Joint Assessment and Monitoring Programme (JAMP) Overview of Norwegian analytical methods 1981-2007

This report is a compilation of analytical method codes and descriptions used in the Norwegian contribution to the Joint Assessment and Monitoring Programme (JAMP) for investigation of the levels and trends of contaminants in near shore marine waters. It concerns primarily selected metals, organochlorines (e.g. PCBs, DDTs, HCHs, HCB), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in seawater (only metals), sediment and biota collected 1981-2006 and analysed through to 2007. The method descriptions are brief and focus on the principles involved.Norwegian Pollution Control Authority Statens forurensningstilsyn (SFT

Miljøgifter i en urban fjord, 2014

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.Dette programmet, "Miljøgifter i en Urban Fjord" har omfattet prøvetaking og analyse av organismer i en marin næringskjede i Indre Oslofjord, i tillegg til prøver av sediment, blåskjell og børstemark på utvalgte lokaliteter i fjorden i 2014. Programmet omfattet også undersøkelser av tilførsler av miljøgifter via overvann. Resultater fra andre overvåkingsprogrammer som "Miljøgifter i kystnære områder" (MILKYS) og "Elvetilførselsprogrammet" (RID), og resultater fra tilførselsundersøkelser, samt målinger av miljøgifter ved Bekkelaget kloakkrenseanlegg er omtalt og satt i sammenheng med resultatene fra den foreliggende undersøkelsen. ...Miljødirektorate

The Mann Library Gateway System

Describes the Mann Library Gateway that provides access to an electronic library developed at Cornell University (New York) including indexes, numeric data files, and full text of journal articles and reference works that are available at users' workstations. Highlights include modules of the system; software design; user training and support; user response; and future plans

Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord, 2018

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.publishedVersio

Screening program 2014: Fosfitter, utvalgte PBT stoffer og hypotesefri miljøscreening

The occurrence and environmental risk of a number of phosphites and selected PBT substances are reported for wastewater effluents and leachates, as well as sediments and biota from Oslofjord and Lake Mjøsa. In addition a suspect and non-target screening approach was applied to approximatley half of the biota samples.publishedVersio

Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord, 2020

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 (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.publishedVersio

Risk assessment of grilled and barbecued food

When grilling, more harmful substances can be formed than when frying in a pan. For most people, there is a low risk associated with eating grilled food. Grilling food at a high temperature and/or on a campfire, often, and eating a lot of it may damage one's health. Distance to the heat source, how early food is placed onto the grill, and the type of fuel used can affect the formation of harmful substances. It is known that heat treatment such as grilling and frying can give rise to unwanted toxic compounds in the food, so-called process-induced contaminants. Grilling is a common way of preparing food in Norway, and the grilling season has become longer. The food selection has become ever wider and sales of different types of grills are increasing. Many factors may thus have changed since VKM's previous assessment of health risks from the consumption of grilled food, which was published in 2007. To be able to give current and relevant advice to consumers and others who sell or offer grilled food, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority has asked VKM for updated knowledge about the formation of process-induced contaminants in different food products by different grilling methods, and an assessment of what risk this may pose. Main findings: Harmful substances can be formed at high cooking temperatures. When grilling, the temperature is higher and less controllable than when frying in a pan. There is good evidence that two groups of genotoxic and carcinogenic substances, heterocyclic amines (HAA) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), are formed in higher concentrations in grilled food than in fried food. VKM has assessed PAH, for which there are good studies of occurrence in barbecued food. PAHs are formed when fat burns after dripping from the food onto the heat source. PAHs can also be released from coal, briquettes and wood. The smoke with PAH settles on the food. The occurrence of PAH in grilled food varies greatly and depends on how the food is grilled. The concentration of PAH is highest in very well-done meat with a high fat content, such as pork ribs and hamburgers. The highest concentration of PAH was found in sausage grilled on a campfire. This is caused by unburnt fat or soot/smoke from the fire that stick to the sausage. By avoiding fat dripping directly onto the heat source, preventing smoke from coming into contact with the food, and not overcooking the food, the amount of PAH in grilled food can be reduced. When using charcoal, the PAH emission is higher immediately after lighting, and the amount of PAH in the food can be reduced by waiting sufficiently long before start grilling. It is not the number of times you grill that is a critical factor, but how. A "worst-case" scenario shows that the annual consumption of more than 15-25 meals that have been grilled in a way that produces a high PAH incidence may provide too low margin of exposure* for the risk to be low. If, on the other hand, you prefer lean barbecue food that is not overcooked, then you can eat it more than 100 times a year according to our calculations and still have a high enough margin of exposure. * Margin of exposure is the ratio between the lowest dose (reference point) that causes increased cancer in experimental animals and the calculated intake. Exposure margin below 10,000 is considered a public health concern. Norsk: Ved grilling kan det dannes flere helseskadelige stoffer enn ved steking i panne. For de fleste er det lav risiko knyttet til å spise grillmat.Risk assessment of grilled and barbecued foodpublishedVersionacceptedVersionacceptedVersio