Soil contamination in high Arctic areas of human impact, Central Spitsbergen, Svalbard

Thirty-one metals and fifteen PAHs were examined in soils of central Spitsbergen, high Arctic. One of the world's northernmost human settlements and natural tundra were sampled to estimate the local human impact and its range. The contamination caused by local sources is significant only in the closest vicinity, and is usually at least an order of magnitude lower than European limits. The metal concentrations are closely related to bedrock geology and they are at similar levels as elsewhere in Svalbard. The long-dis­tance transport of contaminants was not found at a significant level.