Environmental montoring of PAHs in blue mussels and passive samplers of the marine environment close to Elkem Carbon AS in the Kristiansandsfjord in 2014

Summary

The company Elkem Carbon AS conducts a monitoring in the waters close to the company in the Kristiansandsfjord. The survey in 2014 has been a continuation of the long-term monitoring which started in 2010. In 2014 the investigations have focused on PAH in water illustrated with analyzes of mussels and passive samplers. Concentrations of PAHs in mussels were relatively high and corresponede to the terms “moderate” to “very strong” pollution used in the Norwegian classification system. PAHs in mussels also exceeded the Water Directive limits for good chemical status. Elkem Carbon AS has initiated several types of studies to determine whether increased concentrations of PAHs in mussels are related to leaching of historical contamination in the ground or from other sources outside the company area