The Arctic Council and the climate challenges in the Arctic

79 Document 3:3 2014–2015 Report necessary to monitor the development of pollution resulting from new pollutants. In November 2013, a report was published showing that there are high levels of some of these new contaminants in animals and in human milk. 170 Figure 6 The highest concentrations of environmental toxins are usually at the top of the food chain Human in the Arctic Polar bear Ring seal Cod Shrimp Plankton Concentration of environmental toxins in the food chain The larger the dots, the higher the concentration Source: Miljøstatus.no Although there has been positive change in many areas, the Norwegian Polar Institute also noted that contamination from pollutants in the air and animals varies in scope and development. Some of this development in Svalbard is shown in Figure 7. Figure 7 shows a pronounced decline in the incidence of the main pollutants HCH, PCBs, chlordanes, DDT and PAHs in Svalbard. Measurements for the pesticide HCB have not fallen despite the fact that there is an international ban on its use. 170 Chlorinated parafins, see the Norwegian Environment Agency 2013 Perfluorinated alkylated substances, brominated flame retardants and chlorinated paraffins in the Norwegian Environment-Screening 2013. Report M40­2013. 80 Document 3:3 2014–2015 Report Figure 7 Level of key environmental toxins in Svalbard, measured in the air in the period 1993–2012 0,00 1,00 2,00 3,00 4,00 5,00 6,00 7,00 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 HCH HCB PCB Chlordanes DDT PAH Hexachlorocyclohexane HCH, hexachlorobenzene HCB, polychlorinated biphenyls PCBs, chlordanes, dichloro­diphenyl­ trichloroethane DDT and polyaromatic hydrocarbons PAH. Source: NILU The presence of PCBs in the air has gone down along with the incidence of PCBs in polar bears. The Norwegian Polar Institute nevertheless pointed out that PCB levels in polar bears in Svalbard are two to six times higher than in polar bears in Alaska and Canada. Polar bear research in Svalbard. In Svalbard, the incidence of PCB fell from 1993 to 2012. However, according to the Norwegian Polar Institute, it is still two to six times higher than in Polar bears in Alaska and Canada. Photo: Nick Cobbing, Norwegian Polar Institute