Contaminants in marine biota 1990 monitoring programme

In 1990, samples of fish from commercial catches landed in Ireland, and fish and shellfish collected at Irish coastal sites, were analysed in accordance with the requirements of the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) of the Oslo and Paris Commissions (OSPARCOM). The methodologies employed were consistent with JMP Purpose A: Significance to human health, and JMP Purpose C: Existing geographical distributions. The levels of heavy metals and chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds were generally low: well below the internationally accepted levels for protection of human health, and below the levels known to be of significance to marine life. Higher than Irish average levels were found in areas such as Dublin Bay, Cork Harbour, Mornington on the river Boyne, and the Barrow and Rogerstown Estuaries. These are all adjacent to densely populated and industrialised catchments and coasts. There were no cases of serious contamination