Persistent organic pollutant, trace metal and radionuclide concentrations in bottom organisms of the Barents Sea and adjacent areas

On data of the Barents Sea and some regions of the Kara, White, Norwegian and Greenland Seas transregional study, carried out in 1991–1992, concentrations of various contaminants in benthic algae and invertebrates are defined. According to the results of two-way ANOVA the conclusion about the absence of spatial variability in concentrations of POP, TM and K-40 in the investigated shelf biota is done. Concentrations of the analysed substances in organisms and the differences in contaminant bioaccumulation by plants and animals of various taxons are presented in a form of a table. In spite of the discrepant information about the background level of contamination, given by different authors, the obtained data to a greater degree corresponds to the idea of the background concentration of contaminants in biota, than testify to the man-induced pollution of the investigated area.