Sources and transport of persistent pollutants to the Arctic

During the last two decades the importance of long-range transport as a con taminant source for the pristine Arctic regions has been proven. Models are developed in order to predict spatial, seasonal and structural dependent p atterns in the distribution of antropogenic pollutants. The most accepted t heory today describes the transport of semi-volatile persistent organic pol lutants as a temperature and weather dependent repeated deposition and remo bilization process between the atmosphere and the ocean and land surface, w ith a final deposition in the cold northern region. Results also indicate p ossible new local sources of pesticides in the European Arctic in addition to the long-range transport from more temperate areas. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sc ience Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.