The distribution and effects on Norwegian fjord and coastal ecosystems of polycyclic aromatic ...

209 Pages·2013·12.79 MB·English

The distribution and
effects on Norwegian fjord
and coastal ecosystems
of polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs)
generated by the production
of primary aluminium
and manganese alloys
Kristoffer Na?s
Norwt'xiun Institute for Water Research -NIVA
Southern Branch
Televeien 1
N-4890 Grimstad
Norway
June 1998
Thesis for the degree of Doctor Philosophiae
University of Oslo, Norway
© Kristofjer N<Es
Design: Fetter Wang
Print: Reclarno
ISBN 82-577-3464-0
Abstract
Discharges of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (P AHs)
generated by the production of primary aluminium and
manganese alloys have been a serious environmental
problem in Norwegian fjords and coastal waters. Scien
tists have been performing environmental assessments in
the receiving waters from these production plants for
more than twenty-five years, detecting high P AH con
centrations in sediments and biota. Most of the assess
ments have been limited to individual recipient bodies of
water. No previous projects have evaluated the results
from a holistic point of view, that is, as an integrated
analysis within the same ecosystem compartment (for
example, inter-fjord sediment to sediment comparison)
or between different compartments (e.g. sediments to
organisms within and between fjords). Over the past
decade, changes in production processes, the installation
of scrubbers etc. have drawn attention to the need for a
broad-based evaluation of the ecological fate and effects
of present and past P AH discharges.
Accordingly, the main objective of this study has been
to provide a comprehensive environmental risk assess
ment of discharges to marine waters of P AHs generated
by the production of primary aluminium and manganese
alloys. This has been accomplished by studying PAHs in
dissolved, colloidal and particulate states in waste and
recipient waters, the accumulation of P AHs in bottom
sediments and littoral indicator organisms, and the
effects of P AHs on benthic fauna at the community and
cellular levels. Most of the data have been collected in the
course of 25 years of monitoring, although new data have
been collected to fill in knowledge gaps. To a large ex
tent, numerical treatment has employed multivariate
techniques such as principal component analysis, redun
dancy analysis and canonical correspondence analysis.
3
Acknowledgements
This project could not have been realised without the interest
and enthusiasm of many people. First of all, I am indebted to
the institutions that financed it: Elkem Aluminium Lista, Elkem
Aluminium Mosje~en, Elkem Mangan Sauda, Elke m Mangan
PEA, Hydro Aluminium Helyanger; Hydro Aluminium KarmeJy,
Hydro Aluminium Sunndal, Hydro Aluminium Ardal, Tmfos
JemverkA/S, the Norwegian Pollution ControlAuthority, the
Research Council of Norway (Programme FORFOR-Research
Programme for Sustainable Development) and the Norwegian
Institute for Water Research.
Further, I would thank the advisory committee for the
project, consisting of Eirik N ordheim and partly Anders Bruus
gaard (The NordicAluminium Industry's Secretariat for Health,
Environment and Safety), Magne Leinum (Hydro Aluminium
Sunndal), Ame Kjellsen (Elkem Mangan PEA), Per Erik
Iversen (Norwegian Pollution Control Authority), Jan Rob
(Elkem Mangan Sauda, now at Elkem Aluminium Lista) and
Jens Skei (Norwegian Institute for Water Research), for their
constructive participation and comments on the manuscripts.
I am especially indebted to Eirik Nordheim (now at the
European Aluminiwn Association) and Cato Isene StoU (th n at
Norsk Hydro) who were the "midwives" for th.is project.l
would also express my gratitude to aJI the peopl in the industy
who followed the project with interest. A special thanks to
Svein Han:ySamuelsen(Elkem Aluminium Lista) and Aslak
Schanke (then Elkem Aluminium Lista) for their enthusiasm.
My appreciation also to my colleagues at the University of
Stockholm: Jo han Axelman, Dag Broman and Carina Niif for
co-operation and fruitful meetings at their laboratory.
