PCB project - Governor of Svalbard

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PCB project - 2009 annual report

The Governor of Svalbard has reported this year’s work to the Ministry of the Environment who was the commissioning party for the project. The goal of the work is to remove as many as possible of the local sources of PCB contamination in Svalbard. The report includes an overview of the work carried out in 2009 and plans for ending the project next year.

(16/12/2009)

The PCBs we found in Svalbard 2009

Studies this year show that there are active PCB sources on land in Barentsburg and Pyramiden. The pollution is dispersing to the sea, and the concentration of the environmental toxin PCB in marine sediments has increased during the period 1997-2009. PCBs are ingested by the fauna in the fjord through the food chain. Completing the removal of equipment with PCBs is currently the most important task. Other measures onshore can also help reduce the dispersal.

(27/11/2009 Oppdatert: 16/12/2009)

PCB in settlements in Svalbard - a problem for marine fauna?

In the spring of 2008, the Svalbard Environmental Protection Fund supported a study of whether benthic fauna and fish in the waters around Barentsburg ingest PCBs and whether the environmental toxin accumulates throughout the local marine food chain. The results show that local sources on land have an impact on the marine environment in Grønfjorden.

(18/09/2009 Oppdatert: 16/12/2009)

Nordsyssel_125 - Foto: Halvard R. Pedersen - Copyright: Halvard R. Pedersen

Looking for environmental toxins

This week the research vessel Nordsyssel is filled with experts on environmental toxins and the spread of pollution. A joint Norwegian-Russian environmental monitoring of marine sediments and settlements, and closer cooperation with UNIS and Arktikugol Trust are new this year. The Geological Survey of Norway (NGU) will soon be done taking samples in search of PCBs in the settlements. We expect considerable new knowledge about the local sources of PCBs in Svalbard and the ways in which they can disperse environmental toxins.

(22/06/2009 Oppdatert: 16/12/2009)

Not all the PCB in Longyearbyen is removed

Light fixtures with PCBs have long since been banned and are to be replaced. The Governor of Svalbard takes a serious view of the disclosures in the latest survey revealing that some of these are still in use in Longyearbyen. Building owners who have not removed the PCB capacitors from these light fixtures now run the risk of coercive fines and criminal charges.

(09/06/2009 Oppdatert: 16/12/2009)

Helseskadelig og miljøskadelig symbol_125

Fact sheet on PCB

Polychlorinated biphenyles (PCB) is among the most dangerous pollutants we know, and it has serious health effects. PCB is toxic and a carcinogen. It damages immune, nervous, reproductive and endocrine systems.

(05/05/2009)

PCB project - 2008 annual report

(19/11/2008 Oppdatert: 12/05/2009)

PCB og isbjørn_85 - Foto: Halvard R. Pedersen - Copyright: Halvard R. Pedersen

First major PCB delivery from Barentsburg

The Russian mining company Trust Arktikugol has delivered 665 condensers containing PCBs from light fixtures to the Waste Site in Longyearbyen. The delivery is a major milestone in the project to rid Svalbard of sources of PCBs. Cooperation is extremely good, and the collection of the condensers will have a major positive and preventive effect against local pollution in the future.

(07/11/2008 Oppdatert: 05/05/2009)

Status of the PCB project in Svalbard

Last week the Geological Survey of Norway collected over 150 new samples of paint, concrete and soil. Trust Arktikugol has collected 1,000 condensers containing PCBs from light fixtures and documented nearly 2,000 more that are to be replaced. New light fixtures have been ordered, and the work in removing the condensers in Pyramiden has begun.

(09/06/2008 Oppdatert: 05/05/2009)

Status report for PCBs in Svalbard

Together with 10 other departments and research institutions the Governor of Svalbard has compiled the knowledge and administration status for PCB pollution in Svalbard by April 2008. The report highlights gaps in knowledge and proposes important action for the future. This has also been translated into English and Russian.

(07/04/2008 Oppdatert: 05/05/2009)

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Contact persons

The Governor's office:

Halvard R. Pedersen,

+47 79 02 43 20

Norwegian Pollution Control Authority:

Qno Lundkvist, +47 22 57 34 77

About the project

The PCB project in Svalbard is taking away local sources of PCB pollution. This include mapping of in the settlements, phasing out old equipment with PCB and new investigations on the seabed and pollution on land.

We also wish to inspire to local work against PCB in other countries. The project started in 2008 and is financed by the Ministry of the Environment.

2008 annual report

What is PCB?

PCB is among the most dangerous pollutants we know, and it has serious health effects.

PCB is toxic and a carcinogen. It damages immune, nervous, reproductive and endocrine systems.

Read more on PCBs and hazardous chemicals here:

Reports

These are the english versions of the overall reports produced in the project:

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