Global Distillation in an Era of Climate Change

Butyltins, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, organochlorine pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls in sediments and bivalve mollusks in a mid‐latitude environment from the Patagonian coastal zone

“…However, very few studies have been reported in the southern hemisphere, and even fewer in South America. Consequently, great uncertainties exist in POP concentrations in this region despite the fact that the migration of POPs from source emission zones to the poles has been documented extensively . Supplemental Data, Table S5, summarizes levels of OCPs, PCBs, and PAHs in coastal sediments from South America and Antarctica obtained between 1999 and 2011 .…”

­Genomic data mining of the marine actinobacteriaStreptomycessp. H-KF8 unveils insights into multi-stress related genes and metabolic pathways involved in antimicrobial synthesis

“…The phenomena of widespread distribution antibiotic resistance genes in natural environments is consequence of improper use of antibiotics in medical treatment, as well as by an indiscriminate use in agriculture, livestock and aquaculture ( Brown et al, 2006 ). Phenomena such as the grasshopper effect may also contribute to the rapid transport of toxics around the globe through atmospheric and oceanic currents ( Sadler & Connell, 2012 ).…”

Local Food Systems under Global Influence: The Case of Food, Health and Environment in Five Socio-Ecosystems

“…Inorganic mercury emissions that are released from coal burning and artisanal gold mining in East and Southeast Asia, for instance, accumulate at the poles following long-range atmospheric, oceanic and river transport [37]. Moreover, many semi-volatile and persistent environmental contaminants that include PCBs are transported from warmer regions of the earth to colder regions by global distillation [161]. This geochemical process thus implies that few places on the planet can escape these pollutants, as they travel far from their source of emission, either anthropogenically or facilitated by climate change [161], and accumulate at the poles.…”

“…Moreover, many semi-volatile and persistent environmental contaminants that include PCBs are transported from warmer regions of the earth to colder regions by global distillation [161]. This geochemical process thus implies that few places on the planet can escape these pollutants, as they travel far from their source of emission, either anthropogenically or facilitated by climate change [161], and accumulate at the poles. While the decline in the consumption of marine country foods in Nunavik has been identified as the most important factor associated with decreasing levels of mercury and PCB contamination in individuals, it is inversely related with a shift towards an increased consumption of store-bought food [154].…”