Introduction Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) classify a large set of compounds that are toxic to the environment and have received notoriety in recent decades for their persistent presence within an ecosystem. Most POPs are lipophilic, allowing them to bioaccumulate within an ecosystem, which can potentially cause long-term damage as they are transferred through consumption of an organism's fat content (Ritter et al. 1995). The chemical stability of POPs allows these substances to persist in an ecosystem for many years in both soil and animal tissues (Ritter et al. 1995). The recent detection of POPs in Arctic regions has raised concerns about the severity these toxins could pose to northern ecosystems (Letcher et al. 2010). Monitoring the amount and rate at which POPs are released back into the North is critical to understanding the extent of damage to the ecosystem and identifying areas for further research. Schmid et al. (2011) found that glacier-fed lakes contain higher levels of POPs than non-glacier-fed lakes, demonstrating the potential for reintroduction of these pollutants into the ecosystem. Another study by Blais et al. (2001) produced similar results as they detected higher levels of POPs in glacial streams compared to water from valley streams and precipitation. Blais et al. furthermore considers that freely suspended POPs in glacial waters are more widespread due to the low content of organic material in these waters; consequently allowing them to travel further before being captured by soil or organic material. The POPs covered by this study are chlordane, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Chlordane, DDT and PCBs have all been widely banned or reduced globally as of recent years here...... middle of paper ......, Bizzotto, E., Comolli, R. and M Vighi. 2008. POPs in mountain soils of the Alps and Andes: suggestions for an effect of precipitation on altitudinal gradients. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 188(1-4): 93-109.Vos, J.G., Dybing, E., Griem, H.A., Ladefoged, O., Lambre, C., Tarazona, J.V., Brant , I. and A. D. Vethaak. 2000. Health effects of endocrine disruptors on wildlife, with particular reference to the European situation. Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 30(1): 71-133. Wang, X.P., Yao, T.D., Wang, P.L., Yang, W., and L.D. Tian. 2008. Recent deposition of persistent organic pollutants and mercury on the Dasuopu Glacier, Mount Xixiabangma, Central Himalaya. Total Environmental Science 394: 1134-143.Wania, F. and D. Mackay. 1993. Global fractionation and cold condensation of low-volatile organochlorine compounds in polar regions. Environment, 22(1): 10-18.