The amount of microplastics found in Yamal is increasing. These polymers pose a threat to the climate and humans by releasing greenhouse gases, which increases the temperature in the Arctic and accelerates the melting of ice.
Scientists started the observations two years ago. According to Roman Kolesnikov, a leading researcher at the Scientific Center for the Study of the Arctic, there are practically no local microplastics in the region - they are brought in by precipitation from other parts of the planet, from Europe in particular. The amount of the pollutant is still low.
"We must understand that these are all Arctic ecosystems, and how they will react to these concentrations of microplastics in the future is still unclear. This is one of the tasks that we must understand and solve in the near future," Kolesnikov said.
The focus of scientists' attention is the Ingilor Nature Park, vesti-yamal.ru reports.
Alex Shishlo, Editor in Chief of the European Bureau, Rough&Polished
