Melting Himalayan glaciers contaminated by legacy atmospheric depositions are important sources of PCBs and high-molecular-weight PAHs for the Ganges floodplain during dry periods
Language English Country England, Great Britain Media print-electronic
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PubMed
26312740
DOI
10.1016/j.envpol.2015.08.012
PII: S0269-7491(15)30008-7
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- Keywords
- DDT, Glacier, India, PAHs, PCBs,
- MeSH
- Water Pollutants, Chemical analysis MeSH
- Climate Change MeSH
- Air Pollutants analysis MeSH
- Ice Cover chemistry MeSH
- Polychlorinated Biphenyls analysis MeSH
- Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons analysis MeSH
- Rivers chemistry MeSH
- Seasons MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Geographicals
- India MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Water Pollutants, Chemical MeSH
- Air Pollutants MeSH
- Polychlorinated Biphenyls MeSH
- Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons MeSH
Melting glaciers are natural redistributors of legacy airborne pollutants, affecting exposure of pristine proglacial environments. Our data shows that melting Himalayan glaciers can be major contributors of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) for surface water in the Gangetic Plain during the dry season. Glacial emissions can exceed in some cases inputs from diffuse sources within the catchment. We analyzed air, deposition and river water in several sections along the Ganges River and its major headwaters. The predominant glacial origin of these contaminants in the Himalayan reach was demonstrated using air-water fugacity ratios and mass balance analysis. The proportion of meltwater emissions compared to pollutant discharge at downstream sections in the central part of the Gangetic Plain was between 2 and 200%. By remobilizing legacy pollutants from melting glaciers, climate change can enhance exposure levels over large and already heavily impacted regions of Northern India.
Norwegian Institute for Water Research Gaustadalleen 21 Oslo 0349 Norway
Norwegian Institute for Water Research Masaryk University Brno 62500 Czech Republic
Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment Masaryk University Brno 62500 Czech Republic
TERI University 10 Institutional Area Vasant Kunj New Delhi 110070 India
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