Some organic contaminants e.g. organophosphate insecticides, showed to be more
toxic with increased salinity. It was also found that fish were more resistant to toxic
chemicals at middle salinities when compared with low salinities (Hall and Anderson
1995). However, Ramachandran et al. (2006) indicate much higher toxicity of PAH in
less saline as compere to more saline waters. This phenomena is caused by increased
solubility of PAH at lower salinities, especially the lower molecular weight two- and
three-ringed PAH homologs. This solubility effect is enhanced by the apparent
increased of effectiveness of chemical dispersion at low salinities.
4 Increased Human Activity in the Arctic
4.1 Enhanced Shipping and Tourism
The decrease of ice cover will encourage shipping and tourism. The Arctic is
favored shipping route between Europe, North America and Asia (Macdonald et al.
2005). Routine shipping is connected to usage of oil, the source of hydrocarbons.
The enhanced transport activities create also risks of maritime accidents and accidental fuel leaks.
4.2 Oil Installations
The recent and further decrease of ice cover will allow industrial activities to begin
in the Arctic. It has been estimated that $100 billion could be invested in the Arctic
over the next decade. The intense discussion on the oil exploration in the Arctic
Ocean have been already started. The Arctic contains vast oil and gas constituting
13 and 30 % of the world’s undiscovered resources respectively (Eurasia group
report 2013). The incidents of oil spill connected to oil installations operation and
oil shipping happen every year in different marine areas. The report published by
International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF Report 2014), indicates
that the annual average number of spills greater than 700 tonnes in the all oceans
was 3–4 per year during 2000–2009 and 1–2 spills per year during 2010–2012. Part
of the oil spill undergoes evaporation and dispersion in the seawater leading to oil
removal or dilution. Unfortunately, part of an oil spill undergoes emulsification and
sedimentation and in persist forms enhances local marine environment contamination (ITOPF Report 2014).
Some attention should be given to the produced water from oil and gas installations that contains high concentrations of radium isotopes. These isotopes are
naturally occurring elements in geological formations containing gas and oil. The
contaminated water produced during oil extraction is discharged to the sea and
radium and its decay products may be available for the marine organisms (Eriksen
et al. 2009).
Climate Change Influence on Migration of Contaminants …
85
toxic with increased salinity. It was also found that fish were more resistant to toxic
chemicals at middle salinities when compared with low salinities (Hall and Anderson
1995). However, Ramachandran et al. (2006) indicate much higher toxicity of PAH in
less saline as compere to more saline waters. This phenomena is caused by increased
solubility of PAH at lower salinities, especially the lower molecular weight two- and
three-ringed PAH homologs. This solubility effect is enhanced by the apparent
increased of effectiveness of chemical dispersion at low salinities.
4 Increased Human Activity in the Arctic
4.1 Enhanced Shipping and Tourism
The decrease of ice cover will encourage shipping and tourism. The Arctic is
favored shipping route between Europe, North America and Asia (Macdonald et al.
2005). Routine shipping is connected to usage of oil, the source of hydrocarbons.
The enhanced transport activities create also risks of maritime accidents and accidental fuel leaks.
4.2 Oil Installations
The recent and further decrease of ice cover will allow industrial activities to begin
in the Arctic. It has been estimated that $100 billion could be invested in the Arctic
over the next decade. The intense discussion on the oil exploration in the Arctic
Ocean have been already started. The Arctic contains vast oil and gas constituting
13 and 30 % of the world’s undiscovered resources respectively (Eurasia group
report 2013). The incidents of oil spill connected to oil installations operation and
oil shipping happen every year in different marine areas. The report published by
International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF Report 2014), indicates
that the annual average number of spills greater than 700 tonnes in the all oceans
was 3–4 per year during 2000–2009 and 1–2 spills per year during 2010–2012. Part
of the oil spill undergoes evaporation and dispersion in the seawater leading to oil
removal or dilution. Unfortunately, part of an oil spill undergoes emulsification and
sedimentation and in persist forms enhances local marine environment contamination (ITOPF Report 2014).
Some attention should be given to the produced water from oil and gas installations that contains high concentrations of radium isotopes. These isotopes are
naturally occurring elements in geological formations containing gas and oil. The
contaminated water produced during oil extraction is discharged to the sea and
radium and its decay products may be available for the marine organisms (Eriksen
et al. 2009).
Climate Change Influence on Migration of Contaminants …
85