The eight nations that ring the Arctic have taken the first step towards protecting the icebound environment of the far north from increasing pollution, much of which comes from outside the Arctic. Ministers and representatives from the US, the Soviet Union, Canada, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark (on behalf of Greenland) and Iceland met last week in Rovaniemi, Finland, to sign a pledge to work together to preserve the Arctic environment.
The circumpolar countries also adopted the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy, which will address six problems: persistent organic contaminants, heavy metals, acidi fication, radioactivity, oil pollution and underwater noise pollution.
Tom Siddon, the Canadian Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, said that the countries would work together to identify the sources and pathways of toxic chemicals such as DDT and PCBs, and heavy metals, as well as radioactive contamination. Researchers will investigate their effects on the Arctic food chain and ...
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