Longyearbyen – Traces of pharmaceuticals and personal care products have been detected in both surface and wastewater in the Kongsfjorden, a fjord in the Arctic Svalbard archipelago. This is the finding of a study published in Science of The Total Environment, led by the Institute of Polar Sciences of the National Research Council in Rome (CNR-ISP), in collaboration with the University of Rome Sapienza and the Norwegian research institute Sintef Ocean. The study, which builds on marine sediment research conducted in 2024 by the same group, found the presence of antibiotics, antipyretics, hormones, anti-inflammatories, antiepileptics, stimulants, disinfectants, caffeine, and insect repellents in both the sea and wastewater from international research stations in Ny-Ålesund. The team assessed the sources and distribution of these compounds within the marine ecosystem.

“These compounds have shown high environmental persistence, exacerbated by Arctic conditions that slow natural degradation processes,” explains Jasmin Rauseo, researcher at CNR-ISP. “By performing an ecological risk assessment, we found that the mixture of these contaminants can affect the health of aquatic organisms at various levels of the food chain, altering endocrine and hormonal functions and potentially increasing antibiotic resistance. The spatial and temporal distribution of these substances indicates that, in addition to local emissions, oceanic and atmospheric transport also contributes to their presence in the fjord.”

The study notes that this contamination is also linked to inadequate wastewater treatment systems, while the stability of the pollutants is supported by low temperatures and limited sunlight. “These findings reveal a long-term risk to Arctic ecosystems and, consequently, to local populations,” concludes Luisa Patrolecco, CNR-ISP researcher and head of the study. “It is therefore urgent to step up monitoring programs and prioritize studies that can help promote global policies aimed at limiting contamination in Arctic waters and protecting their unique and fragile biodiversity.” (9colonne)