The article analyzes possible routes for the transport of atmospheric pollutants into the Arctic. They derive from both local and external sources and accumulate in the snow and ice which can thus be used as natural indicators of the degree of atmospheric pollution and its distribution. Monitoring points for taking samples for pollution studies, located both in polluted areas and pollution‐free areas are proposed. Some areas of the Kola Peninsula and the southern part of the Taymyr Peninsula are identified as polluted regions and Baydaratskaya Gulf and the Kolyma and Indigirka areas as relatively unpolluted regions.