The ecotoxicology of marine tributyltin (TBT) hotspots: A review.

Tributyltin (TBT) was widely used as a highly efficient biocide in antifouling paints for ship and boat hulls. Eventually, TBT containing paints became globally banned when TBT was found to cause widespread contamination and non-target adverse effects in sensitive species, with induced pseudohermaphroditism in female neogastropods (imposex) being the best-known example. In this review, we address the history and the status of knowledge regarding TBT pollution and marine TBT hotspots, with a special emphasis on the Norwegian coastline.

The contribution of urban runoff to organic contaminant levels in harbour sediments near two Norwegian cities.

The main aim of the present study was to compare the quality of particle emissions (urban runoff and settling particles in rivers and harbours) to the quality of top-layer bed sediments, for two Norwegian harbours (Oslo and Drammen). A sub-aim was to investigate whether non-industrial urban runoff contributed to the organotin load of sediments, apart from leaching from ship hulls. Time-integrated samples of stormwater runoff were obtained in an innovative manner, by sampling man-holes in the stormwater system.

Modeling the fate of polychlorinated biphenyls in the inner Oslofjord, Norway.

A dynamic, segmented, multimedia fate and transport model has been developed, evaluated, and applied to gain insight regarding the behavior of seven polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in the Inner Oslofjord (Norway). A comparison with a dated sediment core reveals that the model is not capable of reproducing some key features of the observed, historical, long-term trend in sediments, although better agreement is observed for six of seven PCB congeners over the last two decades. The model also underestimates the concentrations of PCBs in surface sediments in areas adjacent to the city of Oslo (Norway).

Riverine inputs of organic carbon and nitrogen to Norwegian coastal areas.

The transport of organic and inorganic material in 10 Norwegian rivers has been monitored from 1990 to 1998. The suspended material in the rivers consisted of 40-80% organic materials. A major part of this was DOC with a C/ N mole ratio > 25.

Transport and sedimentation of Cu in a microtidal estuary, SE Norway.

The transport and sedimentation of copper in the Glomma estuary, SE Norway during a period of 90% reduction in the industrial input of Cu, was studied from sediment trap material and compared to samples of the bottom sediments. Traps were deployed at four stations for several monthly periods during 1990, 1994 and 1995. Trapped material was analysed for suspended particulate matter (SPM), total organic carbon (TOC) and nitrogen (TN), Cu, and Al.