Penguin colonies as secondary sources of contamination with persistent organic pollutants
Abstract: Levels of several organohalogenated pollutants, such as p,p-DDE, HCB, CHLs and PCBs, were 10 to 100-fold higher in soil samples collected from penguin colonies than in soil from reference areas. This is likely related to local penguin activity, such as a higher abundance of guano and the p...
Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2007
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10067/867030151162165141 |
Summary: | Abstract: Levels of several organohalogenated pollutants, such as p,p-DDE, HCB, CHLs and PCBs, were 10 to 100-fold higher in soil samples collected from penguin colonies than in soil from reference areas. This is likely related to local penguin activity, such as a higher abundance of guano and the presence of bird carcasse. While background contamination of the Antarctic region is mostly explained by the long-range atmospheric transport, this paper suggests that bird populations contribute also substantially to the local redistribution of contaminants. |
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