The Davis Strait - DCE - Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi

glaucous gulls, great black-backed gulls, killer whales, pilot whales, Arctic
fox, and polar bears). This is particularly true in relation to biomagnification
of PCBs and DDT. AMAP activities have also shown a decrease in the levels
of some POPs (e.g. PCBs and DDT), resulting from introduction of bans and
restrictions relating to their use in other parts of the world (AMAP 2004,
Muir & de Wit 2010). At the same time, however, use of new persistent pollutants,
currently produced in large quantities, is on the increase (AMAP
2004, Muir & de Wit 2010). These substances have also been detected in animals
from Greenland; such as the brominated flame retardants hexabromocyclododecane
(HBCD) or tetrabromobisphenol (TBBPA), chemicals which
are produced in high volumes. In recent years their presence has been reported
in sediment and biota from the marine environment (Frederiksen et
al. 2007), with concentrations of HBCDs in animals from West Greenland
generally being lower than in the same species from East Greenland. The
same effect has previously been described for other halogenated compounds
such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) (Vorkamp et al. 2007).
Another, more localised source of pollution is mining activity, e.g. the olivine
mine at Seqi in Niaqunngunaq (Fiskefjord) north of Nuuk. The nearest
settlement is Atammik, at the inlet of the fjord. The mine was in operation
between 2005 and 2010. Since 2004, environmental monitoring has been
conducted every year in order to assess any impact from mining. During operation
increased levels of some elements, particularly chromium and nickel,
were measured in lichens, blue mussels and seaweed. Generation and
spread of metal-contaminated dust from the roads and the ore-crushing facility
was considered the main source of this contamination. Since closure of
the mine in 2010, the environmental impact has decreased and is presently
considered as being insignificant for the Niaquungunaq fjord system (Søndergaard
& Asmund 2011).
7.1.1 Tributyltin (TBT)
The antifouling agent, tributyltin (TBT) can be found in many coastal waters
in both industrial and developing countries with the highest levels in harbours
and shipping lanes (Sousa et al. 2009). In remote areas such as the Arctic
environment, TBT levels are usually low, except close to harbours, e. g.
Sisimiut (Villumsen & Ottosen 2006) and shipping lanes (Strand & Asmund
2003, AMAP 2004, Berge et al. 2004). The presence of TBT residues in harbour
porpoises from Greenland documents that organotin compounds have
also spread to the Arctic region, though the concentrations are rather low
(Jacobsen & Asmund 2000, Strand et al. 2005).
7.1.2 Petroleum hydrocarbons and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
(PAH)
Petroleum hydrocarbons represent several hundred chemical compounds
originating from crude oil e.g. gasoline, kerosene, and diesel fuel. Of primary
interest for assessment of the environmental impacts are the aromatic hydrocarbons
(i.e., benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylenes). Another important
group is the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which originate
from two main sources: combustion (pyrogenic) and crude oil (petrogenic).
PAHs represent the most toxic fraction of oil and are released to the
environment through oil spills and discharge of produced water (see also
chapter 10 and 11). Twentythree PAHs are included on the lists of priority
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