Results from a 15-year study on hydrocarbon concentrations in water and sediment from Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica

• Published in: Antarctic science Vol. 21; no. 3; pp. 209 - 220
• Main Authors: Bícego, Márcia C., Zanardi-Lamardo, Eliete, Taniguchi, Satie, Martins, César C., da Silva, Denis A.M., Sasaki, Sílvio T., Albergaria-Barbosa, Ana C.R., Paolo, Fernando S., Weber, Rolf R., Montone, Rosalinda C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.06.2009
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemical analysis; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Energy sources; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Gas chromatography; Ionization; Natural water pollution; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Seawater; Seawaters, estuaries; Sediment samplers; Sewage treatment; Wastewater treatment; Water analysis; Water treatment and pollution; Antarctic Islands; South Shetland Islands; Scotia Sea; Bransfield Strait; Antarctic Ocean; Scotia Sea Islands; King George Island; PSW, Antarctica, South Shetland Is., King George I; PS, Antarctica; PSW, Antarctica, South Shetland Is., King George I., Admiralty Bay; PAHs; South Shetland Islands; seawater; sewage; Marine sediments; Hydrocarbon; Polycyclic aromatic compound; Spatial variation; Time variation; Fluorescence spectrometry; Coastal zone; Persistent organic pollutant; Tourism; Research facility; Human activity; Trend analysis; Fossil fuel; Water pollution; Polar region; Organic compounds; Concentration distribution; Seawater; Anthropogenic factor
• ISSN: 0954-1020; 1365-2079
• DOI: 10.1017/S0954102009001734

Admiralty Bay on the King George Island hosts the Brazilian, Polish and Peruvian research stations as well as the American and Ecuadorian field stations. Human activities in this region require the use of fossil fuels as an energy source, thereby placing the region at risk of hydrocarbon contamination. Hydrocarbon monitoring was conducted on water and sediment samples from the bay over 15 years. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used for the analysis of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in seawater samples and gas chromatography with flame ionization and/or mass spectrometric detection was used to analyse individual n-alkanes and PAHs in sediment samples. The results revealed that most sites contaminated by these compounds are around the Brazilian and Polish research stations due to the intense human activities, mainly during the summer. Moreover, the sediments revealed the presence of hydrocarbons from different sources, suggesting a mixture of the direct input of oil or derivatives and derived from hydrocarbon combustion. A decrease in PAH concentrations occurred following improvement of the sewage treatment facilities at the Brazilian research station, indicating that the contribution from human waste may be significant.