Research area
- Chemical composition of various elements of the environment (e.g. water, soil, snow) and identifying pollutants their sources and impact on fauna and flora
Why is your research important?
Climate change caused by, among others, human activity is a fact, and that is why it is so important to limit our negative impact on the environment. The data collected as part of my research constitute the basis for assessing whether exposure to selected pollutants may contribute to the gradual degradation of polar ecosystems and discussions on tightening legal regulations regarding environmental protection.
What are your personal motivations?
I would like to explore the environmental fate and transport routes of anthropogenic chemical pollutants in order to contribute to the protection of sensitive ecosystems, including the Arctic. I want future generations not to be victims of our thoughtless use of the planet’s resources and to be able to enjoy the sight of all existing species, glaciers and areas that will not be flooded by rising sea levels.
What are you going to do during the BaltArctic Cruise?
My main goal during the cruise will be to collect seawater samples in coastal and offshore transects. In a further stage, I will quantify a wide range of compounds considered as pollutants (e.g. compounds from the group of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons – PAHs, surfactants, heavy metals) that can be transported along with sea currents from the Baltic Sea to regions located in the Arctic.