NIVA rapportmal. Norsk versjon. - Miljøstatus - Vest-Agder

NIVA-rapport 4334-2001
Summary
Title: Environmental contaminants in lake sediments and fish in the Agder counties
Year: 2001
Authors: Kaste, Ø., Fjeld, E. & Rognerud, S.
Source: Norwegian Institute for Water Research, ISBN No.: 82-577-3968-5
Sediments and fish from 8 lakes in the Agder counties, of which 6 expected to be influenced by
emissions from industry in the Arendal, Kristiansand and Lista regions, are examined with respect to
environmental contaminants. Long-range transported air pollutants seemed to be important for
deposition of both metals and organic micropollutants in the area, but analyses of metals in sediment
cores dated back to ~1850 also indicate significant contribution from local industry.
In lake Vatnebuvatn, near Arendal, the stock of brown trout had relatively high concentrations of PCB
and a mercury level exceeding the limit value of 0,5 mg Hg/kg set by the food control authorities in
Norway. Analyses of individual fishes indicate that the limit value was exceeded when fish weights
exceeded 1 kg. The sum of PAH metabolites in the gall bladder of fish were significantly higher in
lakes near Arendal og Kristiansand compared to upland reference lakes. Due to few investigations
showing dose/repose-relationships between PAH metabolites and fish health, the biological
significance of the measured levels can not yet be evaluated.
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