Polychlorobiphenyls in Antarctica

Fuoco, Roger; Colombini, Maria Perla; Ceccarini, Alessio; Abete, C.

doi:10.1006/mchj.1996.0115

Cited by 51 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…The analytical procedures for PCB and PAH determination in seawater samples have been described elsewhere [10,20,21]. The PCB and PAH total content was calculated as the sum of the concentration of the compounds listed in Table 1, which were individually quantified.…”

Section: Analytical Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) at Ross Sea (Antarctica)

Fuoco

Giannarelli

Wei

et al. 2009

Microchemical Journal

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The most significant findings on the presence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the marine ecosystem at Ross Sea are presented. Seawater samples were collected in many sampling sites located in a large area of the Ross Sea during various Italian expeditions in Antarctica. Two classes of POPs were considered, namely polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The results highlighted the presence of these compounds in seawater samples at a total concentration level of about 50 pg/l for PCBs, and 220 pg/l for PAHs. Moreover, seawater samples showed low to high molecular weight PAHs (LMW/HMW) and phenanthrene to anthracene (PHE/ANT) ratios higher than 1 and 5, respectively, which may suggest the predominance of a petrogenic source (i.e. petroleum product contamination). Results were also obtained on the POP depth profile in the water column at Cape Adere, where two water masses converge and mix, i.e. the Modified Circumpolar Deep Water (MCDW) and the High Salinity Shelf Water (HSSW). According to both the PAH and temperature profiles a two-fold higher PAH and PCB concentration was observed for MCDW samples with respect to HSSW. This result represents the first experimental evidence of the external input of pollutants in this area of the Ross Sea coming from the outer oceanic circulation.

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Section: Analytical Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) at Ross Sea (Antarctica)

Fuoco

Giannarelli

Wei

et al. 2009

Microchemical Journal

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“…However, over a century of human activities in the region including scientific research, fishing, and tourism, as well as atmospheric pollution from lower latitudes has impacted the Antarctic environment [1]. Metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, PCBs, POPs and nutrients have been detected all over Antarctica, particularly in regions adjacent to scientific research stations, including Arthur Harbour, McMurdo Sound [6], the Ross and Weddell Seas [7], King George Island [8], and Wilkes Land, East Antarctica [9]. Contaminant sources include sewage discharge, fuel spills, and leachates from abandoned stations and legacy waste tips [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A robust bioassay to assess the toxicity of metals to the Antarctic marine microalga Phaeocystis antarctica

Gissi

Adams

King

et al. 2015

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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. (2015). A robust bioassay to assess the toxicity of metals to the antarctic marine microalga Phaeocystis antarctica. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 34 (7), 1578-1587. A robust bioassay to assess the toxicity of metals to the antarctic marine microalga Phaeocystis antarctica AbstractDespite evidence of contamination in Antarctic coastal marine environments, no water-quality guidelines have been established for the region because of a paucity of biological effects data for local Antarctic species. Currently, there is limited information on the sensitivity of Antarctic microalgae to metal contamination, which is exacerbated by the lack of standard toxicity testing protocols for local marine species. In the present study, a routine and robust toxicity test protocol was developed using the Antarctic marine microalga Phaeocystis antarctica, and its sensitivity was investigated following 10-d exposures to dissolved copper, cadmium, lead, zinc, and nickel. In comparisons of 10% inhibition of population growth rate (IC10) values, P. antarctica was most sensitive to copper (3.3 μg/L), followed by cadmium (135 μg/L), lead (260 μg/L), and zinc (450 μg/L). Although an IC10 value for nickel could not be accurately estimated, the no-observed-effect concentration value for nickel was 1070 μg/L. Exposure to copper and cadmium caused changes in internal cell granularity and increased chlorophyll a fluorescence. Lead, zinc, and nickel had no effect on any of the cellular parameters measured. The present study provides valuable metal-ecotoxicity data for an Antarctic marine microalga, with P. antarctica representing one of the most sensitive microalgal species to dissolved copper ever reported when compared with temperate and tropical species. ABSTRACT Despite evidence of contamination in Antarctic coastal marine environments, no water quality guidelines have been established for the region due to a paucity of biological effects data for local Antarctic species. Currently there is limited information on the sensitivity of Antarctic microalgae to metal contamination, which is exacerbated by the lack of standard toxicity testing protocols for local marine species. In the present study, a routine and robust toxicity test protocol was developed using the Antarctic marine microalga Phaeocystis antarctica, and its sensitivity investigated following 10-d exposures to dissolved copper, cadmium, lead, zinc, and nickel. In comparisons of IC10 (10% inhibition of population growth rate) values, P. antarctica was most sensitive to copper (3.3 µg/L), followed by cadmium (135 µg/L), lead (260 µg/L) and zinc (450 µg/L). While an IC10 value for nickel could not be accurately estimated, the NOEC value for nickel was 1070 µg/L. Exposure to copper and cadmium caused changes in internal cell granularity, and increased chlorophyll a fluorescence. Lead, zinc and nickel had no effect on any of the cellular parameters measured. The present study provides valuable metal-ecotoxicity data for an Antarctic marine microalga, with P. antarctica re...

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“…North Atlantic Deep Water from 47°N to 30°S is about 150 years (25 ~ 300 years) and another 95 years (25 ~ 422 years) from 30°S to the Southern Ocean (13,14) Since the first detection of PCBs and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the Antarctic five decades ago (15,16) , there have been dozens of investigations on the occurrence, distribution of POPs in Antarctic air (17)(18)(19)(20) , water (8,21) , soil (2,4) , sediments (22,23) , and biota (24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33) . Most of the studies were conducted at the tip of the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) and Ross Sea area (2,6) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%