Studies of the Behaviour of Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Baikal-Selenga Ecosystem as an Element of the Implementation of the Stockholm Convention

The paper presents the generalized results of a long-term study (1994 - 2020) of the behaviour of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the unique Baikal-Selenga lake-river ecosystem in Russia and Mongolia. The research was started in 1993 on the initiative of V. A. Koptyug by the staff of the Vorozhtsov Novosibirsk Institute of Or-ganic Chemistry SB RAS and the Baikal Institute of Nature Management SB RAS within the framework of Rus-sian and international expeditions. As a result of the analysis of the data obtained by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, some regularities of the entry, distribution and accumulation of POPs in various regions of the Baikal-Selenga aquatic ecosystem, which is the largest lake-river system in Inner Asia, were revealed. Detailed data on the content, distribution and profiles of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface waters, bottom sediments and biota have been obtained. The studies were car-ried out on the entire territory of the Baikal-Selenga ecosystem: Lake Baikal, Selenga River delta, Selenga River basin on the territories of Russia and Mongolia, including industrial areas and specially protected natural areas. The data obtained are an assessment of the current ecological state of the Baikal-Selenga region and can serve as a basis for identifying anthropogenic impact on the environment and public health with an assessment of environ-mental risk. They can be used to develop approaches for environmental quality management and rational use of natural resources, conservation of unique biodiversity and sustainable development of the territory of the Baikal region and can be considered as an element of the implementation of the Stockholm Convention on POPs.