Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), A Threat to Arctic Environment and Their Impact on Human Health

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a class of carbon-based mixtures that challenge natural deprivation, bioaccumulate in the food chain and organisms, and cause major health problems. The massive increase in anthropogenic activities, widespread industrialization, and intense fertilizer usage are the major sources of POPs in the surrounding area. These volatile compounds are moved to the polar region via a Long-Range Atmospheric Moving Mechanism (LRAMM). Climate alteration has been identified as a factor that can influence POP stages and movements in the Arctic, although little empirical evidence previously exists. Despite the lack of local industrial activity, the Arctic region acts as a sink for POPs owing to universal atmospheric circulation patterns, contaminating air, water, soil, and biota. Indigenous tribes, which rely primarily on traditional diets high in seafood and marine animals, are especially vulnerable to POP exposure via bioaccumulation in the food chain. POP exposure can indicate developmental defects, reproductive concerns, immunological suppression, and an increased risk of cancer. Climate change further exacerbates the release and redistribution of POPs trapped in melting ice and permafrost, increasing environmental pollution and human health concerns in the Arctic. This study focuses on the occurrence, sources, transport, and effects of POPs on the environment and human health in the Arctic region in detail.