Yedoma Permafrost Releases Organic Matter with Lesser Affinity for Cu and Ni as Compared to Peat from the Non-Permafrost Area: Risk of Rising Toxicity of Potentially Toxic Elements in the Arctic Ocean.

Pollution of the Arctic Ocean by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) is a current environmental problem. Humic acids (HAs) play an important role in the regulation of PTE mobility in soil and water. The permafrost thaw releases ancient organic matter (OM) with a specific molecular composition into the Arctic watersheds.