Tag: Monitoring

Reports

Undesirable substances in seafood products - results from the Icelandic marine monitoring activities in the year 2009

Published:

01/11/2010

Authors:

Hrönn Ólína Jörundsdóttir, Natasa Desnica, Þuríður Ragnarsdóttir, Helga Gunnlaugsdóttir

Supported by:

Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture

Contact

Natasa Desnica

Research Group Leader

natasa@matis.is

Undesirable substances in seafood products - results from the Icelandic marine monitoring activities in the year 2009

In 2003, at the initiative of the Ministry of Fisheries, monitoring of undesirable substances in marine products, both for human consumption and products for the fish oil and flour industry, began. The purpose of the monitoring is to assess the condition of Icelandic marine products with regard to the amount of contaminants. The aim is also to collect independent scientific data on undesirable substances in marine products for the government, the fishing industry as well as buyers and consumers of Icelandic seafood. The data collected in the monitoring project will also be used in risk assessment and to build up a database on contaminants in the Icelandic ecosystem. Coverage of contaminants in marine products, both in the mainstream media and in scientific journals, has many times demanded the response of the Icelandic government. It is necessary to have scientific results available that demonstrate the actual condition of Icelandic seafood in order to prevent damage that may result from such coverage. Furthermore, the limits of contaminants are under constant review and it is important for Icelanders to participate in such a review and support their case with scientific data. This shows the importance of regular monitoring and that Iceland conducts independent research on such an important issue as marine product pollution. This report is a summary of the results of the monitoring for the year 2009. Assessment of the condition of Icelandic marine products with regard to contaminants is a long-term project and will only be carried out through continuous monitoring. Every year, therefore, the missing data is carefully reviewed, thus aiming to fill in the gaps. In 2009, the following substances were measured in marine products intended for human consumption as well as products for the fish oil and flour industry: dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs and pointer PCBs, PBDEs, metals, as well as 12 different types of pesticides. A special effort was made to measure PBDEs and metals in 2009 and very few of these substances were measured in Icelandic seafood. As before, a small amount of undesirable substances was generally measured in Icelandic seafood in 2009. Oil and flour made from blue whiting, however, have to be close to or above the permitted limits for certain substances.

This monitoring of undesirable substances in seafood products was initiated by the Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture in the year 2003. Until then, this type of monitoring had been limited in Iceland. The purpose of the project is to gather information and evaluate the status of Icelandic seafood products in terms of undesirable substances. Further, the aim of the project is to provide independent scientific data on undesirable substances in Icelandic seafood for food authorities, fisheries authorities, industry, markets and consumers. The information will also be utilized for a risk assessment and gathering of reference data. This report summarizes the results obtained in the year 2009 for the monitoring of various undesirable substances in the edible part of marine catches, fish meal and fish oil for feed. The monitoring began in 2003 and has now been carried out for six consecutive years. The evaluation of the status of the Icelandic seafood products in terms of undesirable substances is a long term project which can only be reached through continuous monitoring. For this reason, we carefully select which undesirable substances are measured in the various seafood samples each year with the aim to fill in the gaps in the available data. Thus the project fills in gaps of knowledge regarding the level of undesirable substances in economically important marine catches for Icelandic export. In the year 2009, data was collected on dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs, marker PCBs, 12 different types of pesticides, PBDEs and metals in the edible part of fish, fish oil and meal for feed. Samples collected in 2009 generally contained low concentrations of undesirable substances. These results are in agreement with our previous results obtained in the monitoring programs in the years 2003 to 2008. This year (2009) special emphasis was placed on gathering information on PBDE and metals. The results reveal that these compounds are in very low amounts in fish and fish products and most PAHs are below detection limits. Blue whiting meal and oil can contain undesirable substances in concentration close to or exceeding the maximum level set by the EU.

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Reports

Pollution monitoring in the marine environment around Iceland 2008 and 2009 / Monitoring of the marine biosphere around Iceland 2008 and 2009

Published:

01/09/2010

Authors:

Hrönn Ólína Jörundsdóttir, Natasa Desnica, Sonja Huld Guðjónsdóttir, Þuríður Ragnarsdóttir, Helga Gunnlaugsdóttir

Supported by:

Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture

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.

