Fossil fuels' pollution affects Arctic atmospheric chemistry

Pollution from fossil fuels originating in industrialized nations is significantly affecting the atmospheric chemistry of the Arctic, illustrating the extensive impact of human activities. Researchers found that emissions from fossil fuels have led to a decrease in methanesulfonic acid (MSA) levels in Arctic ice cores since the mid-19th century.

Air pollution from regions such as Europe, North America, and East Asia is altering atmospheric processes, even in the remote Arctic, by converting dimethyl sulfide into sulfate instead of MSA. However, environmental regulations introduced in the 1990s have helped to mitigate some of this damage, allowing MSA levels to begin recovering as nitrogen pollution decreased.

The release of this pollution fundamentally alters atmospheric processes. The fact that these remote Arctic areas exhibit clear signs of human influence demonstrates that no corner of our planet remains untouched. This finding emphasizes the far-reaching consequences of air pollution and underscores the importance of air quality regulations, which have effectively reversed some harm caused by fossil fuel emissions.