Persistent organic pollutants in subarctic lakes in the extreme North of European Russia

Abstract

The paper presents data on the concentrations of persistent organic pollutants in bottom sediments of subarctic lakes on Vaygach Isl. and in the Polar Cis-Urals in the Northern European Russia. Dioxin pollution is estimated at the background level, and the recorded levels of hexachlorobenzene fall within the concentration range identified in the bottom sediments of small lakes in the southwestern Arkhangelsk region. The specific character of the congener profile of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in bottom sediments is demonstrated, suggesting a relationship between the pollution that forms under the effect of atmospheric transport of persistent organic pollutants from low latitudes in the past and present and the application of dioxin-containing organochlorine chemicals in timber industry.