Metals and selenium in wild animals from Norwegian areas close to Russian nickel smelters

This paper reports the concentrations of metals (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and/or Zn) and selenium (Se) in kidney and/or liver samples from capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus), hares (Lepus timidus), common shrews (Sorex araneus) and grey-sided voles (Clethrionomus rufocanus) from the Norwegian areas most heavily contaminated by pollutants from the Russian smelters on the Kola peninsula. In addition to comparing areas that differed in expected pollution rate within Sør-Varanger, comparisons are drawn with reference data from other parts of Norway. The relatively highest levels of metals were found for Cu and Ni in the sub-area most heavily exposed to pollution from the smelters. Also the highest Cr concentrations were found in the areas closest to the smelters. In this study, there is evidence for a direct link between increased metal concentrations in wild animals and pollution from the Russian smelters for Cu and Ni and to some extent for Cr. relatively high concentration of Hg and slight increases in Pb are also documented, but regional differences within Sør-Varanger indicate no direct relationship to the Russian smelters. No samples showed concentrations of any of the analysed metals in excess of the limits where negative effects on animals can be measured.     

New Evidence for the presence of arsenocholine in shrimps (Pandalus borealis) by use of pyrolysis gas chromatography — atomic absorption spectrometry/mass spectrometry

An analytical method for the structure elucidation of quarternary organoarsenic compounds in trace amounts in fish and crustaceans has been developed in this laboratory. The two major organoarsenicals found in shrimps have been separated by ion-exchange chromatography and their stucture has been studied by the use of pyrolysis gas chromatography. Their degradation in the pyrolyzer unit has been studied by the use of atomic absorption spectrophotometer or mass spectrometer as detectors. A comparison of the analytical data of these substances and data from synthetic reference substances show complete agreement. The structures of reference compounds have been confirmed by use of nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry and fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry. It is demonstrated that both of the organoarsenic compounds in shrimps have a trimethylarsonio moiety e.g. the compounds have a quarternary structure. Furthermore, the more basic organoarsenic compound has a mass spectrometric fragmentation pattern similar to synthetic arsenocholine and acetylarsenocholine. Treatment of arsenobetaine with hot base produces trimethylarsineoxide in a high yield (96%). Arsenocholine, however, remains unchanged during this treatment. Treatment with sodium benzenethiolate does not result in chemical demethylation, which shows that this method together with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is not feasible for confirmation of its structure.     

Obtaining access to coastal areas for large-scale mussel farming: obstacles and possibilities

Eutrophication in the coastal waters of the northern part of the Swedish west coast is causing structural and functional changes to the coastal ecosystems. Large-scale mussel farming is proposed in the Program of Measures, required by the EU Water Framework Directive to reduce the nutrients in the coastal water and improve water quality over a transition period of 10-20 years. Ownership, land parcelling, conflicts of interest, and the protection of coastal water are obstructing accessibility to suitable water areas for the establishment of mussel farming plants. This paper studies the obstacles and possibilities in the relevant laws and legal regulations governing the accessibility to coastal waters for large-scale mussel farming. Alternative ways to solve the problem are shown and discussed, within the framework of the Planning and Building Act, the Environmental Code and the laws concerning land-parceling and property. It is shown that the Planning and Building Act, when used in a proper manner, can provide useful instruments for society to gain access to coastal water for mussel farming plants with the purpose of improving the ecological status of the water.