A review of the past and present measurements of selected trace metals in sea water in the Oslo Commission and ICNAF/NAFO areas

One of the main objectives of the ICES Working Group on Marine Pollution Baseline and Monitoring Studies in the North Atlantic is to obtain measurements of the present levels of contaminants (the 'baseline') in the marine environment. At the second meeting of the former ICES Sub-Group on Contaminant Levels in Sea Water (April 1977), it was agreed that proposals for a baseline study of trace metals in the open ocean were premature and impractical in view of the 'state of the art' on this subject. In anticipation, however, of this future programme, the Group agreed that the preparation of a status report on selected trace metal measurements in sea water would be very useful. This paper presents the findings of this review.