Contaminants in the arctic marine environment: priorities for protection

International governance of the arctic marine environment

The Arctic is a region in the northernmost hemisphere of the Earth. It is known for its extreme environmental conditions, in particular its cold temperatures, high winds, snow, and ice. Yet, life in this polar region is plentiful and includes both terrestrial and marine organisms. The Arctic Ocean provides for a unique, cold-temperatureadapted ecosystem containing plankton, marine mammals, and ...

Microplastics as contaminants in the marine environment: a review.

Since the mass production of plastics began in the 1940s, microplastic contamination of the marine environment has been a growing problem. Here, a review of the literature has been conducted with the following objectives: (1) to summarise the properties, nomenclature and sources of microplastics; (2) to discuss the routes by which microplastics enter the marine environment; (3) to evaluate the ...

Appendix A Contaminants and Debris in the Marine Environment

Chemical pollutants include such things as petrochemicals, dissolved metals, fertilizers and organic pesticides. Chemical pollutants are most concentrated adjacent to heavily populated areas, industry, intensive agriculture and military activities. Consequently, the adverse impacts of marine pollution are most apparent in the nearshore environment (state and territorial waters) (Green 1997). Th...

Chemical Contaminants in the Arctic Environment – Are They a Concern for Wildlife?

—Environmental contaminants are a global problem, and their presence in the Arctic reflects the way in which the Arctic interacts with the rest of the world. Most contaminants are transported to the North on air and ocean currents from more southerly agricultural and industrial sources. Upon reaching the Arctic environment, many persistent contaminants bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the food w...

Marine environment protection for the North and Baltic Seas.