Environmental contamination and climate change in Antarctic ecosystems: an updated overview

IF 3.5 Q3 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL
Roberto Bargagli and Emilia Rota
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Abstract

Abiotic and biotic components of Antarctic ecosystems are valuable archives of past and current trends in global processes and play an important role in assessing emissions and long-range transport of persistent contaminants. After the ban on the production and use of alkyl-lead fuel additives, lead concentrations in Antarctic environmental matrices (snow, ice, sediments and biota) have decreased, just as the hole in the Antarctic stratospheric ozone layer is slowly shrinking following the ban on ozone-depleting gases. With the entry into force of the Stockholm Convention, the occurrence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the Antarctic ecosystems could also decrease. However, the increasing anthropogenic sources of POPs in the Southern Hemisphere and the remobilization of those previously deposited in Antarctic ice could counteract the possible decreasing trend. Legacy pollutant concentrations in Antarctica are among the lowest reported in the global environment, with an exception of the bioaccumulation in various marine organisms of mercury (Hg) and cadmium (Cd) naturally occurring in Southern Ocean waters, or that of POPs in some long-lived seabirds with particular migration routes and life histories. However, despite the protection guidelines, long-range transport processes and especially the increase in human activities in Antarctica are sources of many persistent contaminants not yet subject to regulatory criteria and often lacking standardized sampling and analytical procedures. Chronic exposure to anthropogenic contaminants (legacy and of emerging interest) and pathogenic microorganisms near coastal scientific stations could cause synergistic or additive effects on marine biota. Most Antarctic marine organisms are endemic, with unique ecophysiological adaptations, and are also exposed to climate-related stressors. Warming and acidification of Southern Ocean waters along with increased melting of ice will likely affect the transport, pathways and environmental fate of persistent contaminants and could interfere with the metabolic processes of Antarctic organisms involved in the uptake and detoxification of environmental contaminants. Therefore, to implement environmental protection protocols around the coastal stations, the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs should evaluate the possible cumulative impact on biotic communities in the context of changing climatic and environmental conditions.

Abstract Image

南极生态系统中的环境污染和气候变化:最新概述
南极生态系统的非生物和生物成分是全球进程过去和当前趋势的宝贵档案,在评估持久性污染物的排放和远距离迁移方面发挥着重要作用。禁止生产和使用烷基铅燃料添加剂后,南极环境基质(雪、冰、沉积物和生物群)中的铅浓度有所下降,正如禁止使用消耗臭氧层气体后,南极平流层臭氧层的空洞正在慢慢缩小一样。随着《斯德哥尔摩公约》的生效,南极生态系统中的持久性有机污染物(POPs)也会减少。不过,南半球持久性有机污染物人为来源的增加以及以前沉积在南极冰层中的持久性有机污染物的再移动可能会抵消可能的减少趋势。除了南大洋水域中天然存在的汞(Hg)和镉(Cd)在各种海洋生物体内的生物累积,或持久性有机污染物在一些具有特殊迁徙路线和生活史的长寿海鸟体内的生物累积外,南极洲的遗留污染物浓度是全球环境中报告的最低浓度之一。然而,尽管制定了保护准则,但南极洲的远距离迁移过程,特别是人类活动的增加,是许多持久性污染物的来源,这些污染物尚未纳入监管标准,而且往往缺乏标准化的采样和分析程序。长期暴露于沿海科学考察站附近的人为污染物(遗留的和新出现的)和病原微生物会对海洋生物群产生协同或叠加效应。大多数南极海洋生物都是地方性的,具有独特的生态生理适应性,同时也暴露在与气候相关的压力因素下。南大洋水域的变暖和酸化以及冰层融化的加剧可能会影响持久性污染物的迁移、途径和环境归宿,并可能干扰南极生物吸收和解毒环境污染物的代谢过程。因此,为了在沿海考察站周围实施环境保护协议,国家南极计划管理者理事会应评估在不断变化的气候和环境条件下对生物群落可能产生的累积影响。
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