Publications

Contaminants and energy expenditure in an Arctic seabird: Organochlorine pesticides and perfluoroalkyl substances are associated with basal metabolic rate in a contrasted manner

Blévin, P.; Tartu, S.; Chastel, O.; Bustamante, P.; Parenteau, C.; Herzke, D.; Angelier, F.; Ellis, H.; Gabrielsen, G. W.

Contaminants in Atlantic walruses in Svalbard Part 1: Relationships between exposure, diet and pathogen prevalence

Scotter, Sophie Ellen; Tryland, Morten; Nymo, Ingebjørg Helena; Hanssen, Linda; Harju, Mikael; Lydersen, Christian; Kovacs, Kit M.; Klein, Jörn; Fisk, Aaron T.; Routti, Heli

This study investigated relationships between organohalogen compound (OHC) exposure, feeding habits, and pathogen exposure in a recovering population of Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) from the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway. Various samples were collected from 39 free-living, apparently healthy, adult male walruses immobilised at three sampling locations during the summers of 2014 and 2015. Concentrations of lipophilic compounds (polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides and polybrominated diphenyl ethers) were analysed in blubber samples, and concentrations of perfluoroalkylated substances (PFASs) were determined in plasma samples. Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen were measured in seven tissue types and surveys for three infectious pathogens were conducted. Despite an overall decline in lipophilic compound concentrations since this population was last studied (2006), the contaminant pattern was similar, including extremely large inter-individual variation. Stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen showed that the variation in OHC concentrations could not be explained by some walruses consuming higher trophic level diets, since all animals were found to feed at a similar trophic level. Antibodies against the bacteria Brucella spp. and the parasite Toxoplasma gondii were detected in 26% and 15% of the walruses, respectively. Given the absence of seal-predation, T. gondii exposure likely took place via the consumption of contaminated bivalves. The source of exposure to Brucella spp. in walruses is still unknown. Parapoxvirus DNA was detected in a single individual, representing the first documented evidence of parapoxvirus in wild walruses. Antibody prevalence was not related to contaminant exposure. Despite this, dynamic relationships between diet composition, contaminant bioaccumulation and pathogen exposure warrant continuing attention given the likelihood of climate change induced habitat and food web changes, and consequently OHC exposure, for Svalbard walruses in the coming decades.

Contaminants in fish from Etnefjord, Norway. NILU OR

Mariussen, E.; Schlabach, M.

1,2,5,6,9,10-hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) is one of the most frequently used brominated flame retardants (BFR) and is considered as an emerging environmental pollutant. Recently, high levels of HBCDD were reported in five different fish species from Etnefjord, which is a branch of the Hardangerfjord at the southwest coast of Norway. This report raised some serious concerns and the Norwegian Climate and Pollution Agency (Klif) therefore initiated a survey of HBCDD in cod and flounder from Etnefjorden in order to confirm the findings. In addition to HBCDD, the levels of other environmental pollutants were analyzed in the fish, namely polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), mercury (Mg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As). The fish muscle filet and livers were prepared and analyzed using recognized and previously published methods. The levels of HBCDD in the fish were low, representing expected background concentrations. HBCDD was only detected in the cod livers with concentrations ranging 0.3-5.7 ng/g wet weight, corresponding to 1.3-8.2 ng/g on a lipid weight basis. Previously, it was reported a level of 30 000 ng/g lipid weight in cod filet, which is, as far as we know, the highest HBCDD concentration ever reported in cod. Our study could, therefore, not confirm the recent findings that showed high HBCDD concentrations in fish from the Etnefjord area. Also, the levels of the other pollutants were low. For example, the concentrations of DDT, PCB, HCH and Hg can, according to Klifs system for classification of environmental state, be regarded as background levels (class 1, slightly/negligible polluted). In conclusion, there are no recons to believe that cod and flounder in Etnefjorden is exposed to considerable amount of environmental pollutants, neither of HBCDD nor other contaminants. Only further analysis of sediments from the inner site of the fjord can, however, positively reveal a possible HBCDD source.

Contaminants in northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) exposed to plastic. TemaNord 2016:543

Ask, A.; Anker-Nilssen, T.; Herzke, D.; Trevail, A.; van Franeker, J. A.; Gabrielsen, G. W.

Contaminants in Svalbard polar bear samples archived since 1967 and possible population level effects.

Derocher, A.E.; Wolkers, H.; Colborn, T.; Schlabach, M.; Larsen, T.S.; Wiig, Ø.

Contaminants, prolactin and parental care in an Arctic seabird: Contrasted associations of perfluoroalkyl substances and organochlorine compounds with egg-turning behavior

Blévin, Pierre; Shaffer, Scott A.; Bustamante, Paco; Angelier, Frédéric; Picard, Baptiste; Herzke, Dorte; Moe, Børge; Gabrielsen, Geir W.; Bustnes, Jan Ove; Chastel, Olivier

Contamination of ivory gulls (Pagophila eburnea) at four colonies in Svalbard in relation to their trophic behaviour.

Lucia, M.; Strøm, H.; Bustamante, P.; Herzke, D.; Gabrielsen, G. W.

Content and migration of chemical additives from plastic products

Bohlin-Nizzetto, Pernilla

NILU has, on behalf of the Norwegian Environment Agency, performed chemical analyses of a selection of additives in plastic products. The goal was to identify content and migration of the chemical additives in and from the products to air and surfaces of the products at room temperature. The plastic products covered extension cord, sockets, flooring, wall papers, upholstery, PC-mouse and PCs. Targeted chemicals were organophosphorous flame retardants (OPFRs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs) including TBBPA, and chlorinated substances. TPHP (triphenyl phosphate) was detected in most sample types, but the highest concentrations were found for TBEP (tris(2-butoxyethyl)phosphate. The highest number of compounds were detected in the PC-mouses and high levels were also found in the surface wipes on PC-mouses. None of the targeted compounds were detected in the air samples.

NILU

Continuous measurements of greenhouse gases and atmospheric oxygen at the Namib Desert Atmospheric Observatory.

Morgan, E. J.; Lavric, J. V.; Seifert, T.; Chicoine, T.; Day, A.; Gomez, J.; Logan, R.; Sack, J.; Shuuya, T.; Uushona, E. G.; Vincent, K.; Schultz, U.; Brunke, E.-G.; Labuschagne, C.; Thompson, R. L.; Schmidt, S.; Manning, A. C.; Heimann, M.

Contrast between the sources and atmospheric processing of fine particles from Asia and North America measured during INTEX B.

Weber, R.; Peltier, R.; Hecobian, A.; Blake, D.; Atlas, E.; Riemer, D.; Karl, T.; Apel, E.; Campos, T.; Stohl, A.

Contrasting the seasonal variability of halogenated natural products and anthropogenic hexachlorocyclohexanes in the southern Norwegian atmosphere.

Melcher, J.; Schlabach, M.; Andersen, M.S.; Vetter, W.

Contribution from shipping to current and future urban air pollution - A case study in Oslo.

Lopez-Aparicio, S.; Tønnesen, D.; Thanh, T.N.; Neilson, H.