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The Impact of a Nickel-Copper Smelter on Concentrations of Toxic Elements in Local Wild Food from the Norwegian, Finnish, and Russian Border Regions

Author

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  • Martine D. Hansen

    (Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT—The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway)

  • Therese H. Nøst

    (Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT—The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway
    NILU—Norwegian Institute for Air Research, The Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway)

  • Eldbjørg S. Heimstad

    (NILU—Norwegian Institute for Air Research, The Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway)

  • Anita Evenset

    (Akvaplan-niva, The Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
    Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT—The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway)

  • Alexey A. Dudarev

    (Hygiene Department, Northwest Public Health Research Centre (NWPHRC), St. Petersburg 191036, Russia)

  • Arja Rautio

    (Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine and Thule Institute, University of Oulu, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland)

  • Päivi Myllynen

    (Northern Laboratory Centre NordLab, FI-90220 Oulu, Finland)

  • Eugenia V. Dushkina

    (Hygiene Department, Northwest Public Health Research Centre (NWPHRC), St. Petersburg 191036, Russia)

  • Marta Jagodic

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia)

  • Guttorm N. Christensen

    (Akvaplan-niva, The Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway)

  • Erik E. Anda

    (Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT—The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway)

  • Magritt Brustad

    (Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT—The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway)

  • Torkjel M. Sandanger

    (Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT—The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway
    NILU—Norwegian Institute for Air Research, The Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway)

Abstract

Toxic elements emitted from the Pechenganickel complex on the Kola Peninsula have caused concern about potential effects on local wild food in the border regions between Norway, Finland and Russia. The aim of this study was to assess Ni, Cu, Co, As, Pb, Cd, and Hg concentrations in local wild foods from these border regions. During 2013–2014, we collected samples of different berry, mushroom, fish, and game species from sites at varying distances from the Ni-Cu smelter in all three border regions. Our results indicate that the Ni-Cu smelter is the main source of Ni, Co, and As in local wild foods, whereas the sources of Pb and Cd are more complex. We observed no consistent trends for Cu, one of the main toxic elements emitted by the Ni-Cu smelter; nor did we find any trend for Hg in wild food. Concentrations of all investigated toxic elements were highest in mushrooms, except for Hg, which was highest in fish. EU maximum levels of Pb, Cd, and Hg were exceeded in some samples, but most had levels considered safe for human consumption. No international thresholds exist for the other elements under study.

Suggested Citation

  • Martine D. Hansen & Therese H. Nøst & Eldbjørg S. Heimstad & Anita Evenset & Alexey A. Dudarev & Arja Rautio & Päivi Myllynen & Eugenia V. Dushkina & Marta Jagodic & Guttorm N. Christensen & Erik E. A, 2017. "The Impact of a Nickel-Copper Smelter on Concentrations of Toxic Elements in Local Wild Food from the Norwegian, Finnish, and Russian Border Regions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-16, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:7:p:694-:d:102954
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Roger B. Newson, 2010. "Frequentist q-values for multiple-test procedures," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 10(4), pages 568-584, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alexey A. Dudarev & Jon Oeyvind Odland, 2022. "Forty-Year Biomonitoring of Environmental Contaminants in Russian Arctic: Progress, Gaps and Perspectives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-35, September.
    2. Anna Nalbandyan-Schwarz & Kristine Bondo Pedersen & Anita Evenset & Eldbjørg Heimstad & Torkjel M. Sandanger & Päivi Myllynen & Arja Rautio, 2024. "Combined Contaminant Levels from Local Harvested Food Items in the Norwegian–Finnish–Russian Border Region," Resources, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-28, April.

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