Operational monitoring of the Sunndalsfjord in 2017. Monitoring on behalf of Hydro Aluminium Sunndal

Summary

NIVA has conducted operational monitoring of the Sunndalsfjord on behalf of Hydro Aluminium Sunndal. 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 Sunndalsfjord. Levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and heavy metals were analysed in samples of blue mussel. No concentrations exceeded the environmental standards (EQS) of the priority contaminants in any of the blue mussel samples. The Sunndalsfjord was therefore in “good chemical status”. At three of the blue mussel stations there were slightly elevated concentrations of zinc. The concentrations where above provisional high reference concentration for zinc in blue mussel. Only low concentrations of PAH compounds were found in the blue mussels.