The ‘Pristine’ Arctic

Although often called “pristine,” researchers know that the Arctic hasn’t been spared from pollution. Air and water currents have imported plenty of smutz from far off smokestacks and sewer pipes, imperiling sensitive species. A new effort to track Arctic pollution over the last 25 years, however, finds that efforts to control some of these pollutants have helped – even as the burning of fossil fuels has helped create new threats.

Sadly, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are on the rise in fish and invertebrates near the bottom of the Arctic food chain.  Not good for the ecosystem, not good for human consumption.  More here.