Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in Antarctic ice-free areas: Influence of local sources on lakes and soils

• Published in: Microchemical Journal
• Main Authors: VECCHIATO, MARCO, ZAMBON, STEFANO, ARGIRIADIS, ELENA, BARBANTE, Carlo, GAMBARO, Andrea, PIAZZA, Rossano
• Other Authors: Vecchiato, Marco, Zambon, Stefano, Argiriadis, Elena, Barbante, Carlo, Gambaro, Andrea, Piazza, Rossano
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: Antarctica; Lake; Research station; PCB; PBDE; GC-MS; Settore CHIM/01 - Chimica Analitica; Antarctic; Victoria Land; Mario Zucchelli; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10278/44650; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2014.12.008

Antarctica is usually considered a pristine ecosystem; nevertheless it is influenced by Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs),mainly driven by long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT). However, localized sources such as human and wildlife activities can also contribute to pollution, constituting contaminated points at a local scale. Antarctic ice-free areas, where rare lakes are located, are influenced by such sources. In this work we determine polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, including the non-Aroclor CB-11) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in water and sediment samples of 6 lakes in Northern Victoria Land and in soils near the Italian research station Mario Zucchelli. Determinations were performed through gas chromatography (GC) coupled both to low-resolution and highresolution mass spectrometry (LRMS, HRMS). POP concentrations in lakes resulted low and rather similar across the sites despite their distance: ΣPCBs range between 46 and 143 pg L−1 in water and 10 and 634 pg g−1 in sediments, while ΣPBDEs range between 60 and 151 pg L−1 in water and 193 and 1682 pg g−1 in sediments. Lakes exhibited limited amplification phenomena in water during the melting season. PBDEs in the soils near the base yielded more concerning results, reaching a concentration of 33 ng g−1. Antarctica is usually considered a pristine ecosystem; nevertheless it is influenced by Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), mainly driven by long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT). However, localized sources such as human and wildlife activities can also contribute to pollution, constituting contaminated points at a local scale. Antarctic ice-free areas, where rare lakes are located, are influenced by such sources. In this work we determine polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, including the non-Aroclor CB-11) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in water and sediment samples of 6 lakes in Northern Victoria Land and in soils near the Italian research station Mario Zucchelli. Determinations were performed through gas chromatography (GC) ...