Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Potentially Toxic Elements in Soils of the Vicinity of the Bulgarian Antarctic Station “St. Kliment Ohridski” (Antarctic Peninsula)

Evgeny Abakumov,Timur Nizamutdinov,Rossitsa Yaneva,Miglena Zhiyanski

doi:10.3389/fenvs.2021.656271

Abstract

The investigation conducted was dialed to quantitative and qualitative evaluation of 15 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Potentially Toxic Elements (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni, and Cr) is soils and cryoconites on “St. Kliment Ohridski” Antarctic station territory and its vicinities. Estimation of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)–equivalents, PAHs and different PAHs isomer pair ratios were used for identification of general toxicity, nature and origin of individual PAHs and their groups. Total concentrations of PAHs in BaP–equivalents showed, that ∑15PAH of all selected points was higher than the threshold concentration (20 μg × kg−1–Russian environmental legislation) for benzo(a)pyrene. Different PAHs isomer ratios showed the natural (petrogenic) source of PAHs at all soils examples (except Cryosol Toxic Transportic). The maximum content among potentially toxic elements was recorded for Zn (75.7 mg × kg−1 at L26), the minimum for Cd (0.201 mg × kg−1 at L1A). Average concentrations of potentially toxic elements are generally lower compared to the results of previous studies. Application of Igeo index, characterizes the majority of the studied soils as unpolluted or practically unpolluted. Data obtained indicates that there is no current critical anthropogenic load on the environmental components of the landscapes investigated.

Highlights

Nowadays the Antarctica is one of the most interesting and informative environmental model for evaluation of possible contaminants accumulation in pristine ecosystems
With aim to support the expedition, 5000 L of diesel liquid fuel were brought to the «St. Kliment Ohridski » station (December 14, 2012–February 25, 2013) (BAI, 2013)
The main goal of this work is to estimate the level of pollution of soils and cryoconites with potentially toxic elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the territory of the Bulgarian Antarctic Station “St. Kliment Ohridski” and its vicinity (Livingstone Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula)

Summary

Introduction

Nowadays the Antarctica is one of the most interesting and informative environmental model for evaluation of possible contaminants accumulation in pristine ecosystems. This territory was not intensively affected by human and it can be used as reference area for adaptation and harmonization of threshold concentrations and evaluation of current contamination rates (Tin et al, 2009). In order to understand the amount of combusted fuel at the stations, data of the expedition of the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute in Subantarctic Soils of the Livingstone Island. With aim to support the expedition, 5000 L of diesel liquid fuel were brought to the «St. Kliment Ohridski » station (December 14, 2012–February 25, 2013) (BAI, 2013). Other authors noted that the stations of the year-round stay (station Bellingshausen) can spend up to 150 000 L of diesel fuel per year (Abakumov et al, 2015)

Objectives

Methods

Results