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Continuous atmospheric sampling was conducted between 2010–2015 at Casey station in Wilkes Land, Antarctica, and throughout 2013 at Troll Station in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. Sample extracts were analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and the naturally converted brominated compound, 2,4,6-Tribromoanisole, to explore regional profiles. This represents the first report of seasonal resolution of PBDEs in the Antarctic atmosphere, and we describe conspicuous differences in the ambient atmospheric concentrations of brominated compounds observed between the two stations. Notably, levels of BDE-47 detected at Troll station were higher than those previously detected in the Antarctic or Southern Ocean region, with a maximum concentration of 7800 fg/m3. Elevated levels of penta-formulation PBDE congeners at Troll coincided with local building activities and subsided in the months following completion of activities. The latter provides important information for managers of National Antarctic Programs for preventing the release of persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic substances in Antarctica.

Ozone depletion over Polar Regions is monitored each year by satellite and ground-based instruments. The first signs of healing of the ozone layer linked to the decrease of ozone destructive substances (ODSs) were observed in Antarctica using different metrics (ozone mean values, ozone mass deficit, area of the ozone hole) and simple or sophisticated models. Chemistry climate models predict that climate change will not affect expected ozone recovery over Antarctica but will accelerate recovery in the Arctic due to the possible enhancement of the Brewer Dobson circulation. However, ozone loss observations by SAOZ UV-Vis spectrometers do not show a clear sign of recovery in the latter region. In addition, a record of 38% ozone loss in 2010/2011 and 2019/2020 was estimated. In this study, the vortex-averaged ozone loss in the last three decades will be evaluated for both Polar Regions using the passive ozone tracer of two chemical transport models (REPROBUS and SLIMCAT CTMs) and total ozone observations from SAOZ and satellite observations (IASI/METOP and Multi-Sensor Reanalysis (MSR-2)). The tracer method allows us to determine the evolution of the daily rate of ozone destruction, and the amplitude of the cumulative loss at the end of the winter. The cumulative ozone destruction in the Artic varies between 0-10% in relatively warm winters with short vortex duration to up to 25-38% in colder winters with longer vortex persistence, while in Antarctica it is mostly stable, around 50%. Interannual variability of 10-days average rate will be analyzed and compared between both hemispheres as well as the timing to reach different thresholds of absolute ozone loss values. Finally, linear trend of ozone loss and temperature since 2000 will be estimated in both Polar Regions in order to evaluate possible ozone recovery.

The concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in 35 soil samples collected from Fildes Peninsula in the Antarctic, Ny-Ålesund in the Arctic, and Zhangmu-Nyalam in the Tibetan Plateau were reported in this study. A comparison of the total concentration and TEQ of PCDD/Fs at the Three Poles was conducted. Both the total concentration and TEQ of PCDD/Fs demonstrates a decreasing trend in the order of Zhangmu-Nyalam (mean: 26.22 pg/g, 0.37 pg I-TEQ/g)>Ny-Ålesund (mean: 9.97 pg/g, 0.33 pg I-TEQ/g)>Fildes Peninsula (mean: 2.18 pg/g, 0.015 pg I-TEQ/g) (p<0.05). In all samples, the congener and homologue profiles dominated with higher (seven and eight) chlorinated PCDD/Fs (more than 85% of the total mass percentage of PCDD/Fs) at the Three Poles. Finally, a FLEXPART backward simulation was used to preliminarily identify the potential local and regional anthropogenic sources of PCDD/Fs. The results imply that the air masses passing over surrounding regions with significant PCDD/F emissions might contribute to the occurrence of PCDD/Fs in both the Arctic and Tibetan Plateau.

Norge gjorde i 2009 krav på økonomiske soner utenfor Bouvetøya og Dronning Maud Land. Slike krav fører i følge Lov om økonomiske soner med seg forpliktelser som over tid får konsekvenser for Sjøforsvaret. l den økonomiske sonen som ble erklært utenfor fastlands-Norge på 1970-tallet har det vært Kystvakten som har opprettholdt juridiksjon, overvåket miljøet og kontrollert fisket. Norske og utenlandsk fartøyer har alt begynt å fiske i norsk økonomisk sone utenfor Bouvetøya. Det foregår i dag en rivende utvikling av teknologi for gruvedrift på store havdyp. Statlige og kommersielle private aktører posisjonerer seg aktivt for å kunne utnytte naturressursene i Sørishavet. Denne forfatteren mener at det vil tvinge seg fram et behov for stedlig overvåkning, kontroll og miljøvern i de norske økonomiske sonene i Antarktis. Det eksisterer ingen robust søk- og redningstjeneste i Antarktis. Siden Norge har gjort territorielle krav har vi også en moralsk forpliktelse om å kunne komme skipbrudne og syke til unnsetning i disse områdene. Overvåkning og hevding av juridiksjon i slike store og fjerntliggende havområder vil bli komplisert og dyrt. Kystvakten har i dag verken fartøyer eller personell for å kunne utføre dette. Rundt 2020 vil de store kystvaktskipene Nordkapp, Senja og Andenes være rundt 40 år og nærme seg tidspunktet for utfasing. Klimaendringene fører til migrasjon av fisk nordover mot kaldere vann i Barentshavet, og det vil derfor bli behov for fiskeriinspeksjoner lenger nord enn i dag. Kystvakten trenger å anskaffe store erstatningsfartøy for Nordkapp-klassen, og ved prosjekteringen bør man ta høyde for at Norge også vil ha behov for en kystvaktkapasitet i Antarktis. For å redusere risikoen for over- eller feilinvesteringer vil jeg gjennomgå hvordan en allerede i dag kan benytte satellitter for å kartlegge skipstrafikken i de norske områdene i sør. Ut fra dette bakgrunnsmaterialet kan Forsvaret anslå hvor mange fartøyer som vil være nødvendig å ha i sør.

