| Summary: | Emerging contaminants (ECs) in the Antarctic environment and Antarctic biota have been investigated in a very limited number of studies. ECs have been extensively studied in the Arctic and have confirmed presence in Antarctica, despite this, the small amount of Antarctic EC research is a barrier to accurate predictions about how the Antarctic environment and biota will respond to contamination. EC contamination in the Antarctic is identified through literature investigation. This report covers the ECs; polybrominated compounds (PBDEs), perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), organophosphate Esters (OPEs), chlorinated paraffins (CPs) and siloxanes which have been detected in the Antarctic environment and in Antarctic biota and compares the concentrations observed in the Antarctic to the more thoroughly studied Arctic. Further research into EC contamination in the Antarctic is required to fully understand how these contaminants will behave in the future.
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