Levels of persistent organic pollutants in the components of the Lake Baikal unique ecosystem

Abstract

Experimental results are presented of the estimation of pollution levels of Lake Baikal unique ecosystem (air, surface and deep water, soil, bottom sediments, and aquatic biota) with persistent organic pollutants (POPs) which were included to the list of Stockholm Convention (polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides, toxaphene, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers). The ranges of POPs concentration are determined and statistical characteristics (mean and median) over the period of observations are calculated. It is demonstrated that the wide variation range of POPs concentration depends on environmental factors and on the POPs source (local sources or global transport).