Artic Contamination Response

In response to people who believe that global warming is not a concern I am presenting information from a recent seminar I attended at the University of San Diego.

Gier Wing Gabrielsen from the Norwegian Polar Institute gave a presentation titled

“Pollution in the Arctic: How physiology can be used in ecological and toxicological studies”

He reported that global air temp increases 0.4° per year but it is 6-8 times higher temp. Increase in the arctic. When arctic regions experienced an amplified heating effect causing a reduction of summer ice.
Research related to the impacts of a warming arctic predicts ice would be completely gone by 2070. More recent data shows very dramatic ice conditions heating faster than expected and a reduction in sea ice and glacier size.
High levels if dangerous pesticides (POPs) have been found in polar bears and aortic fox gulls. This includes HCB, DDT, HCH and chlordane and other lipid soluble materials.
New toxins have been detected that have negative effects on animals: Brominated compounds, PBDE, Siloksaner, PFC.
The pollutant PCBs is deposited into ice. The ice melts and bioaccumulation and biomagnifications of contaminants occur as they enter the food chain through seawater and krill. High PCB levels cause death in animals. PCB levels in arctic birds have increased from 2007 to 2008.
Climate change increases the load of contaminations in arctic marine ecosystems