Scientists state that some of these substances are already found in the snow in Svalbard, but most of them were a surprise to them. This research is the first step towards understanding exactly where such pollutants are and where they come from. In the future we will be able to develop strategies to combat pollution and stop it at its source.

Detail

The so-called “Chemicals of Emerging Arctic Concern” (CEAC), a list of environmentally harmful compounds identified by a group of environmental scientists, is in the purview of researchers. Known as the Arctic Monitoring and Evaluation Program, they document the scope and consequences of Arctic pollution in policy decision-making.

While the production and use of these chemicals is increasing, our knowledge of their distribution and behavior in polar conditions lags far behind. Some CEACs have previously been found in Antarctica and the Arctic: in surface water, seawater, wastewater streams near research stations, and snow. However, we know little about the primary sources and main transfer processes of pollution in remote areas. Additionally, many CEACs are not subject to international regulation.

To gather more evidence of their prevalence, researchers looked at 13 common personal care ingredients, including fragrances found in soaps and shampoos and UV filters such as benzophenone-3 (BP-3) used in sunscreens.

In spring 2021, they collected 25 snow samples from an active research area south of the village of Ny Ålesund and five glaciers located up to 40 kilometers away. Some samples were taken from the same place but at different depths to see how the concentration changes with the seasons.

In all but one glacier, the concentration of UV filters in snow accumulated in winter was higher than in snowpack in other seasons. The researchers found that two UV filters (BP-3 and octocrylene) were also more prevalent in the upper part of glaciers.

The research station near Ny Ålesund may be the source of this pollution, as polar scientists frequently visit the glaciers. However, based on the patterns, the team suspects that the UV-absorbing chemicals were most likely transported to the Arctic ice caps by winds from remote areas.

In addition to finding out where the contaminants are coming from, more research is needed to understand whether the contaminants found in Arctic snow are at or near levels potentially toxic to the environment. As snow melts, runoff of even low-level pollutants can cause their concentrations to increase significantly in downstream waterways and the marine environment.

Chemicals behave differently in cold and icy environments than in warm regions, so special polar studies are also needed to understand their effects.

Some countries do not take risks. Palau, a small Pacific island nation, took a cautious approach several years ago by banning the use of BP-3 and other UV filters in sunscreens due to concerns about their questionable effects on coral reefs.