Some Halogenated Organic Compounds in Sediments and Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis) in Nordic Seas

Sediments and blue mussels were collected along a transect through the Baltic Sea to the Atlantic Ocean and analysed for a number of specific halogenated organic compounds and sum parameters. Multivariance analysis indicated geographical separation of the sediment data due to high concentrations of EOCl and EPOCl in the Bay of Bothnia and Bothnian Sea, high concentrations of sPCB in the Baltic proper and low concentrations of most of the compounds in the Skagerrak. The separation in mussels was due to high concentrations of sHCH and sDDT in the Danish sounds and the Kattegat, and high concentrations of EOX, EOCl and EOBr in the Baltic Sea. In contrast to the sediments, where no correlation was found between EOCl and EOX, these parameters are well correlated in the mussels. EOCl correlates to EPOCl both in sediments and blue mussels. The share of EPOCl is remarkably similar (ca. 11% of EOCl) in sediments and mussels.