A report indicates that the rapid warming of the Arctic could lead to the spread of nuclear waste, unknown viruses, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Nuclear Waste, Viruses, and Chemicals
In an article published in Nature Climate Change, Dr. Arwyn Edwards from Aberystwyth University co-authored with scholars from universities in the United States and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, stating that the Arctic is a repository for various chemical compounds derived from natural processes, accidents, or intentional storage.
Melting ice is seen as a contributing factor to greenhouse gas emissions as massive carbon stores in Arctic soils are released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide and methane, causing abrupt changes to landscapes. However, research shows that its impacts are broader and less understood—with the potential to disseminate nuclear waste and radiation, unidentified viruses, and other concerning chemicals.
According to scientists, humanity will face many risks as Earth’s temperatures rise and ice melts. (Source: bbc.com).
From 1955 to 1990, the Soviet Union conducted 130 nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere and on the ocean surface near the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, off the northwest coast of Russia. These tests utilized 224 separate explosive devices, releasing nuclear energy equivalent to approximately 265 megatons, and over 100 decommissioned nuclear submarines were sunk in the nearby Kara and Barents Seas.
Despite the Russian government’s strategic cleanup plans, the report notes that this area has been identified as containing a significant volume of radioactive cesium and plutonium among seabed sediments, vegetation, and ice. The Camp Century research facility in Greenland, powered by nuclear energy, also produced substantial nuclear and diesel waste.
The waste, which was abandoned in 1967 and left in accumulating ice, now faces a long-term threat from changes to the ice sheet in Greenland. The 1968 Thule bomber crash also released a significant amount of plutonium onto the Greenland ice sheet. Potential radioactive waste from nuclear submarines and Cold War reactors, as well as mining activities, could be released as the ice melts.
Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
The permafrost, which is over 3 meters thick, is one of the few environments on Earth that has not been exposed to modern antibiotics. More than 100 diverse microorganisms found in deep permafrost in Siberia have been discovered to possess antibiotic resistance as the permafrost thaws.
These microorganisms can mix with melting ice water, creating strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The sudden and uncontrolled exposure of permafrost increases the chances of multiple strains emerging simultaneously over the years.
Fossil Fuels
Along with byproducts of fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution began, the Arctic environment also contains natural metal deposits, including arsenic, mercury, and nickel. According to the report, mining these minerals for decades has caused severe pollution across tens of millions of hectares due to waste.
Pollutants and chemicals that were previously stored in permafrost can be released back into the atmosphere as it melts, and rising water levels could lead to widespread dispersion, harming animal and bird species as well as entering the human food chain.
Over 1,000 settlements aimed at resource extraction, military, and scientific projects have been established on permafrost over the past 70 years, which, along with local populations, increases the likelihood of exposure or accidental release. Scientists’ reports indicate that despite these findings, many phenomena remain poorly understood, largely overlooked, and further research in this field is crucial for gaining deeper insights into potential risks.
Dr. Arwyn Edwards emphasizes: “The climate and ecological changes in the Arctic will affect everywhere on the planet as it releases carbon back into the atmosphere and raises sea levels. For a long time, the Arctic has become a freezer containing many harmful substances, not just greenhouse gases. We need to understand more about the fate of these harmful bacteria, pollutants, and nuclear materials to accurately grasp the threats they may pose.
Urgent actions need to be taken at the upcoming COP26 Summit next month as these findings should concern everyone. In addition to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, immediate commitment and funding for research in this area is essential. What worries us is that we still do not know much about the Arctic, its importance for all our futures, and why it deserves protection.”
