Monitoring pollution with blue mussels
As part of WP4 "Toxicity og effects" in the New Sea project, a field campaign was conducted in May–June 2025, during which teams of marine scientists investigated the effects of chemical pollution in Danish coastal waters.
Read more about the project here
- https://projects.au.dk/newsea
- Contacts: WP4-Lead Zhanna Tairova, Jesper Philip Aagaard Christensen, Nikolaj Reducha Andersen, Kim Gustavson, Christina Lærke Wiberg
Read more about the project here
- https://projects.au.dk/newsea
- Contacts: WP4-Lead Zhanna Tairova, Jesper Philip Aagaard Christensen, Nikolaj Reducha Andersen, Kim Gustavson, Christina Lærke Wiberg
We deployed blue mussels in cages at several stations in the Smålandsfarvandet area – strategically placed near potential point sources of pollution, such as industrial discharges and wastewater treatment plants. Passive samplers were attached to the cages to detect concentrations of chemical substances like PFAS and metals in the water column. After five weeks of exposure, the live mussels were collected and sampled.
The next step? Laboratory analysis of biomarkers for chemical pollution – biochemical and cellular indicators that reveal how pollution affects marine life.
This work helps us understand how human activities impact the marine environment and supports efforts to improve monitoring and protection of water quality.
