TY - CHAP

T1 - Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals content in soils of vicinities of Russian Antarctic stations

AU - Alekseev, Ivan

AU - Abakumov, Evgeny

PY - 2020/7/12

Y1 - 2020/7/12

N2 - Antarctica is considered as one of the most pristine areas on Earth. However, increasing rates of humanpresence on the sixth continent makes it crucial to investigate the level of environmental pollution withinthe vulnerable ecosystem of Antarctica. Soils have a significant role in processes of accumulation,mobilization, redistribution of chemical, and especially, trace elements in landscapes and ecosystems. Theaim of this work was to analyze the levels of 17 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 8 heavy metals(HMs) in the vicinities of Russian Antarctic stations both in Eastern and Western Antarctica. Moreover, ourwork is aimed to determine the trends and reasons of anthropogenic pollution of Antarctic soils andcharacterization of accumulation levels of HMs and PAHs. Results show the predominance of light PAHs inall studied sites with prevalence of low-molecular polyarenes. The content of benzo(a)pyrene does notexceed the maximum permissible concentrations (adopted in Russia). At the same time the content ofbenzo(a)pyrene, which is a marker of anthropogenic contamination, is relatively low or equal to 0 in soils ofreference-landscapes. Generally, geoaccumulation index values for heavy metals were under or slightlyabove the 0 level, indicating low to moderate pollution of the studied soils. However, considerable Igeovalues of Zn, Pb and Cu were revealed in several samples. Results obtained in our study are especiallyrelevant in sense of climate change effects as a long-term and gradual warming in Maritime Antarctica.

AB - Antarctica is considered as one of the most pristine areas on Earth. However, increasing rates of humanpresence on the sixth continent makes it crucial to investigate the level of environmental pollution withinthe vulnerable ecosystem of Antarctica. Soils have a significant role in processes of accumulation,mobilization, redistribution of chemical, and especially, trace elements in landscapes and ecosystems. Theaim of this work was to analyze the levels of 17 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 8 heavy metals(HMs) in the vicinities of Russian Antarctic stations both in Eastern and Western Antarctica. Moreover, ourwork is aimed to determine the trends and reasons of anthropogenic pollution of Antarctic soils andcharacterization of accumulation levels of HMs and PAHs. Results show the predominance of light PAHs inall studied sites with prevalence of low-molecular polyarenes. The content of benzo(a)pyrene does notexceed the maximum permissible concentrations (adopted in Russia). At the same time the content ofbenzo(a)pyrene, which is a marker of anthropogenic contamination, is relatively low or equal to 0 in soils ofreference-landscapes. Generally, geoaccumulation index values for heavy metals were under or slightlyabove the 0 level, indicating low to moderate pollution of the studied soils. However, considerable Igeovalues of Zn, Pb and Cu were revealed in several samples. Results obtained in our study are especiallyrelevant in sense of climate change effects as a long-term and gradual warming in Maritime Antarctica.

M3 - Other chapter contribution

BT - SCAR 2020. Antarctic Science Global Connections

Y2 - 3 August 2020 through 7 August 2020

ER -