Contaminants

Contaminants include a wide range of man-made materials such as plastics, trash and lost fishing gear, and chemicals (pesticides, oil, and heavy metals).

The waters off Alaska are generally perceived as pristine, especially relative to more populated industrialized areas elsewhere. However, local sources of contamination exist, and contaminants can also arrive from far away after transport through the ocean and atmosphere. NPRB supports research into the causes and effects of both long-term and point-source contamination.

Contaminants Research at a Glance

Learn about the substance and relevance of each project in just two pages. Our goal is to provide a synopsis for each completed project.

421 | Identification of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediments and biota in a pristine southeast Alaska watershed and near a municipal waste landfill in Juneau, Alaska

422 | Hydrocarbons in Nelson Lagoon

Supporting research to enable effective management and sustainable use of Alaska's marine resources
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