Site 1: Visnes (Norway) - Cu and Zn affected site:
Visnes is a heavily copper contaminated site. Within one kilometre there is an extreme copper exposure gradient from a situation with no littorine species to a normal background copper values and normal species diversity. The sediment content of metals are up to 20000 mg Zn/kg, 13000 mg Cu/kg 1500 mg Pb/kg and 35 mg Cd/kg. There is a continuous leaching of metals from old copper mines and tailings. The site itself is sheltered, but just outside is the northern North sea with a constant exchange of clean seawater. The site is ideal to study effects of and adaptation to chronic copper exposure on marine species.
Site 2: Karmsundet (Norway) - Combined effect site:
The Karmsund strait is onthe Norwegian west coast, in the vicinity of a large aluminium works. Additionally, there are a number of land-based industries as well as metal leaching into the sea and, giving locally a loading of Tributyltin (TBT), Triphenyltin (TPT), formaldehyde and organic loading. Very high levels of carcinogen PAHs were found in blue mussels at this location. The fish also have reduced condition index and prevalence of skin lesions and fin erosion at the most contaminated site, indicating a reduced general health of the fish caught in the vicinity of the aluminium works. In addition to cod the territorial wrasse, sea partridge, was found to be a suited target species for monitoring PAH contamination.
Site 3 : Stenungsund and Fjllbacka areas (Sweden)- Organochlorine affected site:
Many chemical industries are concentrated in the Stenungsund area of the Swedish west coast. Effluents are discharged from at least five nearby sources, and containing a range of substances from plant nutrients to persistent organochlorines. In laboratory tests, effluents have been seen to be acutely toxic. The site has been selected for the Swedish national monitoring program. In this site fish biomarker programs have been run since 1989. The eelpout, of both sexes, are present and enables studies of the reproductive performance of the fish.
Site 4 Mosjven (Norway) - PAH affected site:
Mosjøen in Northern Norway is a site contaminated with PAH. The PAH produced in connection to aluminium production with Søderberg technology originate mainly from the consumption of tar containing anodes used in the electrolytic process. This site will function as a control site for only PAH contamination compared to the combined effect site.
Site 5 Shetland (United Kingdom) - Oil affected site:
Shetland Islands (Oil terminal). This site is characterized by a contamination from petroleum hydrocarbons which are more bioavailable than hydrocarbons released in waste discharges.
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