| 1. |
- Ammar, Yosr, et al.
(författare)
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Long-term dataset for contaminants in fish, mussels, and bird eggs from the Baltic Sea
- 2024
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Ingår i: Scientific Data. - 2052-4463. ; 11:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Widespread persistent contaminants are a global environmental problem. In the Baltic Sea, wildlife contamination was first noticed in the 1960s, prompting the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency to establish a comprehensive Swedish National Monitoring Programme for Contaminants in Marine Biota (MCoM) in 1978 run by the Swedish Museum of Natural History. Eight species have been analysed, four fish species (Atlantic herring, Atlantic cod, European perch, viviparous eelpout), one bivalve species (blue mussel), and egg from three bird species (common guillemot, common tern, Eurasian oystercatcher). Here, we present a dataset containing MCoM data from its start until 2021. It includes 36 sets of time-series, each analysed for more than 100 contaminants. The longest time-series is for common guillemot and starts in 1968. We describe the structure of MCoM including historic changes to the number of stations, sample treatment, analytical methods, instruments, and laboratories. The MCoM data is available at the Bolin Centre repository and on GitHub through our R package mcomDb. The latter will be updated yearly with new MCoM records.
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| 2. |
- Ammar, Yosr, et al.
(författare)
-
Long-term dataset for contaminants in fish, mussels, and bird eggs from the Baltic Sea
- 2024
-
Ingår i: Scientific Data. - 2052-4463. ; 11:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Widespread persistent contaminants are a global environmental problem. In the Baltic Sea, wildlife contamination was first noticed in the 1960s, prompting the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency to establish a comprehensive Swedish National Monitoring Programme for Contaminants in Marine Biota (MCoM) in 1978 run by the Swedish Museum of Natural History. Eight species have been analysed, four fish species (Atlantic herring, Atlantic cod, European perch, viviparous eelpout), one bivalve species (blue mussel), and egg from three bird species (common guillemot, common tern, Eurasian oystercatcher). Here, we present a dataset containing MCoM data from its start until 2021. It includes 36 sets of time-series, each analysed for more than 100 contaminants. The longest time-series is for common guillemot and starts in 1968. We describe the structure of MCoM including historic changes to the number of stations, sample treatment, analytical methods, instruments, and laboratories. The MCoM data is available at the Bolin Centre repository and on GitHub through our R package mcomDb. The latter will be updated yearly with new MCoM records.
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| 3. |
- Britt-Marie, Bäcklin, et al.
(författare)
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Temporal and Geographical Variation of Intestinal Ulcers in Grey Seals (Halichoerus grypus) and Environmental Contaminants in Baltic Biota during Four Decades
- 2021
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Ingår i: Animals. - : MDPI AG. - 2076-2615. ; 11:10, s. 2968-2968
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The prevalence of intestinal ulcers and parasites was investigated in 2172 grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) collected in the Baltic Sea and 49 grey seals collected outside the Baltic Sea (i.e., the Atlantic). An increase in frequency of ileocaeco-colonic ulcers was observed in the early 1980s, followed by a decrease in the mid-1990s. At the same time, there was an increase followed by a decrease in brominated flame retardants, Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and cadmium levels in herring (Clupea harengus), the most common prey item in Baltic grey seal diet, as well as in another top predator in the Baltic, the common guillemot (Uria aalge). The frequency of intestinal ulcers was significantly related to the intensity of acanthocephalan parasites, the age of the seal and the region of the Baltic Sea. Perforation of the intestinal wall was the cause of death in 26 of the investigated Baltic grey seals. In contrast, none of the investigated Atlantic grey seals had intestinal ulcers. They showed a thin colonic wall and very few acanthocephalan parasites. The high prevalence of intestinal ulcers and the high parasite intensity appear to be unique to the Baltic population of grey seals.
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| 4. |
- Danielsson, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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Det svenska nationella miljöövervakningsprogrammet för miljögifter i marin biota (fram till 2018 års data) : - Temporal- och spatial variation
- 2020
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The report summarises the monitoring activities within the National Swedish Contaminant Programme in marine biota.Few trends are found for the biological variables of the biota included in the programme (age, weight, length, and fulton´s condition factor). This is expected, as samples are selectively selected to avoid trends. However, all variables for Holmöarna in the Bothnian Bay and the fish age at the West Coast sites (Kullen, Fladen and Väderöarna) stands out for herring, cod and perch as having upward trends over the last 10 years. Since many of the contaminants presented in this report bioaccumulate, this is likely to affect the trends presented below.For the aggregated herring data (on sub-basin scale) on chlorinated pesticides, PCBs, dioxins and furans, brominated flame retardants and perfluorinated substances (PFAS) a general downward trend for the last 10 years (2009-2018) is seen for all sub-basins (Southern and Northern Baltic Proper and Bothnian Sea and Bay) except the West Coast. On the West Coast, changes are small and often non-significant. The contaminant concentrations are in general lowest on the West Coast but the concentration difference between the West Coast and the other sub-basins has shrunken over the last 10 years as the concentrations in the other sub-basins are decreasing towards West Coast levels. The perfluorinated compound FOSA is an exception to this picture, with 2-4 times higher concentrations on the West Coast compared to the Baltic Sea. For the metals, no common patterns are seen for the aggregated herring data across the metals or for each specific metal between sub-basins.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- de Wit, Cynthia A., et al.
