Local Sources of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) in Russian and Norwegian Settlements on Spitsbergen Island, Norway

Abstract

Samples of surface soil, flaking paint, concrete, transformer oils, and small capacitors were collected from the three largest coal-mining settlements on Spitsbergen—Barentsburg (Russian), Pyramiden (Russian), and Longyearbyen (Norwegian)—to study the role of potential local sources of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in the arctic areas (78° N). Median concentrations of PCB₇ in soil from Barentsburg and Pyramiden were 0.268 and 0.172 mg/kg, respectively, with a maximum concentration of 28.7 mg/kg. High concentrations found in paint (3520 mg/kg) and small capacitors (114,000 mg/kg) indicated that these two are the main sources of local PCB contamination. Only traces of PCB were found in the Longyearbyen samples compared to the results from the other two settlements. Large amounts of building refuse, electrical waste, and scrap metals constitute major pollution sources in Barentsburg and Pyramiden. Weathering and general decay facilitate the mobilization of PCB from these sources to the local soil, which consequently is readily available for fluvial and eolian transport to the more vulnerable marine environment.