Glacier water insects of Greenland are affected by EuroAsian industrial pollution

Pollution affects the Arctic environment as a result of the cold condensation effect; however little research has been done on the incorporation of micropollutants into the foodwebs of the Arctic aquatic environment.  In Greenland, we investigated the presence of metals and synthetic compounds of Perfluorinated Alkylated Substances (PFOSs) which result from industrial processes to make Gore-Tex and tefflon in aquatic macro-invertebrates.  We collected specimens from seven freshwater lakes, of which three were fed by glacier melt and four were fed by precipitation. These lakes can be polluted by the atmosphere and by glacier water, although we presume that the atmosphere is a larger source of micropollutants. We hypothesized that older lakes, fed by glacier water contain a higher concentration of metals and PFASs than older lakes not fed, because they receive micropollutants from two sources. We collected Diptera larvae (chironomids and muscids), Coleoptera (gyrinid, dytiscid), and Trichoptera (limnephilids) and for analysis.  The concentration of copper and zinc in macroinvertebrates was significantly higher in non-glacier fed lakes, while nickel concentrations were significantly lower.  The concentration of PFOSs in water from glacier fed lakes and PFOSs were detected in high concentrations (28 ng/g wet weight) in filter feeding chironomid larvae but not in predaceous diving beetles.  We conclude that industrial processes in Euroasia have contributed to pollution in Greenland which is now entering aquatic foodwebs as a result of glacier melt from global climate change.