Study of marine organisms round a cathode dumping site in Iceland

The biota of the intertidal shore and the subtidal bottoms was studied in two areas around an aluminium smelter at Straumsvík, southwestern Iceland, during May and June 1989. One area was inside the Straumsvik cove near a dumping pit which has been in operation since 1984 while the other was east of the Straumsvík cove near a dumping pit which has not been used since 1985. Studies of the subtidal were confined to the first mentioned area. The results did not indicate that the dumping pits had detrimental effects on the shore communities. The results indicated, however, that environmental conditions on the shore deteriorated in the area of the old pit towards the east away from the pit, but no obvious reason for this was seen. There were further little if any indications of effects from the new pit on the subtidal communities of the cove.