Pollution in the Polar Regions

Several issues regarding pollution exist in our polar regions. In fact, there is evidence that the Antarctic had already begun to experience lead pollution decades before humans stepped foot on the continent. That timeline coincides with the Industrial Revolution. There has also been evidence found of lead pollution in wildlife, such as muscles and bivalves, surrounding the continent.

In 1989, a vessel hit a reef near Antarctica and spilled approximately 600,000 liters of oil. This spill was not as catastrophic as others experienced worldwide, but it was the largest to affect Antarctica. The environmental impact on wildlife was apparent. One species of penguins, the Adélie penguins, had a population decline of 16%. Cormorant nests declined by 85% and the chick morbidity rate was nearly 100%.

An oil spill in a cold climate has a much longer lasting impact due to several factors. Oil globules can become trapped in ice and remain for long periods of time. At the low temperatures found in the polar regions, microbes take much longer to degrade oil. With the remoteness of the area, resources to address an oil spill are much less readily available.

To learn more about Polar Code visit our Polar Code Online Training web page.