and the secondary end point that additionally included hospitalization for unstable angina that led to urgent revascularization (hazard ratio vs. placebo, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.95; P = 0.005). Canakinumab was associated with a higher incidence of fatal infection than was placebo. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio for all canakinumab doses vs. placebo, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.06; P = 0.31). Conclusions: Antiinflammatory therapy targeting the interleukin-1β innate immunity pathway with canakinumab at a dose of 150 mg every 3 months led to a significantly lower rate of recurrent cardiovascular events than placebo, independent of lipid-level lowering. (Funded by Novartis; CANTOS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01327846.

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Tiltaksorientert overvåking av Glommas munningsområde og Hvalerområdet for Kronos Titan AS og Borregaard AS - undersøkelse av miljøgifter, 2018

Revidert versjon av rapport 7341-2019. Revidert 28.02.2019. Prosjektleder Norman W. Green.Ved implementeringen av vannforskriften er det krav om at minimum «god tilstand» skal oppnås i alle vannforekomster. Kronos Titan AS og Borregaard AS har utslipp til Glomma som når munningsområdet. Her presenteres resultatene fra analyse av arsen, kobolt, krom, kobber, jern, molybden, titan, vanadium sink, kadmium, kvikksølv, nikkel og bly i blæretang og blåskjell fra Hvalerestuariet. I vannforskriften er det kun fastsatt grenseverdi i biota for kvikksølv. Øvrige stoffer er derfor klassifisert etter Miljødirektoratets fem-delte klassifiseringssystem, eller hvor det mangler en eldre fire-delt klassifisering av forurensningsgrad. For denne undersøkelsen er konsentrasjoner i Klasse I – Ubetydelig-lite forurenset eller Klasse II – Moderat forurenset betraktet som «lave». For stasjonene nærmest Glommas munning (innen 8 km) var konsentrasjonene for de vannregionspesifikke stoffene jern og titan høyere enn Klasse II på alle stasjonene, og for krom og vanadium på én stasjon (Kjøko). Blant de prioriterte stoffene som ble undersøkt i dette området nærmest munningen var det kun én stasjon (Kråkerøy) med konsentrasjoner over Klasse II for bly. NIVA konkluderer med at i den grad undersøkelsesområdet har et metallproblem, er dette i hovedsak knyttet til jern og titan. Forutsatt at det ikke gjennomføres mudring eller finner sted andre betydelige tiltak eller endringer av utslippsregimet, vil overvåking med 3 - 6 års intervaller være tilstrekkelig for å fange opp eventuelle endringer i tilstanden over tid. Imidlertid må det understrekkes at det statistiske grunnlaget for å detektere tidstrend blir betraktelig redusert jo lengre intervaller det er mellom målinger. Vi anbefaler derfor at overvåkingen skjer hvert 3. år.Kronos Titan AS og Borregaard ASpublishedVersio

Tiltaksorientert overvåking av Glommas munningsområde og Hvalerområdet for Kronos Titan AS og Borregaard AS - undersøkelse av miljøgifter, 2018

Ved implementeringen av vannforskriften er det krav om at minimum «god tilstand» skal oppnås i alle vannforekomster. Kronos Titan AS og Borregaard AS har utslipp til Glomma som når munningsområdet. Her presenteres resultatene fra analyse av arsen, kobolt, krom, kobber, jern, molybden, titan, vanadium sink, kadmium, kvikksølv, nikkel og bly i blæretang og blåskjell fra Hvalerestuariet. I vannforskriften er det kun fastsatt grenseverdi i biota for kvikksølv. Øvrige stoffer er derfor klassifisert etter Miljødirektoratets fem-delte klassifiseringssystem, eller hvor det mangler en eldre fire-delt klassifisering av forurensningsgrad. For denne undersøkelsen er konsentrasjoner i Klasse I – Ubetydelig-lite forurenset eller Klasse II – Moderat forurenset betraktet som «lave». For stasjonene nærmest Glommas munning (innen 8 km) var konsentrasjonene for de vannregionspesifikke stoffene jern og titan høyere enn Klasse II på alle stasjonene, og for krom og vanadium på én stasjon (Kjøko). Blant de prioriterte stoffene som ble undersøkt i dette området nærmest munningen var det kun én stasjon (Kråkerøy) med konsentrasjoner over Klasse II for bly. NIVA konkluderer med at i den grad undersøkelsesområdet har et metallproblem, er dette i hovedsak knyttet til jern og titan. Forutsatt at det ikke gjennomføres mudring eller finner sted andre betydelige tiltak eller endringer av utslippsregimet, vil overvåking med 3 - 6 års intervaller være tilstrekkelig for å fange opp eventuelle endringer i tilstanden over tid. Imidlertid må det understrekkes at det statistiske grunnlaget for å detektere tidstrend blir betraktelig redusert jo lengre intervaller det er mellom målinger. Vi anbefaler derfor at overvåkingen skjer hvert 3. år

Tiltaksorientert overvåking av Glommas munningsområde og Hvalerområdet for Kronos Titan AS og Borregaard AS - undersøkelse av miljøgifter, 2018

Revidert versjon av rapport 7341-2019. Revidert 28.02.2019. Prosjektleder Norman W. Green.Ved implementeringen av vannforskriften er det krav om at minimum «god tilstand» skal oppnås i alle vannforekomster. Kronos Titan AS og Borregaard AS har utslipp til Glomma som når munningsområdet. Her presenteres resultatene fra analyse av arsen, kobolt, krom, kobber, jern, molybden, titan, vanadium sink, kadmium, kvikksølv, nikkel og bly i blæretang og blåskjell fra Hvalerestuariet. I vannforskriften er det kun fastsatt grenseverdi i biota for kvikksølv. Øvrige stoffer er derfor klassifisert etter Miljødirektoratets fem-delte klassifiseringssystem, eller hvor det mangler en eldre fire-delt klassifisering av forurensningsgrad. For denne undersøkelsen er konsentrasjoner i Klasse I – Ubetydelig-lite forurenset eller Klasse II – Moderat forurenset betraktet som «lave». For stasjonene nærmest Glommas munning (innen 8 km) var konsentrasjonene for de vannregionspesifikke stoffene jern og titan høyere enn Klasse II på alle stasjonene, og for krom og vanadium på én stasjon (Kjøko). Blant de prioriterte stoffene som ble undersøkt i dette området nærmest munningen var det kun én stasjon (Kråkerøy) med konsentrasjoner over Klasse II for bly. NIVA konkluderer med at i den grad undersøkelsesområdet har et metallproblem, er dette i hovedsak knyttet til jern og titan. Forutsatt at det ikke gjennomføres mudring eller finner sted andre betydelige tiltak eller endringer av utslippsregimet, vil overvåking med 3 - 6 års intervaller være tilstrekkelig for å fange opp eventuelle endringer i tilstanden over tid. Imidlertid må det understrekkes at det statistiske grunnlaget for å detektere tidstrend blir betraktelig redusert jo lengre intervaller det er mellom målinger. Vi anbefaler derfor at overvåkingen skjer hvert 3. år.Kronos Titan AS og Borregaard ASpublishedVersio