Analytical studies on the environmental state of the Svalbard Archipelago provide a critical source of information about anthropogenic global impact

•Svalbard, due to location, can be a model place for monitoring pollution transport.•Persistent organic pollutants threaten the balance of the Arctic ecosystem.•The environment of Svalbard is prone to store pollution.•A variety of low level, but harmful, concentrations pollutants are found at Svalbard.

The Svalbard Archipelago differs from other polar regions due to its specific environmental conditions and geographic location, which mean that the area gathers pollution from long-range transport. Due to recent developments in analytical techniques, it is possible to determine the concentration of pollutants at the levels present there. The data obtained do not only constitute a source of information about the changes in the polar environment but also enable evaluation of the influence of particular pollutants on the global ecosystem.