Johansen, P., Asmund, G., Riget, F. & Johansen, K. 2008: Environmental monitoring at the cryolite mine in Ivittuut, South Greenland, 2007. National Environmental Research Institute, University of Aarhus. 32 pp. – NERI Technical Report no. 674.
In Ivittuut at Arsuk Fjord in South Greenland the mineral cryolite was mined, sorted and shipped out from 1854 to 1987. The mining operations have caused pollution with lead and zinc in the fjord. The main source is waste rock, which has been left at the coastline and is releasing lead and zinc to the fjord from tidal water action.
The pollution of the fjord has been monitored since 1982. Since 1985 this monitoring has included only brown seaweed and blue mussels, since earlier studies had shown that fish and shrimp from the fjord did not have elevated lead and zinc levels. This report presents the results of the latest environmental study, which was carried out in 2007.
The geographical pattern of lead and zinc levels found in brown seaweed and blue mussels in 2007 shows that waste rock in Ivittuut still is the main source of the pollution of the fjord.
In brown seaweed elevated lead levels were found on a c. 20 km stretch of coastline in eastern Arsuk Fjord around Ivittuut, whereas zinc levels were elevated on the entire coastline studied in Arsuk Fjord. In blue mussels elevated lead levels were seen in all of the studied parts of Arsuk Fjord, and also on coasts 3-4 km outside the fjord.
Along a stretch of coastline of c. 5 km around Ivittuut the lead concentration in blue mussels is so high that it is recommended not to eat blue mussels from this area. This area is smaller than found in 2004 and much smaller than found in the period 1982-1992. During that period it also included part of the western coastline of Arsuk Fjord.
Over the entire monitoring period (1982 to 2007) a decline of lead levels is seen in both brown seaweed and blue mussels in Arsuk Fjord. In average lead concentrations have decreased by a factor of 2.5 since 1982. Zinc concentrations also generally have decreased, but at a slower rate.
Full report in pdf-format
