Melting of Arctic ice is resulting into the release of pesticide DDT and other notoriously toxic chemicals, researchers warned.

Large amounts of toxics like DDT, chlordane and lindane as well as the industrial chemicals PCBs and the fungicide hexachlorobenzene (HCB), all of which are called Pops (persistent organics pollutants), are there trapped in the ice of the Arctic region.

It may be noted here that Pops are banned under the 2004 Stockholm convention as these toxics can cause birth defects and cancers and do not degrade easily.

In addition, Pops are insoluble in water and easily re-volatilize, so they can easily and quickly travel from soil and water to the atmosphere when the global temperature soars.

The study led by Jianmin Ma of the agency Environment Canada in Toronto, states, "A wide range of POPs have been remobilised into the Arctic atmosphere over the past two decades as a result of climate change.”

Jordi Dachs, pollution specialist at the Barcelona, Spain-based Institute of Environmental Assessment & Water Research described the results of the fresh study as ‘grim’.