Human footprint on the water quality from the northern Antarctic Peninsula region

This study assessed the human footprint on the chemical pollution of Antarctic waters by characterizing inorganic chemicals and selected organic anthropogenic contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in inland freshwater and coastal seawater and the associated ecotoxicological risk. Nicotine and tolytriazole, present in 74% and 89% of the samples analyzed, respectively, were the most ubiquitous CECs in the investigated area. The most abundant CECs were citalopram, clarithromycin, and nicotine with concentrations reaching 292, 173, and 146 ng/L, respectively. The spatial distribution of CECs was not linked to any water characteristic or inorganic component. The contamination pattern by CECs in inland freshwater varied among locations, whereas it was very similar in coastal seawater. This suggests that concentrations in inland freshwater may be ruled by environmental processes (reemission from ice, atmospheric deposition, limited photo- and biodegradation processes, etc.) in addition to human activities. Following risk assessment, citalopram, clarithromycin, nicotine, venlafaxine, and hydrochlorothiazide should be considered of concern in this area, and hence, included in future monitoring of Antarctic waters and biota. This work provides evidence on the fact that current measures taken to protect the pristine environment of Antarctica from human activities are not effective to avoid CEC spread in its aquatic environment.

CP acknowledges grant RYC2020-028901-I funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and “ESF investing in your future”. This work was supported by grant CEX2018-000794-S, funded by MCIN/AEI (10.13039/501100011033), and the project GEOCHANGES (grant RTI2018-098099-B-I00) funded by MCIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and “ERDF A way of making Europe”. The authors would also like to acknowledge the logistic support for the field work provided by the Spanish Antarctic Programme. "This work represents a contribution to CSIC Thematic Interdisciplinary Platform PTI POLARCSIC”. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Granada / CBUA.

With funding from the Spanish government through the "Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence" accreditation (CEX2018-000794-S).

Peer reviewed