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Arctic Pollution Issues: A State of the Arctic Environment Report (1997)

by Damaris Waigwa — last modified Jan 10, 2014 11:08 AM

A condensed version of the scientific/technical AMAP Assessment Report, presenting the information in a clear and readable manner for the non-scientific audience; richly illustrated and prefaced by an Executive Summary with recommendations specifically addressed to Ministers of the eight Arctic countries.

Pollution and human health — by admin — last modified Aug 11, 2014 09:54 AM: Many factors contribute to health and illness in the Arctic: socioeconomic conditions, health services, societal and cultural factors, individual lifestyles and behaviors, and genetics. Contaminants enter this already complex scene, with the capacity to have physical, mental, and social impacts on health. For example, fear of contaminants and changes in traditional ways of living can affect both community social structure and individual mental well-being.
Climate change, ozone depletion, and ultraviolet radiation — by admin — last modified Aug 11, 2014 09:55 AM: Concerns about climate change stem from the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These gases keep heat from dissipating into space. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a continued increase at current rates could raise the average global air temperature between 1 and 3.5°C by 2100. The average rate of warming would likely be greater than any seen in the past 10 000 years.
Petroleum Hydrocarbons — by admin — last modified Aug 11, 2014 09:55 AM: This chapter discusses risk scenarios for oil spills in marine as well as terrestrial environments, along with the environmental impact of routine releases of contaminants from oil and gas exploration. Special sections of the chapter are devoted to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Of all the contaminants associated with petroleum production, these persistent organic pollutants present the greatest risk to environment and health. PAHs also have several other sources that contribute to their load in the environment.
Acidification and Arctic Haze — by admin — last modified Aug 11, 2014 09:57 AM: This chapter describes local as well as regional emissions of acidifying air contaminants, along with pathways and effects on the Arctic environment. It also explores the future impact on northern soils and waterways if the current emissions are not reduced.
Radioactivity — by admin — last modified Aug 11, 2014 09:57 AM: Radioactivity is accompanied by the emission of ionizing radiation, which can damage living cells. Whereas estimates of radioactivity are useful for making inventories of sources and for tracing radionuclides in the environment, health effects are connected to the dose received by organisms, including people.
Heavy metals — by admin — last modified Aug 11, 2014 09:59 AM: Metals occur naturally in the environment and are present in rocks, soil, plants, and animals. Metals occur in different forms: as ions dissolved in water, as vapors, or as salts or minerals in rock, sand, and soil. They can also be bound in organic or inorganic molecules, or attached to particles in the air. Both natural and anthropogenic processes and sources emit metals into air and water.
Persistent Organic Pollutants — by admin — last modified Aug 11, 2014 09:59 AM: This chapter examines organic chemicals that can affect the health of animals and people, especially those substances that accumulate in Arctic food webs and that resist degradation. These are often called persistent organic pollutants, or POPs. A review of known toxic effects and environmental levels of POPs forms the basis for evaluating whether Arctic wildlife are affected by current levels of contamination. A summary of sources and pathways indicates where the contaminants come from. Many measurements of organic contaminants have been made because of concern about high intake by people, and the human health aspects of these substances are discussed in the chapter Pollution and Human Health.
Peoples of the North — by admin — last modified Aug 11, 2014 10:00 AM: Alaska is the northwestern-most of the United States and the only state that extends into the Arctic. Most of the state is included in the AMAP assessment, the exception being the southeastern ‘panhandle.’ It is a wider area than the US definition of Arctic Alaska; see the figure opposite. There are three groups of Alaska Natives, commonly called Aleut, Inuit (or Eskimo), and Indian. About 73000 of them live in the area of AMAP’s responsibility, where they make up about 15 percent of the population. In many rural areas, they are in the majority.
Polar Ecology — by admin — last modified Aug 11, 2014 10:00 AM: A cold climate and long, dark winters have profound effects on the environment in which animals and plants try to survive. In addition, the productive season is short, which means that there is limited time to reproduce and to gather stores of energy. Climatic conditions are most severe in the northern parts of the AMAP region, while some of its southern areas are better described as subarctic or even northern temperate, having fewer of the limitations typical of the polar region.
Physical pathways of contaminant transport — by admin — last modified Aug 11, 2014 10:01 AM: The atmosphere contains relatively small amounts of contaminants compared with the total load in polar soil, sediments, and water. However, the rapid movement of air makes it an important pathway for delivering contaminants to the Arctic. Any chemically stable,
The Arctic — by admin — last modified Aug 11, 2014 10:01 AM: Arctos is Greek for bear, and the Arctic region derives its name from the stellar constellation of Ursa major, the Great Bear. A common geographical definition of the Arctic is the area north of the Arctic Circle (66°32'N), which encircles the area of the midnight sun.
Environmental protection of the Arctic — by admin — last modified Aug 11, 2014 10:02 AM: AMAP’s first objective has been to provide information for a comprehensive assessment report on threats from pollution to Arctic ecosystems. The assessment was to identify possible causes for changing conditions, detect emerging problems, and recommend actions required to reduce risks to Arctic ecosystems.
Impacts of a Warming Arctic — by admin — last modified Aug 11, 2014 10:02 AM: Executive summary

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