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Thawing permafrost poses environmental threat to thousands of sites with legacy industrial contamination

Author

Listed:
  • Moritz Langer

    (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
    Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

  • Thomas Schneider Deimling

    (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
    Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)

  • Sebastian Westermann

    (University of Oslo
    University of Oslo)

  • Rebecca Rolph

    (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
    Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)

  • Ralph Rutte

    (Freelancer)

  • Sofia Antonova

    (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Volker Rachold

    (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Michael Schultz

    (Heidelberg University)

  • Alexander Oehme

    (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
    Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)

  • Guido Grosse

    (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
    University of Potsdam)

Abstract

Industrial contaminants accumulated in Arctic permafrost regions have been largely neglected in existing climate impact analyses. Here we identify about 4500 industrial sites where potentially hazardous substances are actively handled or stored in the permafrost-dominated regions of the Arctic. Furthermore, we estimate that between 13,000 and 20,000 contaminated sites are related to these industrial sites. Ongoing climate warming will increase the risk of contamination and mobilization of toxic substances since about 1100 industrial sites and 3500 to 5200 contaminated sites located in regions of stable permafrost will start to thaw before the end of this century. This poses a serious environmental threat, which is exacerbated by climate change in the near future. To avoid future environmental hazards, reliable long-term planning strategies for industrial and contaminated sites are needed that take into account the impacts of cimate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Moritz Langer & Thomas Schneider Deimling & Sebastian Westermann & Rebecca Rolph & Ralph Rutte & Sofia Antonova & Volker Rachold & Michael Schultz & Alexander Oehme & Guido Grosse, 2023. "Thawing permafrost poses environmental threat to thousands of sites with legacy industrial contamination," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-37276-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37276-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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