IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v14y2023i1d10.1038_s41467-023-37276-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-37276-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-023-37276-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kimberley R. Miner & Juliana D’Andrilli & Rachel Mackelprang & Arwyn Edwards & Michael J. Malaska & Mark P. Waldrop & Charles E. Miller, 2021. "Emergent biogeochemical risks from Arctic permafrost degradation," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 11(10), pages 809-819, October.
    2. Kevin Schaefer & Yasin Elshorbany & Elchin Jafarov & Paul F. Schuster & Robert G. Striegl & Kimberly P. Wickland & Elsie M. Sunderland, 2020. "Potential impacts of mercury released from thawing permafrost," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-6, December.
    3. Jan Hjort & Olli Karjalainen & Juha Aalto & Sebastian Westermann & Vladimir E. Romanovsky & Frederick E. Nelson & Bernd Etzelmüller & Miska Luoto, 2018. "Degrading permafrost puts Arctic infrastructure at risk by mid-century," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Jan Nitzbon & Sebastian Westermann & Moritz Langer & Léo C. P. Martin & Jens Strauss & Sebastian Laboor & Julia Boike, 2020. "Fast response of cold ice-rich permafrost in northeast Siberia to a warming climate," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Xunchang Fei & Mingliang Fang & Yao Wang, 2021. "Climate change affects land-disposed waste," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 11(12), pages 1004-1005, December.
    6. Merritt R. Turetsky & Benjamin W. Abbott & Miriam C. Jones & Katey Walter Anthony & David Olefeldt & Edward A. G. Schuur & Charles Koven & A. David McGuire & Guido Grosse & Peter Kuhry & Gustaf Hugeli, 2019. "Permafrost collapse is accelerating carbon release," Nature, Nature, vol. 569(7754), pages 32-34, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Rashit M. Hantemirov & Christophe Corona & Sébastien Guillet & Stepan G. Shiyatov & Markus Stoffel & Timothy J. Osborn & Thomas M. Melvin & Ludmila A. Gorlanova & Vladimir V. Kukarskih & Alexander Y. , 2022. "Current Siberian heating is unprecedented during the past seven millennia," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Troy J. Bouffard & Ekaterina Uryupova & Klaus Dodds & Vladimir E. Romanovsky & Alec P. Bennett & Dmitry Streletskiy, 2021. "Scientific Cooperation: Supporting Circumpolar Permafrost Monitoring and Data Sharing," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-17, June.
    3. Shijin Wang, 2024. "Opportunities and threats of cryosphere change to the achievement of UN 2030 SDGs," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. M. E. Marushchak & J. Kerttula & K. Diáková & A. Faguet & J. Gil & G. Grosse & C. Knoblauch & N. Lashchinskiy & P. J. Martikainen & A. Morgenstern & M. Nykamb & J. G. Ronkainen & H. M. P. Siljanen & L, 2021. "Thawing Yedoma permafrost is a neglected nitrous oxide source," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Qinyuan Hong & Haomiao Xu & Xiaoming Sun & Jiaxing Li & Wenjun Huang & Zan Qu & Lizhi Zhang & Naiqiang Yan, 2024. "In-situ low-temperature sulfur CVD on metal sulfides with SO2 to realize self-sustained adsorption of mercury," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    6. N. A. Serova & V. A. Serova, 2021. "Transport Infrastructure of the Russian Arctic: Specifics Features and Development Prospects," Studies on Russian Economic Development, Springer, vol. 32(2), pages 214-220, March.
    7. B. N. Porfiriev & D. O. Eliseev, 2023. "Scenario Forecasts of Expected Damage from Permafrost Degradation: Regional and Industry Issues," Studies on Russian Economic Development, Springer, vol. 34(5), pages 651-659, October.
    8. Malak Anshassi & Timothy G. Townsend, 2023. "The hidden economic and environmental costs of eliminating kerb-side recycling," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(8), pages 919-928, August.
    9. Qianhan Wu & Linghong Ke & Jida Wang & Tamlin M. Pavelsky & George H. Allen & Yongwei Sheng & Xuejun Duan & Yunqiang Zhu & Jin Wu & Lei Wang & Kai Liu & Tan Chen & Wensong Zhang & Chenyu Fan & Bin Yon, 2023. "Satellites reveal hotspots of global river extent change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    10. Georgii A. Alexandrov & Veronika A. Ginzburg & Gregory E. Insarov & Anna A. Romanovskaya, 2021. "CMIP6 model projections leave no room for permafrost to persist in Western Siberia under the SSP5-8.5 scenario," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 169(3), pages 1-11, December.
    11. Marc Audi & Amjad Ali, 2023. "Unveiling the Role of Business Freedom to Determine Environmental Degradation in Developing Countries," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 13(5), pages 157-164, September.
    12. Groom, Ben & Linsenmeier, Manuel & Roth, Sefi, 2023. "Some like it cold: Heterogeneity in the temperature-economy relationships of Europe," SocArXiv tcnad, Center for Open Science.
    13. Shuai Ren & Tao Wang & Bertrand Guenet & Dan Liu & Yingfang Cao & Jinzhi Ding & Pete Smith & Shilong Piao, 2024. "Projected soil carbon loss with warming in constrained Earth system models," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    14. Roman Desyatkin & Matrena Okoneshnikova & Alexandra Ivanova & Maya Nikolaeva & Nikolay Filippov & Alexey Desyatkin, 2022. "Dynamics of Vegetation and Soil Cover of Pyrogenically Disturbed Areas of the Northern Taiga under Conditions of Thermokarst Development and Climate Warming," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-21, September.
    15. Diosey Ramon Lugo-Morin, 2021. "Global Future: Low-Carbon Economy or High-Carbon Economy?," World, MDPI, vol. 2(2), pages 1-19, April.
    16. Vladimir P. Melnikov & Victor I. Osipov & Anatoly V. Brouchkov & Arina A. Falaleeva & Svetlana V. Badina & Mikhail N. Zheleznyak & Marat R. Sadurtdinov & Nikolay A. Ostrakov & Dmitry S. Drozdov & Alex, 2022. "Climate warming and permafrost thaw in the Russian Arctic: potential economic impacts on public infrastructure by 2050," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 112(1), pages 231-251, May.
    17. Alyona A. Shestakova & Alexander N. Fedorov & Yaroslav I. Torgovkin & Pavel Y. Konstantinov & Nikolay F. Vasyliev & Svetlana V. Kalinicheva & Vera V. Samsonova & Tetsuya Hiyama & Yoshihiro Iijima & Ho, 2021. "Mapping the Main Characteristics of Permafrost on the Basis of a Permafrost-Landscape Map of Yakutia Using GIS," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-18, April.
    18. Tatiana S. Degai & Natalia Khortseva & Maria Monakhova & Andrey N. Petrov, 2021. "Municipal Programs and Sustainable Development in Russian Northern Cities: Case Studies of Murmansk and Magadan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-18, November.
    19. Zhang, Shicong & Wang, Ke & Xu, Wei & Iyer-Raniga, Usha & Athienitis, Andreas & Ge, Hua & Cho, Dong woo & Feng, Wei & Okumiya, Masaya & Yoon, Gyuyoung & Mazria, Edward & Lyu, Yanjie, 2021. "Policy recommendations for the zero energy building promotion towards carbon neutral in Asia-Pacific Region," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    20. Frederique Bordignon, 2021. "A scientometric review of permafrost research based on textual analysis (1948–2020)," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(1), pages 417-436, January.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-37276-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.