Operational monitoring of the Vefsnfjord in 2017. Monitoring on behalf of Alcoa Mosjøen

Summary

NIVA has conducted operational monitoring of the Vefsnfjord on behalf of Alcoa Mosjøen. The monitoring programme was prepared in accordance with the water frame directive and approved by the Norwegian Environmental Agency. The programme is designed based on the company’s discharges of contaminants to the Vefsnfjord. Levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and heavy metals were analysed in samples of blue mussel. Two of the blue mussel stations in the Vefsnfjord (Høyneset and Korsneset) had concentrations of mercury that exceeded the environmental quality standard (EQS) for mercury in biota. These two stations are therefore in «not good chemical status». Blue mussels from station Alterneset had «good chemical status». There were low concentrations of PAH compounds in the blue mussel samples.