Long-term atmospheric monitoring of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the Arctic: a versatile tool for regulators and environmental science studies

Abstract

Long–term air monitoring programs are today recognized as a powerful tool for global studies of atmospheric long–range transport processes. Based on the combined efforts from multi–national atmospheric monitoring programs, principles and pathways of long–range contaminant transport into the pristine Polar Regions (Arctic and Antarctic) have been revealed. The defining factors and mechanisms of the principal atmospheric transport into the Polar Regions for a wide array of contaminants ranging from inorganic and organic contaminants, nutrients to aerosols and particulate matter, have been established and verified based on long–term monitoring data. At present, empirically derived monitoring data is the only way to evaluate the accuracy of the projections and results obtained from modern modeling tools that aim to describe future contamination scenarios in various regions of the world. Although the fundamental importance of continuous atmospheric monitoring for the evaluation of global long–range transport and distribution processes of anthropogenic contaminants is recognized, three major challenges for global monitoring of contaminants remain: (1) A more thorough co–ordination and co–operation between all international monitoring programs with focus in global contaminant transport and fate must be achieved. (2) Strategies for rapid and effective adaptation of programs following the identification of new priority contaminants. (3) Application of appropriate sampling and analytical protocols as well as quality control and quality assurance measures; that must be developed and adopted by all relevant monitoring programs in order to allow effective comparison of measurement results and information between the respective monitoring initiatives.