Effects of Global Warming on Environmental Pollution: an Area with Many Knowledge Gaps

Global warming might aggravate stress from already existing factors (including acidification, rising tropospheric oxidant levels, stratospheric ozone depletion, the flux of heavy metals in soils and natural waters). Current international policies and protocols, such as those for sulfur and nitrogen emission reductions would need reassessment. Also, risk assessments for a range of chemicals used in agriculture and silviculture might have to be re-evaluated. In general, even if the cycling of substances that act on the health of populations, and on the vitality of ecological systems, is not directly sensitive to climate change, these substances may nevertheless be climatechange sensitive if they are closely linked to organic compounds in soils and waters. This is because the turnover of organic compounds is directly sensitive to change in meteorological factors. Effects of global warming on the flux, behavior, fate, and effects of toxic metals and other substances in the environment might be of special concern in Eastern and Central Europe, and other regions with “hot-spot” areas, in particular if climate change manifests itself regionally as shifts in the frequency, intensity, and duration of weather anomalies.