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.
authors.affiliation: CNR-IRSA (National Research Council-Water Research Institute), Brugherio, MB 20861, Italy. Electronic address: guzzella@irsa.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Licia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guzzella
authors.affiliation: CNR-IRSA (National Research Council-Water Research Institute), Brugherio, MB 20861, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salerno
authors.affiliation: Università degli Studi di Torino, DISAFA and NatRisk, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Freppaz
authors.affiliation: CNR-IRSA (National Research Council-Water Research Institute), Brugherio, MB 20861, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roscioli
authors.affiliation: CNR-IRSA (National Research Council-Water Research Institute), Brugherio, MB 20861, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pisanello
authors.affiliation: CNR-IRSA (National Research Council-Water Research Institute), Brugherio, MB 20861, Italy; Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, Antwerp 2610, Belgium. Electronic address: giulia.poma@uantwerpen.be.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Poma
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis; D046448:Ice Cover; D009390:Nepal; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Global warming; Himalaya; Long-range atmospheric transport; Persistent organic pollutants; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons