Contaminants

In the later years, the interest in hazardous substances in our waters have increased markedly. In the latest years, presence of high concentrations of TBT in snails, among other species, have caused attention and concern, where it previously primarily was high concentrations of lead and fat-soluble chlorinated substances which where at the center of attention.

The NOVA 2003 programme which started in 1998 includes yearly samplings of mussels and fish, and delivers data on PAH, TBT, 6 metals, PCB and chlorinated pesticides in mussels from most parts of Denmark, and metals and PCBs in fish from 4 regions.

Before the new program monitoring was mainly based on metals in fish. Monitoring is based on OSPAR and HELCOM recommendations.

Data

Information on sampling locations within the Danish national marine monitoring program (NOVA 2003) and download of data can be accessed.

Inquires concerning data or comments on the page can be sent to Martin Mørk Larsen.