Brage NP

Andersen, Cathrine

Koc, Nalan

Moros, M.

English

A highly unstable Holocene climate in the subpolar North Atlantic: evidence from diatoms

Dette er komplett versjon inkludert hele kapittel 4, datert 24. november 2004. Forsiden og forordet er ikke oppdatert

Vongraven, Dag

Utredning av konsekvenser av ytre påvirkning : klimaendring, forurensning og annen påvirkning fra kilder utenfor norsk del av Barentshavet (Forvaltningsplan for Barentshavet)

Larsen, Hans Jørgen

Gabrielsen, Geir Wing

Sagerup, Kjetil

Norwegian Bokmål

Effekter av persistente organiske miljøgifter på immunrespons hos polarmåke

FINAL Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation (CEE) for the upgrading of the Norwegian summer station Troll in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, to permanent station

Knudsen, Lisa B.

Verreault, Jonathan

Push, Kerstin

Muir, Derek C.G.

Letcher, Robert J.

Halogenated organic contaminants and metabolites in blood and adipose tissues of Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus) from Svalbard

Winther, Jan-Gunnar

Edvardsen, Kåre

Gerland, Sebastian

Hamre, Børge

Surface reflectance of sea ice and under-ice irridiance in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard

Nonuniform response of the major surface currents in the Nordic Seas to insolation forcing: Implications for the Holocene climate variability

Shaogang, Chu

New and established organohalogen contaminants and their metabolites in plasma and eggs of Glaucous Gulls from Bear Island

Engvik, Ane K.

Elvevold, Synnøve

Pan-African extension and near-isothermal exhumation of a granulite facies terrain, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

Wolkers, Hans

Jaklin, Gunn Sissel

Contamination in the Arctic
- Challenges in Arctic Environmental Research
Environmental contaminants are chemical compounds that may be 
harmful to organisms even at low levels. They are not easily broken down 
in the ecosystem, they may be transported over long distances and they 
become more concentrated higher up in the food chain. The levels of 
persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals in Arctic animals, 
vary substantially.
For over a decade, the 
Norwegian Polar Institute 
has studied contamination in 
Arctic animals from Svalbard, 
Jan Mayen, and – in Russia 
– Franz Josef Land, Novaya 
Zemlya and the coast of the 
Kola Peninsula. It is a chal-
lenging task to measure 
persistent organic contami-
nants and assess the biolog-
ical effects of these conta-
minants in Arctic wildlife. 
Not only do contaminant 
levels differ between 
species, but the levels are
also dependent upon the 
individual’s nutritional status 
and the animal’s capacity to 
metabolize contaminants. 
For example, contaminant 
concentrations in blood 
are influenced by a recent 
meal, but also by the body 
condition of the animal. In 
contrast,  contaminants 
stored in the fat may give a 
more long-term history of 
contamination, as this is less 
affected by the recent diet. 
When animals have enough 
food, they do not need to 
use their fat reserves. But in 
periods when food is scarce, 
they will be more exposed 
to pollutants stored in their 
own fat reserves. Also, 
mothers transfer contami-
nants to their offspring 
through mother’s milk, 
which is rich in fat.
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Alarming effects
There are large differences in 
contaminant concentration between 
species due to diet and the ability 
to metabolize contaminants. For 
example, whales accumulate many 
more different kinds of contaminants, 
and often in higher quantities, than 
polar bears – except for PCBs. This is 
directly related to the fact that polar 
bears are very efficient in metabolizing 
most contaminants. However, polar 
bears in the Norwegian Arctic are 
more exposed to contamination 
than their counterparts in Alaska 
and north Canada. In the Norwegian 
Arctic, a higher number of pseudo-
hermaphrodites, i.e. individuals with 
genital characteristics resembling 
both sexes, have been found. This is 
thought to be due to POPs, mainly 
PCBs, as these compounds have a 
severe impact on animals’ immune 
and hormone system and their 
reproduction abilities. 
There are other new compounds 
that may also have severe effects 
on Arctic ecosystems. One example 
is polybrominated flame retardants 
(PBDEs). Used in television sets, 
computers, the interior of cars and 
textiles, these may prove to be a 
Published by the Norwegian Polar Institute
www.npolar.no 
Postmottak@npolar.no
tel. +47 77 75 05 00
Text: H. Wolkers and G.S. Jaklin 
Design: J. Roald 
Printed: June 2003
serious threat in the future. Studies 
have shown that PBDEs do not 
seem to accumulate in polar bears, 
whereas this is not the case in seals, 
seabirds and white whales. So, both 
contaminant concentrations and 
patterns differ substantially between 
whales and bears, not only due to 
differences in their diet, but also due 
to a more efficient contaminant 
metabolism in bears. 
Challenges for polar research
In coming years, the challenge for 
Norwegian polar research will be 
to improve the methods used for 
monitoring Arctic animals. We also 
need to increase experimental studies 
as well as continue to study the 
animals in the field. A methodology 
for monitoring effects of contaminants 
should be developed and applied 
to several Arctic mammal and bird 
species. Based on effect studies, 
potential risks to populations will 
be assessed. Additionally, there 
is a need to improve screening 
for new contaminants as well as 
their metabolites (the end-product 
contaminants take as a result of 
metabolism).


Contamination in the Arctic : challenges in Arctic environmental research

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