Heavy metal pollution in the sea around the country is generally well below international standards, according to a new report by Matís on changes in the marine environment around the country. Heavy metals are elements that originate in nature but their concentration can increase due to human action (eg mining).
Since 1989, an annual monitoring project of pollutants in the marine environment around Iceland has been underway. The project is funded by the Ministry for the Environment and is managed by a so-called AMSUM group, which works under the auspices of the Ministry. Members of this working group are from Matís, the Icelandic Radiation Protection Authority, the Icelandic Meteorological Office, the Icelandic Environment Agency, the Marine Research Institute and the Ministry of the Environment.
Various pollutants in the ocean can enter marine organisms or organisms that feed on seafood. In many cases, this pollution is man-made and there is growing concern about this development. Neither pollution nor animals respect borders, and pollutants reach here by air and sea currents, whether we care about it or not. It is therefore important to monitor the amount of pollutants in this country, whether in the air, on land or in the womb, and no less so in the organisms that live by the land. It is also important to be able to compare our position with the situation in other countries. This is especially important because of the importance of seafood to the nation.
As stated above, the monitoring has been going on since 1989 and its purpose is threefold:.
? Firstly, to examine whether the amount of pollutants is increasing in the sea off Iceland.
? Secondly, to assess whether human health is endangered by the consumption of seafood.
? Thirdly, to assess whether the marine environment is at risk of pollution.
To investigate this, samples of cod and sandeel are taken at four locations around the country each year and mussels are collected at 11 locations around the country.
Cod is chosen for monitoring due to its high distribution and importance in fishing. Cod in general monitoring are in the length range 30-45 cm (3-6 years) and are caught before spawning in March each year. Sand coal is a bottom-dwelling fish species that lives in a relatively demarcated area and is therefore well suited for monitoring. The samples are in the length range of 20-35 cm and taken in March like the cod samples. Mussels are a local species and reflect the presence of pollutants in the coastal area where they live, but samples are taken before spawning in August / September.
These samples measure inorganic (heavy metals) and organic trace elements. The heavy metals lead, cadmium, mercury, copper and zinc, the persistent organic pollutants HCH, HCB, PCB, chloride, DDT and TBT and the radioactive substance Cs-137 are measured. Matís measures heavy metals in the above samples and ensures that persistent organic pollutants are also measured in them.
Matís' report presents the results of the monitoring project for the years 2006 and 2007. The aim of the monitoring project is to identify changes that may occur in the concentration of trace elements in the marine environment around the country during a certain period and between different ocean and coastal areas. Among other things, the research is important for the sale of Icelandic seafood in foreign markets, where it can be demonstrated with scientific data that Icelandic fish is caught in an unpolluted environment.
The report (Monitoring of the marine biosphere around Iceland in 2006 - 2007) states that the concentration of heavy metals such as mercury is very low. However, the concentration of cadmium has sometimes been higher in the marine environment in Iceland than in more southerly areas. However, the amount of cadmium is low in the organisms studied, for example in the range of 0.1-1 mg / kg in mussels. The high concentration of cadmium in Iceland is considered to have natural causes as there has been no evidence of man-made cadmium pollution. Thus, for example, cadmium levels in mussels have been higher in recent years in various places that are far from residential areas and commercial activities, such as in Mjóafjörður, than in Hvalfjörður and Straumsvík.
In the picture below, Dr. Sasan Rabieh, employee of Matís' Chemical Research Department and lead author of the report.