| Title | POP and PAH contamination in the southern slopes of Mt. Everest (Himalaya, Nepal): Long-range atmospheric transport, glacier shrinkage, or local impact of tourism? |
| Abstract | Due to their physico-chemical properties, POPs and PAHs are subjected to long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT) and may be deposited in remote areas. In this study, the contamination with DDx, PCBs, PBDEs, and PAHs was investigated in sediments and soils collected on the southern slopes of Mt. Everest (Himalaya, Nepal) in two different sampling campaigns (2008 and 2012). The results showed a limited contamination with POPs and PAHs in both soil and sediment samples. Therefore, the southern slopes of Mt. Everest can be considered a remote area in almost pristine condition. The LRAT mechanism confirmed its primary role in the transfer of contaminants to remote regions, while the gradual melting of glaciers, due to global warming, and the subsequent release of contaminants was suggested to be a secondary source of pollution of the lake sediments. In addition, the increase of tourism in this area during the last decades might have influenced the present concentrations of PAHs in the sediments and soils. |
| Source | Science of the total environment 544, pp. 382–390 |
| Keywords | Global warmingHimalayaLong-range atmospheric transportPersistent organic pollutantsPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons |
| Journal | Science of the total environment |
| Editor | Elsevier, Lausanne ;, Paesi Bassi |
| Year | 2016 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.11.118 |
| Authors | Guzzella, Licia; Salerno, Franco; Freppaz, Michele; Roscioli, Claudio; Pisanello, Francesca; Poma, Giulia; Poma, Giulia |
| Text | 347384 2016 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.11.118 Scopus 2 s2.0 84949257329 Global warming Himalaya Long range atmospheric transport Persistent organic pollutants Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons POP and PAH contamination in the southern slopes of Mt. Everest Himalaya, Nepal Long range atmospheric transport, glacier shrinkage, or local impact of tourism Guzzella, Licia; Salerno, Franco; Freppaz, Michele; Roscioli, Claudio; Pisanello, Francesca; Poma, Giulia; Poma, Giulia CNR Water Research Institute IRSA ; Universita degli Studi di Torino; Universiteit Antwerpen Due to their physico chemical properties, POPs and PAHs are subjected to long range atmospheric transport LRAT and may be deposited in remote areas. In this study, the contamination with DDx, PCBs, PBDEs, and PAHs was investigated in sediments and soils collected on the southern slopes of Mt. Everest Himalaya, Nepal in two different sampling campaigns 2008 and 2012 . The results showed a limited contamination with POPs and PAHs in both soil and sediment samples. Therefore, the southern slopes of Mt. Everest can be considered a remote area in almost pristine condition. The LRAT mechanism confirmed its primary role in the transfer of contaminants to remote regions, while the gradual melting of glaciers, due to global warming, and the subsequent release of contaminants was suggested to be a secondary source of pollution of the lake sediments. In addition, the increase of tourism in this area during the last decades might have influenced the present concentrations of PAHs in the sediments and soils. 544 Published version http //www.scopus.com/record/display.url eid=2 s2.0 84949257329 origin=inward POP and PAH contamination in the southern slopes of Mt. Everest Himalaya, Nepal DEFINITIVO_1 s2.0 S0048969715311001 main.pdf Articolo in rivista Elsevier 0048 9697 Science of the total environment Science of the total environment Sci. total environ. liciamaria.guzzella GUZZELLA LICIA MARIA franco.salerno SALERNO FRANCO |
