It is feared that the ice sheet in the Arctic or Arctic is increasingly vulnerable to melting due to climate change and global warming. Apart from contributing to rising sea levels in various parts of the world, there are other great dangers that may arise from this phenomenon.
The danger in question is viruses and bacteria from ancient times that are stored there and have not been found. It could also be nuclear waste, according to scientific research published in the journal Nature Climate Change.
So far, the Arctic ice sheet has become a kind of repository for industrial activity and nuclear tests conducted by countries such as the Soviet Union. So if it continues to melt, the material can escape and harm the environment.
On the other hand, more than 100 microbial species of different types residing in the Arctic are known to be resistant to antibiotic treatment. So if bacteria like this are also released due to melting ice and start infecting people, you can imagine what the consequences would be.
Not to mention there are many bacteria that have not been identified and of course there is no known way to counteract them if they infect humans. When the ice melts, they may be released simultaneously.
"This review identifies how other risks could arise from a warming Arctic. This region has for a long time been a freezer for several dangerous things, not just greenhouse gases," said one of the researchers, Arwyn Edwards.
Another factor to watch out for is that there is quite a large human population living in the Arctic, including scientists and the military. In the scenario of bacteria appearing and they are contaminated, then great danger can occur that needs to be anticipated.
