A study of the priority substances of the Water Framework Directive ...

..:::::::::: copper
..:::80
a Copper
� Copper is very toxic to aquatic organisms.
� There are several areas already affected by
copper pollution in Norway, reductions in emissions
are small.
� Further screening is not considered necessary,
but monitoring should continue.
Production and use
Copper is used as a biocidal active substance in
insecticides, paint, pigments and wood preservation
and anti-fouling. Metallic copper is used in
electric appliances, coins, building materials etc.
Several compounds used in chemical industries.
Emissions, discharges,
distribution and hot-spots
The largest releases of copper to water in
Norway are anti fouling in aquaculture.
Emissions from preserved wood are rapidly
increasing. Emissions has dropped from to 748
tons in 1995 tons in 2002. Discharges to water
has dropped from 674 tons to 585 tons in the
same period.
Monitoring
Monitoring of copper has been part of JAMP
and RID, and time trends exist here. Copper has
also been investigated in other studies (see references).
Marine sediment
Several harbours are polluted by copper.
Marine biota
Shellfish in Nordland are screened; levels were
highest in Svolvær. Blue mussels have shown
effects from copper pollution in Ranfjorden in
Nordland County, Orkdalsfjorden in Sør-
Trøndelag County and Sørfjorden in Hordaland
County.
Fresh water
10 rivers are investigated; in Orkla samples in
Class V have been found, but concentrations
vary. No other samples have shown concentrations
above class III.
Fresh water sediment
Lakes affected by mining are polluted, see
hotspots. In other lakes concentrations are low.
A study of the priority substances of the Water Framework Directive
TA-2140/2005
FACTS
Copper is a metal which is essential to life. Copper
compounds may however be toxic to humans in too
high concentrations, but it is not considered carcinogenic.
To aquatic organisms, copper is very toxic,
partly due to high mobility and high bioconcentration.
Fresh water biota
Insect larvae, especially mayfly, living downstream
mines are shown to have increased body
copper concentration.
Hotspots
Copper mines and areas for wood preservation
are hotspots for copper pollution. Major copper
maining has taken place in Røros, Grong,
Sulitjelma, Folldal, Løkken and Karmøy. Copper
has been mined in at least 100 different locations
from approx. 1700 and onwards. The use
of copper for wood preservation takes place in
about 15 different plants nationally
Need for further screening and monitoring
Copper is thoroughly screened, and no further
screening is considered necessary. However,
monitoring should continue, as concentrations
are high in the environment, combined with an
increase in the use for anti fouling and wood
preservation.
Analysis
There are several well-established techniques for
determination of Cu. Several companies offer
this service in Norway and Europe. The most
frequently techniques are Inductively coupled
plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), Inductively
coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy
(ICP-AES), Graphite Furnace Atomic
Absorption Spectroscopy (GF-AAS) and Flame
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (F-AAS).
Methods
Water samples are acidified with 1 - 10 % nitric
acid.
For analysis of solid samples, the methods are
based on digestion with nitric acid / hydrogen