Last, but not least, I would express my sincere gratitude to
my colleague Eivind Oug who introduced me to the world of
multivariate statistics. I want to thank him for the many con
structive discussions, all the scientific enthusiasm and his
"painful" precision inwritingthemanuscripts. Without his co
operation, thi work would never have come to fruition.
Finally, thanks to Linda Sivesind for her linguistic correc
tions on the manuscripts.
4
List of papers
This thesis is based on the papers listed below. They are
referred to in the text by their Roman numerals.
I. N~s, K., }. Knutzen and L. 13erglind, 1995.
Occurence of PAl-l in marine orgatlisms and
sediments from smelter discharge in Norway. Sci. Total.
Environ., 163:93-106
11. N~s, K., T. Bakke ru1d R Konieczny, 1995.
Mobilization of poly.cydi <:~romatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs) from polluted seabed and uptake in the
blue mussel (Mytilus edulis).f. Mar. Freshwater Re .,
46: 275-285.
Ill. Naas, K. and E. Oug, 1997. Multivariate pproad1 to
distribution patterns and fate of polycyclic ar matic
hydrocarbons in sediments from smelter-affected
Norwegian fjords and coastal waters. Environ. Sci.
Technol., 31: 1253-1258.
IV. N~s, K. and E. Oug, 1998. The distribution and
environmental relationships of polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments from Norwe
gian smelter-affected fjords. CHEMOSPHERE, 36:
561-576.
V. N~s, K., E. Oug and J. Knutzen, 1998. Source and
species-dependent accumulation of polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in littoral indicator
organisms from Norwegian smelter-affected marine
waters. Mar. Environ. Res., 45: 193-207.
VI. Oug, E., K. N~s and B. Rygg, in prep. Relation
ships between soft bottom macrofauna and polycy
clic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from sm.elter
discharge in Norwegian fjords and coastal waters.
Submitted Mar. Ecol. Prog.Ser.
VII. N~s, K., K. Hylland, E. Oug, L. Forlin and G. Eric
san, in prep. Accumulation and effects of
aluminium-smelter generated P AHs on soft-bottom
invertebrates and fish. Submitted Environ. Toxicol.
Chem.
VIII. N~s, K., J. Axelman, D. Broman and C. Naf, 1998.
Role of soot carbon and other carbon
matrices in the distribution of P AHs among
particles, DOC and the dissolved phase in the
effluent and recipient waters of an aluminium
reduction plant. Environ. Sci. Technol., 32: 1786-1792.
IX. Axelman, }., K. N~s, D. Broman and C. Naf, in
prep. Accumulation of P AHs by SPMDs and caged
blue mussels (Mytilus edulis L.) and comparison
with the PAH distribution in the dissolved, colloi
dal and particulate size fractions in the water
column. Submitted Environ. Toxicol. Chem.
5
Table of contents
1. Introduction 7
I . J Background 7
J .2. Objective ~
2. PAH generation and the route of entry into the marine environment 9
2. J. Aluminium production 9
2.2. Manganese alloy production 9
2.3. Smelter location and production capacity I 0
2.4. Cleaning equipment and discharge arrangements J 0
2.5. Recipient waters 11
3. Data base 12
3.1. Existing and new data 12
3.2. Sampling, analysis and quality assurance 13
3.3. Numerical treatment 14
4. Quantitative and qualitative aspects of PAH discharges 14
4. J. The general physico-chemical properties of PAHs 15
4.2. Discharge volumes 15
4.3. PAH speciation in effluent and recipient waters 16
5. Transport and sediment incorporation 18
5.1. Implications of a significant non-particulate phase I 8
5.2. Transformations of the particulate phase 18
5.3. Explanatory variables for the distribution ~f PAHs in sediments 19
5.4. Sediments as a secondary source of PAHs 20
6. Accumulation and effects on fauna 21
7. Implications on monitoring strategies 24
8. Conclusions and implications 26
9. References 28
6
Introduction
1.1. Background 1995), although these properties vary from one
Towards the end of the 1900s, Norway developed PAH compound to the next.
