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.