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Chemical hazard in glacial melt? The glacial system as a secondary source of POPs (in the Northern Hemisphere). A systematic review
Abstract
Toxicity of compounds belonging to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) iswidely known, and their re-emission from glaciers has been conclusively demonstrated. However, the harmful effects associated with such secondary emissions have yet to be thoroughly understood, especially in the spatial and temporal context, as the existing literature has a clear sampling biaswith the best recognition of sites in the European Alps. In this review, we elaborated on the hazards associated with the rapid melting of glaciers releasing organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). To this end,we collated knowledge on: (1) the varying glacier melt rate across the Northern Hemisphere, (2) the content of POPs in the glacial system components, including the less represented areas, (3) the mechanisms of POPs transfer through the glacial system, including the importance of immediate emission fromsnowmelt, (4) risk assessment associatedwith POPs re-emission. Based on the limited existing information, the health risk of drinking glacial water can be considered negligible, but consuming aquatic organisms from these waters may increase the risk of cancer. Remoteness from emission sources is a leading factor in the presence of such risk, yet the Arctic is likely to be more exposed to it in the future due to large-scale processes shifting atmospheric pollution and the continuous supply of snow. For future risk monitoring,we recommend to explore the synergistic toxic effects of multiple contaminants and fill the gaps in the spatial distribution of data.
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- Category:
- Articles
- Type:
- artykuły w czasopismach
- Published in:
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SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
no. 778,
ISSN: 0048-9697 - Language:
- English
- Publication year:
- 2021
- Bibliographic description:
- Pawlak F., Kozioł K., Polkowska Ż.: Chemical hazard in glacial melt? The glacial system as a secondary source of POPs (in the Northern Hemisphere). A systematic review// SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT -Vol. 778, (2021), s.145244-
- DOI:
- Digital Object Identifier (open in new tab) 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145244
- Sources of funding:
- Verified by:
- Gdańsk University of Technology
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