The total annual nutrient load to coastal waters from land based sources, was approximately 4568 tonnes of phosphorus and 104,305 tonnes of nitrogen. About 57 % of the phosphorus and 62 % of the nitrogen were inputs from the monitored rivers and tributaries.
Most inputs of heavy metals were low, especially the riverine inputs of Cd, Pb and Hg. For a few rivers, the measured concentrations of metals and lindane were below the detection limits. The pesticide lindane was detected in most samples in very low concentrations. Total load of lindane is estimated to about 29 kg.
The largest discharges of heavy metals comprise copper and zinc, with the input estimates of 291 and 721 tonnes, respectively. Inputs of cadmium were estimated to between 4.1 and 4.7 tonnes, lead to 53 tonnes, mercury to between 1200 and 1700 kg, arsenic to between 33 and 34 tonnes, total chromium to between 83 and 85 tonnes and nickel to 236 tonnes.
The report also contains data from the 1999 monitoring of 155 Norwegian rivers and tributaries in accordance with requirements of the Oslo and Paris Commission (OSPAR).
Read more
- Direct and riverine inputs to Norwegian coastal waters - 1999: Ospar Commission. A: Principles and discussions. B: Data report (Report 1793/2001) [PDF]
