Thousands of discarded tires continue leaking chemicals into Norway's Osterfjorden decades after being dumped. Local residents recall being paid five kroner per hour as schoolchildren to dispose of tires from HjelmÄs dock in Nordhordland.
The tires never disappeared. They form a thick layer about ten meters deep, constantly releasing new pollution as they break down. Researchers recently published what they call a unique global study of this underwater tire graveyard.
Senior researcher Farhan Khan has studied plastic pollution for over ten years. His team keeps finding heavy metals like lead, copper and zinc along with chemicals called phthalates. Some substances harm both fish and humans, he confirmed.
Local resident Morten SĂŠtre expressed shock at the findings. This is worse than I thought, he said. Children swim here, and I ate fish caught here just last week.
Though Khan doesn't believe locals have been exposed to dangerous chemical levels, he personally wouldn't swim there or eat local fish. He recommends traveling a few minutes to pollution-free waters instead.
The tire dumping likely began as early as the 1940s and continued for decades. The company responsible has long been bankrupt, leaving Alver municipality responsible for cleanup.
Researchers warn that disturbing the tire pile could release concentrated pollution. We need more research on how this has affected fish and people, Khan stated. But something must be done, or this will keep polluting year after year.
Eirik Langeland of Clean Ocean helped fund the research. He calls this a serious global problem, noting tires represent a major microplastic source in oceans worldwide.
Nobody knows the cleanup cost, but Langeland urges large-scale funding and political engagement. He hopes Norway can become a leader in ocean cleanup technology.
The situation highlights how short-term disposal solutions can create lasting environmental burdens that future generations must address.