title: Post World War II orcharding creates present day DDT-problems in The Sørfjord (Western Norway)--a case study.
abstract: The Sørfjord has a long history of agriculture and industry, and environmental monitoring has been conducted for decades, comprising analyses of contaminants in mussel, fish and sediments. DDT was used as an insecticide in orchards surrounding the fjord between World War II and 1970. Since the early 1990 s, elevated concentrations of DDT were found in mussels and fish. Unexpectedly, DDT-concentrations increased towards present day, despite the discontinuation of use. The highest concentrations in mussels (in 2006) corresponded to about two orders of magnitude higher than background. Analyses of sediment core sections also indicated increased input towards present day. Shifts in climatic parameters, as well as increased amounts of soil dissolved organic carbon following a decline in atmospheric sulphate deposition may have contributed to this phenomenon. We warrant the need for increased knowledge of the effects of alterations in variables acting regionally and globally on the disposition of contaminants in ecosystems.
authors: Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, N-0349 Oslo, Norway. anders.ruus@niva.no
authors: Anders
authors: A
authors: Ruus
authors: Norman W
authors: NW
authors: Green
authors: Amund
authors: A
authors: Maage
authors: Carl Einar
authors: CE
authors: Amundsen
authors: Merete
authors: M
authors: Schøyen
authors: Jens
authors: J
authors: Skei
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000266:history*; D000818:Animals; D003634:DDT / Q000633:toxicity*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D049673:History, 20th Century; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D049880:Mytilus edulis; D009664:Norway; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D013997:Time Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D047789:World War II
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003634:DDT