its hydroelectric power for industrial purposes. The Environmental assessments of the marine
country's topography offered an abundant supply receiving waters have been carried out for the past
of waterfalls, making hydropower cheap and easily 25 years, and high PAH concentrations have been
accessible. This paved the way for a flourishing detected in sediments and organisms alike (Paper
metallurgical industry based on Norwegian mines I). In some areas, this has resulted in restrictions on
as well as imported ore. The invention of the commercial fishing and dietary warnings to con
Selderberg electrode (Grjotheim and K vande 1993) sumers. Currently, this situation applies to five
in 1917 to 1919 was a milestone for manufactur fjords. Environmental programmes have mainly
ing. The extensive industrial development earlier been based on concentrations in bottom sediments
in the century has given rise to many of today's and indicator organisms (mussels and snails). In
local and regional environmental issues. Most many of the fjords, the analyses of the soft-bottom
manufacturers are situated along fjords or coastal community structure have been included as a
waters, meaning that environmental problems can measure of effects. Most programmes have been
affect marine ecosystems, fjords in particular. limited to individual recipient bodies of water. No
Norwegian fjord ecosystems are of particular analyses have evaluated the results from a holistic
importance to the environment for two reasons: point of view, that is, as an integrated analysis
first, because they serve as sedimentation basins performed within the same ecosystem compart
that trap discharged contaminants, and second, ment (for example, inter-fjord sediment to sedi
because most of the population of Norway lives ment comparison) or between different compart
along the coast. ments (for example, sediments to organisms within
Norway currently has about 30 metal works in and between fjords). Apart from the obvious
operation, of which seven are primary aluminium benefits for summarising and comparing data, a
(Al) reduction plants. Three produce manganese holistic approach may also reveal significant
(Mn) alloys. For all Al and Mn works, the sea is patterns impossible to discern from the original
the main recipient body of water. The most impor tabular data or considered to be background noise
tant issues related to the marine environment in in the routine statistics restricted to individual
these areas revolve around the content of polycy fjords. A holistic approach could thereby enhance
clic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the efflu man's understanding of the fate of the contami
ents. The PAHs may originate directly from the nants in the fjords. Moreover, little attention has
production processes but, to a great extent in more been paid to distribution patterns and their correla
recent years, they have resulted from the installa tions with explanatory environmental variables.
tion of furnace off-gas scrubbers to reduce air Changes in production processes, the installa
emissions (Bjerseth 1979; Thrane 1988; AMS tion of cleaning devices, etc., over the past decade
1994). The lipophilic nature of these compounds have resulted in a strong decline in PAH discharg
render them available for uptake and accumulation es, more than 90 per cent for some facilities (AMS
by aquatic organisms. This implies that they have a 1994; Anon. 1994). From an environmental
potential for being toxic, carcinogenic and/ or management point of view, further reductions are
mutagenic (Mix 1986; IARC 1987; Baumann needed in many plants. However, from the indus
1989; Varanasi et al. 1989; Bucheli and Fent trial standpoint, some plants may be approaching
7
the limit of what can realistically be achieved • PAH speciation;
without radical upgrading.Accordingly, based on • Transport and sediment incorporation;
the improvements already achieved thus far, the • Physical, chemical and biological
need to reduce emissions is not as urgent as it used degradation;
to be. There is therefore a need for a broad evalua • Accumulationinhard-bottomindicator
tion of the ecological fate and effects of present organisms;
and past discharges of PAHs, both in order to • Effects at the individual and community
achieve continuous environmental improvements Slevels.
and as a basis for future developments.
The assessment will, of necessity, imply an
1.2. Objective evaluation of the analytical quality as well as
The main objective of this study is to provide the experimental design of programmes
a comprehensive environmental risk assess performed during 25 years of monitoring
ment of P AH effluents generated by the smelter recipients. It will subsequently form
production of primary aluminium and man basis for new revised programmes. It will also
ganese alloys. This will be accomplished by provide important background information
addressing the following topics related to fate and for further efforts aimed at determining
effects: critical P AH loads in marine environments.
8