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Reports

Undesirable substances in seafood products - results from the Icelandic marine monitoring activities year 2008

Published:

01/05/2010

Authors:

Hrönn Ólína Jörundsdóttir, Katrín Hauksdóttir, Natasa Desnica, Helga Gunnlaugsdóttir

Supported by:

Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture

Contact

Natasa Desnica

Research Group Leader

natasa@matis.is

Undesirable substances in seafood products - results from the Icelandic marine monitoring activities year 2008

In 2003, at the initiative of the Ministry of Fisheries, monitoring of undesirable substances in marine products began, both products intended for human consumption and products for the fish oil and flour industry. The purpose of the monitoring is to assess the condition of Icelandic marine products with regard to the amount of contaminants. The data collected in the monitoring project will also be used in risk assessment and to build up a database on contaminants in the Icelandic ecosystem. Coverage of contaminants in marine products, both in the mainstream media and in scientific journals, has many times demanded the response of the Icelandic government. It is necessary to have scientific results available that demonstrate the actual condition of Icelandic seafood in order to prevent damage that may result from such coverage. Furthermore, the limits of contaminants are under constant review and it is important for Icelanders to participate in such a review and support their case with scientific data. This shows the importance of regular monitoring and that Iceland conducts independent research on such an important issue as marine product pollution. This report is a summary of the results of the monitoring in 2008. Assessment of the state of Icelandic marine products with regard to contaminants is a long-term project and will only be carried out through continuous monitoring. Every year, the missing data is carefully reviewed and the aim is to fill in the blanks. In 2008, the following were measured: dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs and PCB substances, PBDEs, PAHs as well as ten different types of pesticides, in marine products intended for human consumption as well as products for the fish oil and flour industries. A special effort was made to measure PBDE and PAH substances in 2008 and very few of these substances were measured in Icelandic seafood. As before, a small amount of undesirable substances was generally measured in Icelandic seafood in 2008. Oil and flour made from blue whiting, however, tend to be close to or exceed the permitted limits for certain substances.

This project was started in 2003 at the request of the Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture. Until then, monitoring of undesirable substances in the edible portion of marine catches had been rather limited in Iceland. The purpose of the project is to gather information and evaluate the status of Icelandic seafood products in terms of undesirable substances. The information will also be utilized for a risk assessment and gathering of reference data. This report summarizes the results obtained in 2008 for the monitoring of various undesirable substances in the edible part of marine catches, fish meal and fish oil for feed. The monitoring began in 2003 and has now been carried out for five consecutive years. The evaluation of the status of the Icelandic seafood products in terms of undesirable substances is a long term project which can only be reached through continuous monitoring. For this reason, we carefully select which undesirable substances are measured in the various seafood samples each year with the aim to fill in the gaps in the available data over couple of year time. In 2008, data was collected on dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs, marker PCBs, ten different types of pesticides, PBDEs and PAHs in the edible part of fish, fish liver, fish oil and meal for feed. Samples collected in 2008 generally contained low concentrations of undesirable substances. These results are in agreement with our previous results obtained in monitoring programs 2003-2007. This year (2008) special emphasis was placed on gathering information on PBDE and PAHs and the results reveal that these compounds are in very low amounts in fish and fish products and most PAHs are actually below detection limits. Blue whiting meal and oil can contain undesirable substances in concentration close to or exceeding the maximum level set by the EU.

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Reports

Undesirable substances in seafood products. Results from the monitoring activities in 2007

Published:

01/09/2009

Authors:

Hrönn Ólína Jörundsdóttir, Sasan Rabieh, Helga Gunnlaugsdóttir

Supported by:

Ministry of fisheries and agriculture

Undesirable substances in seafood products. Results from the monitoring activities in 2007

