Arctic and Marine Ecotoxicology

Arctic and Marine Ecotoxicology

– Bjørn Munro Jenssen

Bjørn Munro Jenssen driving a boat. PhotoBjørn Munro Jenssen. Photo: Per Harald Olsen /NTNU

Research activity

The research focus is on the effects of environmental pollutants on organisms in Arctic and Marine environments and ecosystems.

The main focus is on exposure transport and effects of synthetic chemicals in Arctic and marine ecosystems. The study organisms range from low trophic-level organisms (e.g., zooplankton), via intermediate trophic-level organisms in marine and terrestrial Arctic ecosystems (e.g., fish and reindeer), to top-predators (e.g., seabirds, seals and polar bears).

Important research questions related to biodiversity

  • How do pollutants and man-made chemicals affect the health of organisms, and their ability to survive and reproduce?
  • Does exposure to multiple chemicals in organisms cause additive, synergistic or antagonistic effects in organisms?
  • Do other anthropogenic stressors in the environment (such as climate change) interact with effects of chemicals and cause additive, synergistic or antagonistic effects in arctic and marine organisms?  

Important research questions related to sustainability

  • Which man-made chemicals are of current concern with respect to effects in arctic and marine organisms?
  • Do arctic and marine organisms bioaccumulate and biomagnify novel synthetic chemicals that have re-placed “old” internationally restricted and banned chemicals?
  • Do these chemicals pose a risk for arctic and marine organisms and ecosystems?

Relevant pollutants

  • Oil pollution
  • Synthetic legacy chemicals, such as PCBs, pesticides and PBDEs
  • Recently or non-regulated chemicals, such as PFAS..
  • Toxic elements, such as mercury, cadmium, copper
  • Rare earth elements
  • Other organic chemicals of concern, such as phthalates, bisphenols, etc.

 

Collaboration

The group has close collaboration with other professors in the ENVITOX-group at NTNU

External collaborators are among others: