Dispersion and bioaccumulation of elements from an open-pit olivine mine in Southwest Greenland assessed using lichens, seaweeds, mussels and fish

• Published in: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
• Main Author: Søndergaard, J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: Greenland
• Online Access: https://pure.au.dk/portal/da/publications/dispersion-and-bioaccumulation-of-elements-from-an-openpit-olivine-mine-in-southwest-greenland-assessed-using-lichens-seaweeds-mussels-and-fish(cb310e4b-8ec6-4e1d-ba9c-5045cd9d2ee0).html; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3082-x; https://pure.au.dk/ws/files/54407405/10.1007_s10661_013_3082_x.pdf; http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84872072048&partnerID=8YFLogxK

This study investigated dispersion and bioaccumulation of mining-related elements from an open-pit olivine mine at Seqi in Southwest Greenland (64° N) using lichens (Flavocetraria nivalis), seaweeds (Fucus vesiculosus), mussels (Mytilus edulis) and fish (Myoxocephalus scorpius). The mine operated between 2005 and 2009, and samples were taken every year within a monitoring area 0-17 km from the mine during the period 2004-2011. A total of 46 elements were analysed in the samples. After mining began, highly elevated metal concentrations, especially nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe) and cobalt (Co), were observed in lichens relative to pre-mining levels (up to a factor of 130) caused by dust dispersion from the mining activity. Elevated metal concentrations could be measured in lichens in distances up to ~5 km from the mine/ore treatment facility. Moderately elevated concentrations of Ni and Cr (up to a factor of 7) were also observed in seaweeds and mussels but only in close vicinity (