In 2003, at the initiative of the Ministry of Fisheries, monitoring of undesirable substances in marine products began, both products intended for human consumption and products for the fish oil and flour industry. The purpose of the monitoring is to assess the condition of Icelandic marine products with regard to the amount of contaminants. The data collected in the monitoring project will also be used in risk assessment and to build up a database on contaminants in the Icelandic ecosystem. Coverage of contaminants in marine products, both in the mainstream media and in scientific journals, has many times demanded the response of the Icelandic government. It is necessary to have scientific results available that demonstrate the actual condition of Icelandic seafood in order to prevent damage that may result from such coverage. Furthermore, the limits of contaminants are under constant review and it is important for Icelanders to participate in such a review and support their case with scientific data. This shows the importance of regular monitoring and that Iceland conducts independent research on such an important issue as marine product pollution. This report is a summary of the results of the monitoring in 2007. Assessment of the state of Icelandic marine products with regard to contaminants is a long-term project and will only be carried out through continuous monitoring. Every year, therefore, the missing data is carefully reviewed and thus the aim is to fill in the gaps. In 2007, the following were measured: dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs and PCBs, PBDEs, PAHs, as well as ten different types of pesticides, as well as heavy metals and other trace elements, in marine products intended for human consumption as well as products for the fish oil and flour industries.

This project was started in 2003 at the request of the Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture. Until then, monitoring of undesirable substances in the edible portion of marine catches had been rather limited in Iceland. The purpose of the project is to gather information and evaluate the status of Icelandic seafood products in terms of undesirable substances. The information will also be utilized in a risk assessment and gathering reference data. This report summarizes the results obtained in 2007 for the monitoring of various undesirable substances in the edible part of marine catches, fish meal and fish oil for feed. The monitoring began in 2003 and has now been carried out for five consecutive years. The evaluation of the status of the Icelandic seafood products in terms of undesirable substances is a long-term project which can only be reached through continuous monitoring. For this reason, we carefully select which undesirable substances are measured in the various seafood samples each year with the aim to fill in the gaps in the available data over couple of years. In 2007 data was collected on dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs, marker PCBs, ten different types of pesticides, PBDE, PAH, as well as trace elements and heavy metals in the edible part of fish, fish liver, fish oil and fish meal for feed.

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Reports

Pollution monitoring in the marine environment around Iceland 2007 and 2008 / Monitoring of the marine biosphere around Iceland 2007 and 2008

Published:

01/08/2009

Authors:

Hrönn Ólína Jörundsdóttir, Sasan Rabieh, Hulda Soffía Jónasdóttir, Þuríður Ragnarsdóttir, Helga Gunnlaugsdóttir

Supported by:

Ministry for the Environment and Ministry of Fisheries

Pollution monitoring in the marine environment around Iceland 2007 and 2008 / Monitoring of the marine biosphere around Iceland 2007 and 2008

This report presents the results of the Ministry of the Environment's annual monitoring project for the years 2007 and 2008. The aim 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 2008 and in mussels collected at 11 locations around the country in August / September 2007. Monitoring in the marine environment around Iceland began in 1989 and data are collected in database, the report provides overview images for some of the materials monitored.

This report contains results of the annual monitoring of the biosphere around Iceland in 2007 and 2008. 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 data has been submitted to the ICES databank (ices.dk), collection of data began 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 the 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 2008 and in blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) collected in August / Sept 2007. Marine monitoring began in Iceland 1989.

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Reports

Pollution monitoring in the marine environment around Iceland 2006 and 2007 / Monitoring of the marine biosphere around Iceland 2006 and 2007

Published:

01/08/2008

Authors:

Sasan Rabieh, Ingibjörg Jónsdóttir, Þuríður Ragnarsdóttir, Helga Gunnlaugsdóttir

Supported by:

Ministry for the Environment and Ministry of Fisheries

Pollution monitoring in the marine environment around Iceland 2006 and 2007 / Monitoring of the marine biosphere around Iceland 2006 and 2007

This report presents the results of the Ministry of the Environment's annual monitoring project for the years 2006 and 2007. The aim 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 2007 and in mussels collected at 11 locations around the country in August / September 2006. Monitoring in the marine environment around Iceland began in 1989.

This report contains results of the annual monitoring of the biosphere around Iceland in 2006 and 2007. 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 data has been submitted to the ICES databank (ices.dk), collection of data began 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 the 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 2007 and in blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) collected in August / Sept 2006. Marine monitoring began in Iceland 1989.

