Tracing emerging contaminants in the Arctic cryosphere: Insights from Spitsbergen (Svalbard Archipelago)

The Arctic cryosphere, recognised as a reservoir for pollutants, faces the risk of becoming a secondary source of pollution due to climate-driven thawing and glacial melt. This study presents new data on concentrations and deposition fluxes of contaminants of emerging Arctic concern, specifically phenolic endocrine-disrupting compounds (PEDCs, e.g. bisphenol A and nonylphenols) and 17 pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs, including antibiotics, analgesics, hormones, and insect repellents). The samples were collected from snow and shallow ice cores from three glaciers in Svalbard during 2022–2023. Contaminants were consistently detected across all sites, with PPCPs dominating in 2023. Concentrations reached up to 211.6 ng/L for PEDCs and 106.3 ng/L for PPCPs, significantly exceeding levels previously reported for POPs. Spatial patterns indicate that local emissions and long-range atmospheric transport drive contaminant distribution. Deposition fluxes revealed the influence of snow density, altitude, and physicochemical properties of compounds on modulating contaminant accumulation. Snow and ice release contaminants annually, driven by the interaction of atmospheric deposition, interannual climate variability, and physical snow/ice changes. These findings underscore the rising environmental relevance of emerging pollutants in polar regions and the ecological risks posed by their remobilisation due to cryosphere melt.