Combined Contaminant Levels from Local Harvested Food Items in the Norwegian–Finnish–Russian Border Region

Anna Nalbandyan-Schwarz (), Kristine Bondo Pedersen, Anita Evenset, Eldbjørg Heimstad, Torkjel M. Sandanger, Päivi Myllynen and Arja Rautio
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Anna Nalbandyan-Schwarz: Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), 9296 Tromsø, Norway
Kristine Bondo Pedersen: Akvaplan-Niva, The Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
Anita Evenset: Akvaplan-Niva, The Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
Eldbjørg Heimstad: NILU, The Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
Torkjel M. Sandanger: NILU, The Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
Päivi Myllynen: Northern Finland Laboratory Center Nordlab, 90220 Oulu, Finland
Arja Rautio: Arctic Health, Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90220 Oulu, Finland

Resources, 2024, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-28

Abstract: This paper presents the results of a multidisciplinary study with the aim of assessing the potential combined risk from consuming locally harvested food products in the Euro-Arctic region of Norway, Finland, and Russia. The three important contaminant groups—radioactive substances, heavy metals, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs)—were measured in food samples such as berries, mushrooms, fish, birds, reindeer, and moose; they were sampled in 2013–2015. To assess the combined pollution levels and investigate the trends, similarities, and variations between different contaminant groups, subsequent multivariate statistical analysis was performed. The results showed that, in general, the levels of radioactive substances, toxic elements, and POPs were below the permitted EU maximum content in food products. However, statistical analysis revealed some correlations, similarities, and peculiarities between the accumulation of different contaminants in various species, which allowed for a better understanding of the mechanisms of accumulation and interaction between different contaminant groups. It also gave a better insight into the possible added risks and helped pinpoint species that could serve as reference markers for the accumulation of different contaminants in food. Mushrooms, fish, and reindeer were found to be important markers in the combined risk assessments for the contents of metals and radioactive substances. Further research, as well as the development of methodologies for combined assessments, are recommended.

Keywords: Arctic; natural resources; food safety; environmental pollution; radioactive substances; toxic elements; POPs; multivariate analysis; Nikel smelter; Kola Peninsula (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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