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Reports

Undesirable substances in seafood products– results from the monitoring activities in 2006

Published:

01/07/2008

Authors:

Ásta Margrét Ásmundsdóttir, Vordís Baldursdóttir, Sasan Rabieh, Helga Gunnlaugsdóttir

Supported by:

Ministry of fisheries

Undesirable substances in seafood products– results from the monitoring activities in 2006

In 2003, at the initiative of the Ministry of Fisheries, monitoring of undesirable substances in marine products began, both products intended for human consumption and products of the fish oil and flour industry. The purpose of the monitoring is to assess the condition of Icelandic marine products with regard to the amount of contaminants. The data collected in the monitoring project will also be used in risk assessments and to influence the setting of maximum levels for undesirable substances, for example in Europe. Coverage of contaminants in marine products, both in the mainstream media and in scientific journals, has many times demanded the response of the Icelandic government. It is necessary to have scientific results available that demonstrate the actual condition of Icelandic seafood in order to prevent damage that may result from such coverage. Furthermore, the limits of contaminants are under constant review and it is important for Icelanders to participate in such a review and support their case with scientific data. This shows the importance of regular monitoring and that Iceland conducts independent research on such an important issue as marine product pollution. This report is a summary of the results of the monitoring in 2006. It is a long-term goal to assess the condition of Icelandic seafood in terms of the amount of undesirable substances. This goal can only be achieved through continuous monitoring for a long time. Each year, the monitoring is aimed at adding the most needed data and thus making the database more accurate and comprehensive with each passing year. in marine products intended for human consumption and in fishery and flour products.

This project was started in 2003 at the request of the Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries. Until then, monitoring of undesirable substances in the edible portion of marine catches had been rather limited in Iceland. The purpose of the project is to gather information and evaluate the status of Icelandic seafood products in terms of undesirable substances. The information will also be utilized for a risk assessment and the setting of maximum values that are now under consideration within the EU. This report summarizes the results obtained in 2006 for the monitoring of various undesirable substances in the edible part of marine catches, fish meal and fish oil for feed. This project began in 2003 and has now been carried out for four consecutive years. One of the goals of this annual monitoring program of various undesirable substances in seafood is to gather information on the status Icelandic seafood products in terms of undesirable substances, this is a long-term goal which can be reached through continuous monitoring by filling in the gaps of data available over many years. For this reason, we carefully select which undesirable substances are measured in the various seafood samples each year with the aim to eventually fill in the gaps in the available data over couple of year time. The results obtained in 2003, 2004 and 2005 have already been published and are accessible at the Matis website (IFL Report 06-04, IFL Report 33-05 and IFL Report 22-06, respectively). In 2006, data were collected on, polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans (17 substances), dioxin-like PCBs (12 substances), marker PCBs (7 substances), 10 different types of pesticides, polybrominated flame retardants PBDE as well as trace elements and heavy metals.

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Reports

Monitoring of the marine biosphere around Iceland in 2005 - 2006

Published:

01/08/2007

Authors:

Sasan Rabieh, Ernst Schmeisser, Eva Yngvadóttir, Ingibjörg Jónsdóttir, Þuríður Ragnarsdóttir, Helga Gunnlaugsdóttir

Supported by:

Ministry for the Environment

Monitoring of the marine biosphere around Iceland in 2005 - 2006

This report presents the results of the Ministry of the Environment's annual monitoring project for the years 2005 and 2006. The aim of this monitoring is to fulfill Iceland's obligations under 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 the Fisheries Research Institute supervised the preparation of samples and measurements of trace elements in the marine environment. The samples were measured at IFL and at the Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology. Various inorganic trace elements and chloro-organic substances in cod were caught in the annual spring survey of the Marine Research Institute in March 2006 and in mussels collected at 11 locations around the country in August / September 2005. Monitoring in the marine environment around Iceland began in 1989.

This report contains results of the annual monitoring of the biosphere around Iceland in 2005 and 2006. 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 data has been submitted to the ICES databank (ices.dk), collection of data began 1989. The Icelandic Fisheries Laboratories (IFL) (now Matís) 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 IFL / 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 2006 and in blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) collected in August / Sept 2005. Marine monitoring began in Iceland 1989.

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