NIAS Polar & Ocean Studies

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NIAS Polar & Ocean Studies
Impact of climate change on emerging contaminants: Perfluorinated compounds in the environmental matrices of Svalbard

  Saritha VK & Mahesh Mohan

 

The causes and consequences of climate change vary depending on the time period of Earth's history, they are a part of the geological time scale. In the period of the Anthropocene, climate change directly or indirectly influenced the pattern of environmental pollution, particularly the distribution of emerging contaminants. It is one of the most significant challenges in the 21st century. Due to climate change, the Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard, which is sandwiched between mainland Norway and the North Pole, is seeing significant environmental changes.

Not only is the Svalbard region experiencing notable variations in temperature and ice cover, but it's also becoming a hub for research on how these changes affect pollutants in the ecosystem, particularly emerging contaminants. Emerging contaminants are substances that are not commonly found in the environment but have the potential to enter the environment and lead to adverse effects. Poly and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a group of compounds that are among the emerging contaminants with a wide range of commercial and industrial applications. 

They are synthetic chemicals utilised in many consumer and commercial items because of their grease- and water-resistant qualities, are among the rising pollutants of concern. Perfluorinated compounds have one of the strongest carbon-fluorine interactions found in organic chemistry, they are extremely persistent in the environment. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) are common PFCs. Cleaning products, non-stick cookware, water-resistant fabrics, firefighting foams and Packing materials are the major applications of these compounds. They are potential persistent organic pollutants with highly toxic effects. They are bioaccumulative and biomagnifying in nature. The nature of the PFCs has raised concerns about their potential impact on different flora and fauna, including human beings. They are included in the list of Persistent organic pollutants at the Stockholm Convention. Perfluoro octane sulfonate  and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF), were included in the Annex B to the Stockholm Convention, which can be used for acceptable purposes and several specific exemptions (UNEP, 2009). However, Perfluorooctanoic acid, its salts, and related compounds were listed as POPs under Annex A of the Convention for Elimination in 2019, with several specific exemptions (UNEP, 2019). In 2022, the Conference of the Parties listed PFHxS, its salts and PFHxS-related compounds in Annex A to the Stockholm Convention.The POPs Review Committee is currently reviewing Long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC-PFCAs), their salts and related compounds, proposed for listing in Annexes A, B and/or C to the Stockholm Convention. It is under review.

Long-range air transport and marine aerosol-mediated transport are significant sources of PFCs in the Arctic region. Also, landfill leachate and firefighting testing stations are identified as local sources in the Svalbard region (Climatic variation influences the distribution pattern of PFCs in the Svalbard region. PFCs trapped in the ice and snow are released by ice thawing; these contaminants are carried into rivers and lakes and ultimately reach the marine environment. This phenomenon is known as "ice melt contamination. According to recent research, PFCs widely distributed to previously uncontaminated areas are the leakage of contaminants from ice and snow. Warmer temperatures influence the distribution and fate of PFCs in different environmental matrices. Temperature and precipitation variations in the Arctic impact the deposition, transportation, and fate of PFCs.

A critical issue related to these contaminants is the bioaccumulation of PFCs in Arctic flora and fauna. The buildup of these pollutants in the tissues of many Arctic creatures, such as fish, birds, and mammals, puts them at risk. Because lipid-rich creatures like seals and polar bears are crucial to the Arctic food web, PFCs have been shown to accumulate in fatty tissues and can concentrate at higher trophic levels. The effects of PFCs on wildlife may worsen due to changes in prey availability and species dispersion brought on by climate change. For example, species that depend on sea ice, like polar bears, may be more exposed to PFCs through their diet when the amount of ice cover declines. 

Furthermore, variations in prey availability may impact these animals' nutritional state, possibly rendering them. Improved monitoring procedures are required to address the effects of climate change on PFCs in Svalbard. Conducting routine air, water, soil, and biota sampling is crucial to monitor PFC levels and comprehend their long-term trends. Fundamental environmental matrices should be the focus of monitoring programs, which should also include a thorough analysis of the temporal and spatial distribution of PFCs. 

Compared to water, sediment matrices have a relatively stable record of variation of these compounds in the ecosystem; they have direct and indirect impacts on productivity and the food chain and web of the marine ecosystem.  There are few studies conducted in the sedimentary environment of the polar region. The present study assessed the concentration and distribution of different PFCs- Perfluoro-butanoic acid, Perfluoro-heptanoic acid, Perfluoro-nonanoic acid, Perfluoro-decanoic acid, Perfluoro-pentanoic acid, Perfluoro-dodecanoic acid, Perfluoro-hexanoic acid, Perfluoro undecanoic acid, Perfluoro tetra-decanoic acid, perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluoro octane sulfonate in the Kongs  fjords of the Svalbard archipelago in Norway. The traces of different PFCs detected in the various environmental matrices -snow, water samples, sediment and Tundra soil of the Arctic. The concentration reported in the present study is also comparable with the other part of the Arctic regions. More investigation is required to fully comprehend the intricate relationships between climate change and PFC behaviour in the Arctic environment. Different modelling studies mimic the movement and destiny of PFCs under various climatic conditions, can assist guide management plans and offer insightful information about potential future trends. Effective regulations and policies for PFCs are essential for their management at national and international levels.

The distribution and behaviour of perfluorinated chemicals in Svalbard's environmental matrix is being profoundly impacted by climate change. These persistent pollutants are being mobilised, accumulating, and spreading due to melting ice and snow, variations in temperature and precipitation, and changes in biological dynamics. PFCs in the Arctic provide several issues that must be addressed with a multifaceted strategy that includes improved monitoring, focused research, and sensible legislative actions. Understanding and controlling the effects of newly developing pollutants will be essential to safeguarding the ecosystem and public health as Svalbard continues to undergo fast environmental changes.

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