Frozen Fallout: Nuclear Pollution in the Arctic

During the Fukushima nuclear accident on March 11, 2011, radioactive material was released into terrestrial, marine, and freshwater environments. Some of the airborne contaminants were deposited on land areas of Japan through precipitation, while most of the remainder fell over the North Pacific Ocean. Less than 2% of the total fallout was deposited in areas outside Japan.

Arctic Haze: A Consequence of Urban Air Pollution

Major urban and industrial areas are often hotspots for air pollution. This is unsurprising, given that dense populations and economic activities in these areas often result in the concentration of emission sources. When smog disperses over these heavily polluted areas, air pollutants can travel far beyond their original sources, reaching remote areas such as the North Pole.