Sandimirov S. Screening studies of POP levels in fish from selected lakes in the Paz watercourse / In State of the environment in the Norwegian, Finnish and Russian border area. The Finnish Environment. Finland, Jyvaskyla: Kopijyva Oy. 2007, №6.

Screening studies o f POPs in fish from the Paz watercourse statistics. Since most inhabitants of Nikel and Zapolyarny are not allowed to use the Pasvik River for fishing, and since about 50 km of the river on the Russian side is protected, it is likely that only small amounts of fish are caught. In the Lake Kuetsjarvi there are some families performing household fishing and during the tourist season, sport fishing is popular (Aspholm, 1996; 2004). Based on an average daily consumption of 20 g fish with a PBDE content of 2.9 ng/g (highest PBDE concentration detected in this study), a maximum daily intake of 0.07 |ig PBDE was estimated. This number is lower than estimates for the total PBDE intake of the average Nordic consumer (0.2-0.7 |ig/day) reported by Darnerud et al. (2001). Based on the current knowledge on PBDE, they consider the lowest observed adverse effect levels (LOAEL) of the PBDE group to be 1 mg/kg/day. In the light of continued use of PBDEs in large quantities, monitoring levels of these compounds will continue to be an important issue in the study area. 5.3. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) levels PAHs are widespread environmental compound, mainly formed during incomplete combustion of wood and fossil fuel. Fish can rapidly take up PAHs, and like in mammals these are rapidly metabolized to more water-soluble substances that can be excreted, as reviewed by Varanasi et al. (1989). Levels and distribution of PAHs in fish within the study area are presented in Tables 3.11 and 3.12 (Appendix 3) and Figure 10. Of the PAHs, naphthalene and 2-methyl naphthalene had the highest concentrations in whitefish from Lake Kuetsjarvi. Naphthalenes, phenanthrene and fluoranthene had the highest detection frequency in both Kuetsjarvi and Stuorajavri. Akvaplan-niva report APN 514-3365.02 20