Ice core samples were analyed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and fragrances as representative emerging pollutants from the 1930s to 2005.
Researchers of the Institute of Polar Sciences of the Italian National Research Council and of the Ca’ Foscari University of Veniceanalyzed a series of fragrances deriving from personal care products and consumer goods in an ice core from Mt. Elbrus, Caucasus.
The concentration profile of such fragrances from the 1930s to 2005 follows the trend of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) - originated from combustion and industrial activities - showing a marked increase starting from the 1950s, known as the “Great Acceleration”. The results of this study were published on Scientific Reports.
The profound changes driven by the human impact on the global environment mark the beginning of a new geological era, the Anthropocene. Plastics or organic and inorganic contaminants can be detected in nearly every terrestrial environment, even in remote areas: the cryosphere can archive such anthropogenic compounds by preservingin icethe contaminants accumulated with snow deposition.
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