Preliminary data on enviornmental distribution of mercury in northern Victoria Land, Antarctica

• Published in: Antarctic Science
• Main Authors: Bargagli, R., Battisti, E., Focardi, S., Formichi, P.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1993
• Subjects: Antarc*; Antarctic Science; Antarctica; Usnea antarctica; Victoria Land
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102093000021; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102093000021

Concentrations of mercury were measured in soil and two species of epilithic macrolichens ( Umbilicaria decussata and Usnea antarctica ) collected along of the coast of northern Victoria Land coast. Most of the soil samples had a very low mercury content, whereas lichens had levels higher than in other remote areas. Although a possible contamination of samples cannot be completely excluded, the relevance to bioaccumulation of the very slow growth rate of lichens and of volcanic activity are discussed.