HealthTap water undrinkable in Norwegian town as thawing permafrost releases heavy metals

Residents of Longyearbyen in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago have been told not to drink tap water. Scientists link the contamination to thawing permafrost exposing pyrite-rich bedrock, from which metals leach into the water. Manganese was once 25 times the recommended limit, and sulphate and nickel later also exceeded guidelines, keeping the ban in place.

drinking waterpermafrost thawheavy metalsLongyearbyen

TThe Guardian★★★☆☆2026-10-19 05:00Original