Long-term survival of human faecal microorganisms on the Antarctic Peninsula
Human faecal waste has been discarded at inland Antarctic sites for over 100 years, but little is known about the long-term survival of faecal microorganisms in the Antarctic terrestrial environment or the environmental impact. This study identified viable faecal microorganisms in 30-40 year old hum...
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Cambridge University Press
2004
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Online Access: | http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/12207/ https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/12207/1/-ANS-ANS16_03-S095410200400210Xa.pdf http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=247873 |
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:12207 2023-05-15T13:15:19+02:00 Long-term survival of human faecal microorganisms on the Antarctic Peninsula Hughes, Kevin A. Nobbs, Simon J. 2004 text http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/12207/ https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/12207/1/-ANS-ANS16_03-S095410200400210Xa.pdf http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=247873 en eng Cambridge University Press https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/12207/1/-ANS-ANS16_03-S095410200400210Xa.pdf Hughes, Kevin A. orcid:0000-0003-2701-726X Nobbs, Simon J. 2004 Long-term survival of human faecal microorganisms on the Antarctic Peninsula. Antarctic Science, 16 (3). 293-297. https://doi.org/10.1017/S095410200400210X <https://doi.org/10.1017/S095410200400210X> Meteorology and Climatology Biology and Microbiology Ecology and Environment Publication - Article PeerReviewed 2004 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.1017/S095410200400210X 2023-02-04T19:27:51Z Human faecal waste has been discarded at inland Antarctic sites for over 100 years, but little is known about the long-term survival of faecal microorganisms in the Antarctic terrestrial environment or the environmental impact. This study identified viable faecal microorganisms in 30-40 year old human faeces sampled from the waste dump at Fossil Bluff Field Station, Alexander Island, Antarctic Peninsula. Viable aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were predominantly spore-forming varieties (Bacillus and Clostridium spp.). Faecal coliform bacteria were not detected, indicating that they are less able to survive Antarctic environmental conditions than spore-forming bacteria. In recent years, regional warming around the Antarctic Peninsula has caused a decrease in permanent snow cover around nunataks and coastal regions. As a result, previously buried toilet pits, depots and food dumps are now melting out and Antarctic Treaty Parties face the legacy of waste dumped in the Antarctic terrestrial environment by earlier expeditions. Previous faecal waste disposal on land may now start to produce detectable environmental pollution as well as potential health and scientific problems. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alexander Island Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctic Science Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive Antarctic The Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Alexander Island ENVELOPE(-69.895,-69.895,-71.287,-71.287) Fossil Bluff ENVELOPE(-68.274,-68.274,-71.332,-71.332) Antarctic Science 16 3 293 297 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftnerc |
language |
English |
topic |
Meteorology and Climatology Biology and Microbiology Ecology and Environment |
spellingShingle |
Meteorology and Climatology Biology and Microbiology Ecology and Environment Hughes, Kevin A. Nobbs, Simon J. Long-term survival of human faecal microorganisms on the Antarctic Peninsula |
topic_facet |
Meteorology and Climatology Biology and Microbiology Ecology and Environment |
description |
Human faecal waste has been discarded at inland Antarctic sites for over 100 years, but little is known about the long-term survival of faecal microorganisms in the Antarctic terrestrial environment or the environmental impact. This study identified viable faecal microorganisms in 30-40 year old human faeces sampled from the waste dump at Fossil Bluff Field Station, Alexander Island, Antarctic Peninsula. Viable aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were predominantly spore-forming varieties (Bacillus and Clostridium spp.). Faecal coliform bacteria were not detected, indicating that they are less able to survive Antarctic environmental conditions than spore-forming bacteria. In recent years, regional warming around the Antarctic Peninsula has caused a decrease in permanent snow cover around nunataks and coastal regions. As a result, previously buried toilet pits, depots and food dumps are now melting out and Antarctic Treaty Parties face the legacy of waste dumped in the Antarctic terrestrial environment by earlier expeditions. Previous faecal waste disposal on land may now start to produce detectable environmental pollution as well as potential health and scientific problems. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Hughes, Kevin A. Nobbs, Simon J. |
author_facet |
Hughes, Kevin A. Nobbs, Simon J. |
author_sort |
Hughes, Kevin A. |
title |
Long-term survival of human faecal microorganisms on the Antarctic Peninsula |
title_short |
Long-term survival of human faecal microorganisms on the Antarctic Peninsula |
title_full |
Long-term survival of human faecal microorganisms on the Antarctic Peninsula |
title_fullStr |
Long-term survival of human faecal microorganisms on the Antarctic Peninsula |
title_full_unstemmed |
Long-term survival of human faecal microorganisms on the Antarctic Peninsula |
title_sort |
long-term survival of human faecal microorganisms on the antarctic peninsula |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press |
publishDate |
2004 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/12207/ https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/12207/1/-ANS-ANS16_03-S095410200400210Xa.pdf http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=247873 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-69.895,-69.895,-71.287,-71.287) ENVELOPE(-68.274,-68.274,-71.332,-71.332) |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Alexander Island Fossil Bluff |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Alexander Island Fossil Bluff |
genre |
Alexander Island Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctic Science |
genre_facet |
Alexander Island Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctic Science |
op_relation |
https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/12207/1/-ANS-ANS16_03-S095410200400210Xa.pdf Hughes, Kevin A. orcid:0000-0003-2701-726X Nobbs, Simon J. 2004 Long-term survival of human faecal microorganisms on the Antarctic Peninsula. Antarctic Science, 16 (3). 293-297. https://doi.org/10.1017/S095410200400210X <https://doi.org/10.1017/S095410200400210X> |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/S095410200400210X |
container_title |
Antarctic Science |
container_volume |
16 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
293 |
op_container_end_page |
297 |
_version_ |
1766267989846392832 |