The report summarises the monitoring activities within the National Swedish Contaminant Programme for freshwater biota. Each monitored contaminant has been examined in pike, perch and Arctic char from 32 lakes from the north to the south in Sweden.

No general trend could be seen for mercury, and all samples, except Arctic char from Abiskojaure, were above the EU target level. Lead was generally decreasing. Nickel showed a general upward trend in perch. An increase, or indication of an increase, was seen for chromium during the last ten years. Zinc concentrations were decreasing in a majority of the perch samples and in pike from Lake Storvindeln. No general trend was observed for copper, arsenic, silver, aluminum, tin, bismuth, and cadmium.

In general, downward trends were seen for; PCBs, HCHs, DDT, DDE and PCDD/Fs in all species (with a few exceptions). The chlorinated compounds generally show a somewhat higher concentration in the southern parts of Sweden. Most chlorinated compounds were below the suggested target levels.

No general trend was seen during the monitoring period for PBDEs. Concentrations of PBDEs in Lake Bolmen increased from the 60s and peaked in the late 80s to mid-90s and have subsequently decreased. The concentration of HBCDD was under LOQ in a majority of the samples.

A majority of the perfluorinated compounds showed an increase in concentration in perch, except PFOS and FOSA. Higher concentrations of perfluorinated compounds can in general be seen in the southern part of Sweden.