Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other organic pollutants in freshwaters on the western shore of Admiralty Bay (King George Island, Maritime Antarctica)

Małgorzata Szopińska,Danuta Szumińska,Tomasz Dymerski,Żaneta Polkowska,Erwin Rosenberg,Robert Józef Bialik

doi:10.1007/s11356-019-05045-w

Abstract

Organic contamination in freshwater samples has never been investigated at the western shore of Admiralty Bay. Therefore, the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in five different sites distributed along a shore running from the Arctowski Station to the Baranowski Glacier was studied. Moreover, organic compounds such as n-alkanes, toluene and ethylbenzene were also noted. Increased ΣPAHs in late Austral summer 2016 are the result of long-range atmospheric transport of air masses from South America, confirmed by 10-day backward air mass trajectories analysis. The presence of n-alkanes and other hydrocarbons, as well as the evaluation of PAH indices (e.g. ΣLMW/ΣHMW* > 1), shows the use of fuel and indicate local human activity. As a final conclusion, our analysis indicates a mixed origin of PAHs (global and local). The presence of PAHs and other hydrocarbons in the water environment may constitute a potentially negative effect on the Antarctic ecosystem and it should be investigated in detail during further research (//*ΣLMW—sum of low molecular weight PAHs (two- and three-ring PAHs); ΣHMW—sum of high molecular weight PAHs (four- and five-ring PAHs)//).Graphical abstract

Highlights

Antarctic ecosystems have been subject to increased human pressure for at least the past six decades (Bargagli 2008; Corsolini 2009; Szopińska et al 2017)
The map of selected persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in biotic and abiotic samples shows the presence of a broad range of chemical compounds related to human activity in various elements of the Antarctic environment (Potapowicz et al 2019)
The approximate average load of ΣPAHs introduced into Admiralty Bay at the beginning of the Southern summer 2016 was calculated for one watercourse (Siodło Creek) within the selected model area 5

Summary

Introduction

Antarctic ecosystems have been subject to increased human pressure for at least the past six decades (Bargagli 2008; Corsolini 2009; Szopińska et al 2017). Rapid glacier retreat (Rückamp et al 2011; Pętlicki et al 2017, Pudełko et al 2018) and high-intensity morphological processes have affected rates of erosion and sediment transport, and weathering processes (Oliva et al 2016, 2017a; Navas et al 2017). This may cause the release of pollution accumulated in sediments (Martins et al 2010), ice (Herbert et al 2006a) and permafrost (Curtosi et al 2007). This may cause the release of pollution accumulated in sediments (Martins et al 2010), ice (Herbert et al 2006a) and permafrost (Curtosi et al 2007). Herbert et al (2006a, b) note that quantities of pollutants released during the spring snowmelt could have a significant influence on the quantities of pollutants present in both freshwater and marine systems

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