Amap Assessment 2018 Biological Effects Of Contaminants On Arctic Wildlife & Fish Summary For Policy-Makers

Abstract

The Arctic and its inhabitants harbor elevated levels of environmental pollutants, most of which originate from the industrialized centers and agricultural regions of lower latitudes. Chemical pollutants transported via the atmosphere, oceans and rivers are deposited in Arctic ecosystems, where they bioaccumulate in organisms and biomagnify through food webs. Many of the chemicals found at elevated levels in the Arctic have also been associated with effects on animal and human health, therefore, wildlife and fish species endemic to the Arctic and the indigenous communities that rely on them as part of a traditional diet, remain vulnerable to the potential detrimental effects associated with these chemicals.