Photo: Hilde Beate Keilen, Norwegian Environment Agency

Contaminated seabed

The seabed sediments in many harbour and fjord areas in Norway have been highly contaminated by environmental toxins, the sources of which include industrial activities and surface runoff. 

Such contamination must be purified so that the environmental toxins are not spread further and pollute the surroundings. The authorities have already established county-specific action plans for 29 areas along the Norwegian coast, and 17 areas have been given priority for purification. Further areas are also being investigated.

News

Publications

• Effects of changes in monitoring design on precision of time trend assessments for contaminants in biota
• Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord
• Hazardous substances in fjords and coastal waters - 2011
• Riverine inputs and direct discharges to Norwegian coastal waters – 2011
• Emission factors for CH4, NOx, particulates and black carbon for domestic shipping in Norway, revision 1

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Legislation

• Pollution Control Act
• Pollution Regulations