Operational monitoring of the Ranfjord in 2019. Monitoring on behalf of Mo Industripark AS, Celsa Armeringsstål AS, Elkem Rana AS, Ferroglobe Mangan Norway, Rana Gruber AS, and Miljøteknikk Terrateam AS.

Summary

NIVA has undertaken targeted monitoring of the Ranfjord in 2019 on behalf of Mo Industripark AS, Celsa Armeringsstål AS, Elkem Rana AS, Ferroglobe Mangan Norway, Rana Gruber AS, and Miljøteknikk Terrateam AS. The monitoring program has been prepared in accordance with the Water Frame Directive and approved by the Norwegian Environment Agency. The program is designed based on the companies' emission components to the Ranfjord. The following substances have been analysed: metals (mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel and zinc), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, perfluorinated alkylsubstances and tinorganic substances. These substances were analysed in blue mussel from three stations. Concentrations of the priority substances benzo(a)pyrene and fluoranthene exceed EQS in blue mussel collected from Moholmen and north of Toraneskaia. Chemical status of these stations is therefore classified as “not good”. No concentrations exceeded EQS for any of the priority substances in blue mussel from Bjørnbærviken. Chemical status for this station is therefore classified as “good”. The concentrations of PAH-compounds found in blue mussel from Moholmen and north of Toraneskaia were about four times higher than in 2018. Concentrations of PCB7 exceeded EQS in blue mussel from Moholmen and north of Toraneskaia. PCB7 is one of the River basin specific substances, which plays a role in determining ecological status. Two PFAS substances were detected in the blue mussels in 2019. This was perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA). The concentrations of these substances were low. Several significant downward time trends were found for concentrations of PAH-compounds and metals in blue mussel.