Contaminants in Aquatic Environments - NIVA's Commitment and Persistent Efforts to Mitigate the Same

Dr Merete Grung is Senior Research Scientist at Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA). Here, she is in an exclusive email conversation with us for TerraGreen. Contaminants in Aquatic

- Dr Merete Grung

Please let us know about NIVA’s commitment in research on environmental contaminants in aquatic environments.

The Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) engages in many monitoring projects and programmes for contaminants in aquatic environments. In NIVA’s lab, we analyse environmental contaminants of concern, including persistent organic contaminants (POPs), such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides (e.g., DDT), and heavy metals. More recently, the PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) group of contaminants and micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals has been added to our repertoire. We can analyse different matrices such as water, sediment, and biota. Biota samples often play an important role for contaminants that tend to bioaccumulate in the food chain, in which we often find high levels amongst top predators.

NIVA is involved in a wide range of international collaborations and projects, supporting international institutions such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Arctic Council, and the Nordic Council of Ministers. We operate multiple bilateral collaboration and capacity building projects on chemical and plastic pollution in different countries in Asia, including the the India–Norway Cooperation Project to Reduce Plastic and Chemical Pollution in India (INOPOL). Supporting international processes under the UNEP auspices, including the Minamata, the Stockholm and the Basel Conventions, is a core part of our strategy and societal mission. In addition, we carry out hundreds of research projects funded by the EU and the Norwegian Research Council.