A group of scientists found traces of sunscreen agents in the ArcticParticularly in the glaciers of the Svalbard archipelago, this shows how far these products, which contain various environmentally toxic compounds, can reach.
A study carried out by researchers from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and the Institute of Polar Sciences (CNR-ISP), in collaboration with the University Center of Svalbard (UNIS). The concentration of these products in the Arctic was measured for the first timeand asked about its origin. The results were published in the journal Total Environmental Science.
The aim of the study was to provide the first overview of the presence of personal care products in the Arctic and to provide data on their spatial and seasonal distribution in the snow cover. Like this, Sampling was carried out on five glaciers located on the Brøggerhalvøya peninsula between April and May 2021.
A wide variety of sites were selected for research, both near human settlements and in remote locations; this made it possible to study the presence and behavior of emerging contaminants that are currently in use but are under surveillance due to their potential harmfulness. to the environment. to the environment. The results revealed the presence of several commonly used compounds, such as fragrance materials and UV filters, at higher latitudes.
“Many of the contaminants we analyze, such as 3-benzophenone, octocrylene, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and ethylhexyl salicylate “It has never been detected in snow in the Arctic before,” says Marianna D’Amico, a Polar Sciences student at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and first author of the study.
“Results show presence of emerging contaminants in remote areas “can be attributed to the role of long-range atmospheric transport.”“In fact, the highest concentrations were found in precipitation in winter. At the end of winter, polluted air masses from Eurasia reach the Arctic more easily,” explains Marco Vecchiato, researcher in Analytical Chemistry at Ca’ Foscari and co-author of the paper.
“ANDThe most notable example refers to certain UV filters normally used as ingredients in sunscreens.. The highest concentrations of these pollutants in winter are found only in inhabited areas at low latitudes: in Svalbard, the sun does not rise during the Arctic night and sunscreen is not used,” continues Vecchiato.
The distribution of some of these pollutants varies with altitude. Many compounds have higher concentrations at lower altitudesexcept octocrylene and benzophenone-3. These two UV filters, commonly used in sunscreens, are most abundant on the tops of glaciers, where they must have come from lower latitudes by atmospheric circulation.
These data will be useful for monitoring programs in the region and protecting the local ecosystem. Adverse effects caused by such pollutants have already been detected in aquatic organisms.Such as changes in the functions of the endocrine and hormonal systems. Some of these compounds are regulated in various Pacific islands and are being investigated by the European Union.
To protect the Arctic environment, It will be important to measure the re-emission of pollutants into the environment due to melting ice. “It will be important to understand how these pollutants are transported and accumulated in polar regions, especially in relation to changes in local seasonal conditions,” concludes researcher Andrea Spolaor from CNR-ISP.
“These conditions are changing rapidly due to climate change, which is occurring four times faster in the Arctic than in the rest of the world,” he adds.
Reference work: DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168401
………….
Contact address of the environmental department:[email protected]