Contact
Natasa Desnica
Research Group Leader
natasa@matis.is
Pollution monitoring in the marine environment around Iceland 2008 and 2009 / Monitoring of the marine biosphere around Iceland 2008 and 2009
This report presents the results of an annual monitoring project funded by the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture. The purpose of this monitoring is to fulfill Iceland's obligations regarding the Oslo and Paris Agreement (OSPAR), as well as the AMAP (Artic Monitoring Assessment Program). The data has been sent to the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) database. The Marine Research Institute collects samples and Matís oversees the preparation of samples and measurements of trace elements in the marine environment. The samples are measured at Matís and at the Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology. Various inorganic trace elements and chloro-organic substances were measured in cod caught in Hafró's annual spring rally in March 2009 and in mussels collected at 11 locations around the country in August / September 2008. Monitoring in the marine environment around Iceland began in 1989 and data is collected in database. The report provides overview images for some of the topics covered. Cadmium is regionally higher in Icelandic mussels compared to mussels from other countries. There are small changes between years in the concentration of inorganic and organic substances, but a detailed statistical analysis of the data is needed in order to be able to assess with scientific methods the increase or decrease of pollutants in the marine environment in Iceland.
This report contains results of the annual monitoring of the biosphere around Iceland in 2008 and 2009. The project, overseen by the Environmental and Food Agency of Iceland, is to fulfill the OSPAR (Oslo and Paris agreement) and AMAP (Arctic Monitoring Assessment Program) agreements. The project was funded by the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture. The data has been submitted to the ICES databank (ices.dk), collection of data began in 1989. Matís ohf is the coordinator for marine biota monitoring and is responsible for methods relating to sampling, preparation and analysis of samples. The samples were analyzed at Matís and at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Iceland. Trace metals and organochlorines were analyzed in cod (Gadus morhua) caught in March 2009 and in blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) collected in August / Sept 2008. Marine monitoring began in Iceland 1989. Cadmium is higher in some locations in Iceland compared to other countries . No significant changes were observed in the concentration of organic or inorganic pollutants investigated. However, a thorough statistical evaluation has to be carried out on the available data to analyze spatial and temporal trends of pollutants in the Icelandic marine biosphere.