Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Mercury and Arsenic Content in Soils of Larsemann Hills, Pravda Coast and Fulmar Island, Eastern Antarctica

This study is aimed at investigation of various potential contaminants (arsenic, mercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) content in soils of different landscapes of Eastern Antarctica ice-free areas. Our data not only showed that intensive human impact might result in significant direct contamination of surrounding landforms, but also revealed a specific role of ornithogenic transport in distribution of contaminants. Analysis revealed that the contents of investigated elements were 0.100–8.055 mg kg−1 (arsenic), 0.025–0.027 mg kg−1 (mercury) in Larsemann Hills and 0.100–1.213 mg kg−1 (arsenic), 0.023–0.593 mg kg−1 (mercury) in vicinities of Mirny station and Fulmar Island. Accumulation of some elements in guano-derived and moss materials lead to higher values of other soil pollution indices at natural sites. Results of our study revealed the predominance of light molecular weight PAHs (fluorene and acenaphthylene) in studied soils. Results of our study are not completely in agreement with the idea of an practically uncontaminated Antarctic ecosystem which was previously reported for Eastern Antarctica ice-free areas. Various human activities carried out at local scale have been found to be responsible for increase of metal levels in studied Antarctic environments.