A first long-term monitoring of selected persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Antarctic air has been conducted at the Norwegian research station Troll (Dronning Maud Land). As target contaminants 32 PCB congeners, α- and γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), trans- and cis-chlordane, trans- and cis-nonachlor, p,p'- and o,p-DDT, DDD, DDE as well as hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were selected. The monitoring program with weekly samples taken during the period 2007–2010 was coordinated with the parallel program at the Norwegian Arctic monitoring site (Zeppelin mountain, Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard) in terms of priority compounds, sampling schedule as well as analytical methods. The POP concentration levels found in Antarctica were considerably lower than Arctic atmospheric background concentrations. Similar to observations for Arctic samples, HCB is the predominant POP compound, with levels of around 22 pg m−3 throughout the entire monitoring period. In general, the following concentration distribution was found for the Troll samples analyzed: HCB > Sum HCH > Sum PCB > Sum DDT > Sum chlordanes. Atmospheric long-range transport was identified as a major contamination source for POPs in Antarctic environments. Several long-range transport events with elevated levels of pesticides and/or compounds with industrial sources were identified based on retroplume calculations with a Lagrangian particle dispersion model (FLEXPART).

Fra årsskifte 2006/2007 har den norske Antarktisstasjonen Troll (72º S, 2º E, 1270 m.o.h.) i Dronning-Maud-Land vært en helårsbemannet forsknings-, overvåkings- og servicestasjon. Dette åpnet for muligheten til å gjennomføre kontinuerlige målinger av en rekke viktige atmosfæriske parametre. I februar 2007 ble den nye NILU-atmosfære målestasjonen på Troll satt i gang. Måleprogrammet omfatter optiske, fysiske og kjemiske egenskaper av aerosoler, totalozon og UV-stråling, uorganisk og organisk forurensning inkludert tungmetaller som kvikksølv, samt meteorologiske parametre. Programmet omfatter også oppbyggingen av et luftflaskearkiv. Etter de første 6 månedene med den første Antarktisvinteren ser alle instrumenter ut til å være i meget god tilstand og levererkontinuerlig nye data. Disse analyseres for tiden, og de første resultatene vil bli publisert tidlig i 2008. Måleprogrammet finansieres i all hovedsak gjennom forskningsprogrammet NARE (Norwegian Antarctic Research Expeditions) ved Norsk polarinstitutt.

Q1, an organochlorine component with the molecular formula C(9)H(3)Cl(7)N(2) and of unknown origin was recently identified in seal blubber samples from the Namibian coast (southwest of Africa) and the Antarctic. In these samples, Q1 was more abundant than PCBs and on the level of DDT residues. Furthermore, Q1 was more abundant in seals from the Antarctic than the Arctic. To prove this assumption, gas chromatography-electron-capture negative ion mass spectrometry (GC/ECNI-MS), which is sensitive and selective for Q1, allowed for screening of traces of Q1 even in samples with particularly high levels of other organochlorine contaminants. Q1 was isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) from a skua liver sample. A 1:1 mixture with trans-nonachlor in electron-capture detectors (ECDs) was used to determine the relative response factor with ECNI-MS. The ECNI-MS response of Q1 turned out to be 4.5 times higher than that of trans-nonachlor in an ECD. With GC/ECNI-MS in the selected ion-monitoring mode, four Antarctic and four Arctic air samples were investigated for the presence of Q1. In the Antarctic air samples, Q1 levels ranged from 0.7 to 0.9 fg/m(3). In Arctic air samples, however, Q1 was below the detection limit (<0.06 fg/m(3) or 60 ag/m(3)). We also report on high Q1 levels in selected human milk samples (12-230 microg/kg lipid) and, therefore, suggested that the unknown Q1 is an environmental compound whose origin and distribution should be investigated in detail. Our data confirm that Q1 is a bioaccumulative natural organochlorine product. Detection of a highly chlorinated natural organochlorine compound in air and human milk is novel.