This book evolved from the 5th School of Environmental Research entitled ''Persistent Pollution - Past, Present and Future", which has set a focus on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), heavy metals and aerosols. - reconstruction of past changes based on the scientific analysis of natural archives such as ice cores and peat deposits,- evaluation of the present environmental state by the integration of measurements and modelling and the establishment of cause-effect-patterns,- assessment of possible environmental future scenarios including emission and climate change perspectives.

Markus Quante is a senior research scientist and deputy head of the Department of Environmental Chemistry at the Institute of Coastal Research of the Helmholz Centre Geesthacht. He is professor for environmental sciences and climate physics at the University of Lüneburg / Germany. He is an expert in airborne turbulence measurements and cloud remote sensing and was involved in organizing and managing international cloud research campaigns. Markus Quante is member of the international science team, advising the CloudSat research satellite mission of NASA and Colorado State University. Currently Markus Quante is working in the field of chemistry transport modelling and coordinates an international initiative conducting a climate change assessment for the North Sea region. Among other services he is an active member of the Advisory Committee for the a¿oeEuropean Research Course on Atmospheresa¿ of the University Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France. Ralf Ebinghaus is an analytical and environmental chemist and head of the Department for Environmental Chemistry of the Institute for Coastal Research of the Helmholz Centre in Geesthacht near Hamburg. He is also Professor (h.c.) at the Faculty of Environmental Science at Leuphana University of Lüneburg. His research fields include transport, deposition, and air/sea-gas exchange of atmospheric trace constituents, such as mercury and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with special emphasis on substances of emerging concern for the coastal, marine, and polar environment. He is editor of the CSIRO Journal a¿oeEnvironmental Chemistrya¿ and co-editor of the EGU Open Access Journal a¿oeAtmospheric Chemistry and Physicsa¿. Götz Flöser is research associate at the Helmholz Centre Geesthacht and active in Wadden Sea research. He is also responsible for organizational matters in the field of Coastal Research and has organized six a¿oeSchools of Environmental Researcha¿. He is technical editor of the book series.

I. Introduction, History and Reconstruction.- II. Emissions.- III. Persistent Pollutants - a closer look.- IV Transport and Modelling.- V. Persistent Pollution and Health.- VI Future Aspects.