Näringsämnen och metaller i sediment och blåmusslor från Hanöbukten - En analys av marin miljöpåverkan från massabruk

Sammanfattning: The pulp industry is important for creating sustainable paper products and for the Swedish economy. However, the industry has historically polluted marine environments through its emissions. This study aims to analyse the effects of the pulp mill Södra Cell Mörrum on the marine recipient Hanö Bay in the southern Baltic Sea. The study focuses on effects of nutrients and metals on sediments and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis trossulus). Sampling of sediments and blue mussels was conducted in two shallow bays: one in connection to the pulp mill and one adjacent to the first bay. The sediments were analysed for organic carbon, inorganic carbon and nitrogen using capsule method in combination with element analysis. Both the sediments and the mussels were analysed for phosphorus, arsenic, cadmium, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The study shows high levels of cadmium and copper in the sediments, as well as high levels of cadmium in the mussels. The growth of the mussels is significantly higher in the bay closest to the pulp mill, and the bay further away has significantly higher concentrations of organic carbon, nitrogen, cadmium, copper, nickel, and lead in the sediments as well as phosphorus in the mussels. The study concludes that the geological and hydrographical conditions make pollutions from several sources accumulate in the two analysed bays. Based on these analyses no conclusive results regarding the effects of the pulp mill can be drawn. Future studies may include an increased number of bays to better be able to find different patterns caused by the outlet, longer sediment cores for better historical perspectives, additional organisms, and water and mussels by the outlet from Södra Cell Mörrum.