Polychlorinated dibenzofurans/dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDF/PCDDs) and other dioxin-like substances in marine organisms from the Grenland fjords, S. Norway, 1975-2001: present contamination levels, trends and species specific accumulation of PCDF/PCDD congeners.

Discharge of WHO toxicity equivalents (TEQs) of PCDF/PCDDs to Frierfjorden, Norway has been reduced from an estimated sum of 50-100 kg in the period 1951-1975 to about 6-7 kg in 1976-1990, and further to about 20 g for 1991-2000. In accordance with this, the yearly monitoring since 1987 has shown considerably decreasing contamination in organisms, first highly significant in all indicator species from 1990 to 1991, then levelling off. Present concentrations thus are still high.

Organohalogens and metals in marine fish and mussels and some relationships to biological variables at reference localities in Norway.

The main goals of this study were to define, for the Norwegian coast, "high background" levels of micropollutants routinely monitored within the the Oslo and Paris Commission Joint Assessment and Monitoring Programme, and to reassess the present Norwegian reference levels used as the basis for a classification of environmental quality. The indicator organisms analysed as bulked/individual samples were cod (Gadus morhua, n approximately 1170; n approximately 240 for organochlorines), dab (Limanda limanda, n approximately 75), plaice (Pleuronectes platessa, n approximately 55) lemon sole (Microstomus kitt, n approximately 13). and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis, n approximately 200) collected between 1991-2000.