(författare)
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Organohalogen compounds of emerging concern in Baltic Sea biota : Levels, biomagnification potential and comparisons with legacy contaminants
- 2020
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Ingår i: Environment International. - : Elsevier BV. - 0160-4120 .- 1873-6750. ; 144
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- While new chemicals have replaced major toxic legacy contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), knowledge of their current levels and biomagnification potential in Baltic Sea biota is lacking. Therefore, a suite of chemicals of emerging concern, including organophosphate esters (OPEs), short-chain, medium-chain and long-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs, MCCPs, LCCPs), halogenated flame retardants (HFRs), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), were analysed in blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), viviparous eelpout (Zoarces viviparus), Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), grey seal (Halichoerus grypus), harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), common eider (Somateria mollissima), common guillemot (Uria aalge) and white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) from the Baltic Proper, sampled between 2006 and 2016. Results were benchmarked with existing data for legacy contaminants. The mean concentrations for Sigma OPEs ranged from 57 to 550 ng g(-1) lipid weight (lw), for Sigma CPs from 110 to 640 ng g(-1) lw for Sigma HFRs from 0.42 to 80 ng g(-1) lw, and for Sigma PFAS from 1.1 to 450 ng g(-1) wet weight. Perfluoro-4-ethyl-cyclohexanesulfonate (PFECHS) was detected in most species. Levels of OPEs, CPs and HFRs were generally similar or higher than those of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and/or hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD). OPE, CP and HFR concentrations were also similar to PCBs and DDTs in blue mussel, viviparous eelpout and Atlantic herring. In marine mammals and birds, PCB and DDT concentrations remained orders of magnitude higher than those of OPEs, CPs, HFRs and PFAS. Predator-prey ratios for individual OPEs (0.28-3.9) and CPs (0.40-5.0) were similar or somewhat lower than those seen for BDE-47 (5.0-29) and HBCDD (2.4-13). Ratios for individual HFRs (0.010-37) and PFAS (0.15-47) were, however, of the same order of magnitude as seen for p,p'-DDE (4.7-66) and CB-153 (31-190), indicating biomagnification potential for many of the emerging contaminants. Lack of toxicity data, including for complex mixtures, makes it difficult to assess the risks emerging contaminants pose. Their occurence and biomagnification potential should trigger risk management measures, particularly for MCCPs, HFRs and PFAS.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Ek, Caroline, et al.
(författare)
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The importance of adjusting contaminant concentrations using environmental data : A retrospective study of 25 years data in Baltic blue mussels
- 2021
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 762
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To improve the statistical power of detecting changes in contaminant concentrations over time, it is critical to reduce both the within- and between-year variability by adjusting the data for relevant confounding variables. In this study, we present a method for handling multiple confounding variables in contaminant monitoring. We evaluate the highly variable temporal trends of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in blue mussels from the central Baltic Sea during the period 1987-2016 (data from 25 years during this period) using various regression analyses. As potential explanatory variables related to PAH exposure, we use mussel size and retrospective analyses of mussel delta N-15 and delta C-13 (representing large scale biogeochemical changes as a result of e.g. eutrophication and terrestrial inputs). Environmental data from concurrent monitoring programmes (seasonal data on Chlorophyll-a, salinity and temperature in the water column, bioturbation of sediment dwelling fauna) were included as variables related to feeding conditions. The concentrations of high-molecular-weight and low-molecular-weight PAHs in blue mussel were statistically linked to different combinations of environmental variables. Adjustment using these predictors decreased the coefficient of variation in all 15 PAHs tested and improved the statistical power to detect changes. Moreover, the adjustment also resulted in a significant downward trend for fluoranthene that could not be detected initially. For another PAH, benzo(g,h,i)perylene, adjustment which reduced variation resulted in the loss of an apparent downward trend over time. Hence, our study highlights the importance of using auxilliary data to reduce variability caused by environmental factors with general effects on physiology when assessing contaminant time trends. Furthermore, it illustrates the importance of extensive and well designed monitoring programmes to provide relevant data.
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| 9. |
- Ek, caroline, et al.
(författare)
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Utvärdering av stabila isotoper som metod för att uppskatta trofinivå i abborre (Perca fluviatilis) från Svenska sjöar
- 2022
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires member states to implement a strategy to meet the environmental quality standards (EQS) set by the WFD for a number of priority substances. Since the EQSs listed in the WFD are derived to protect the most sensitive species in the ecosystem, often top predators or humans, it has been decided that for certain priority substances the quality standards should be compared to a monitoring species with a trophic position (TP) similar to the diet of the most sensitive species. To enable such adjustment require both knowledge about the monitoring species TP in the food web as well as the relationship between contaminant concentration and trophic position. In this study, we focus on finding a suitable method for TP estimates of perch in Swedish lakes by evaluating both traditional stable isotope analysis in bulk samples (BSIA) using different baseline matrices and the more recent development of compound-specific stable isotope analysis in amino acids (CSIA-AA). For this, three representative monitoring lakes were selected in which perch together with potential baseline matrices (bivalves, gastropods and sediment) were sampled. We applied triple-isotope analyses, δ15N, δ13C and δ34S, of bulk material of all sampled matrices, and in addition δ15N in perch using CSIA-AA. Results showed that TP estimates derived from CSIA-AA were significantly (p<0.001) lower compared to all the BSIA-derived methods and further that the BSIA-derived TP estimates using gastropods as a baseline were significantly higher (p<0.001) than all other TP estimates. Since no statistical differences could be detected between TP estimates based on bivalves, sediment or a ‘mixture’ baseline these were assumed to produce similar results and therefore all valid baseline matrices for TP estimates of perch in these three lakes. In the present study we also attempted to adjust mercury contaminant data to a specific TP of 3.5 according to the WFD. The adjustment resulted in significantly different concentration for one of the two tested lakes but did not influence the chemical status classification as all lakes were well above the threshold for mercury in freshwater lakes.
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| 10. |
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