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Occurrence of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Lake Water at Grovnes Peninsula Over East Antarctica

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Abstract

Purpose

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic and volatile in nature. They can persist for a long time in the environment. The aim of this work was to investigate the levels of PAHs and their diagnostic ratios in the samples of lake water of Grovnes peninsula, East Antarctica.

Methods

Total fourty five samples were collected from fifteen different lakes of the Northern & Southern Grovnes peninsula. Sixteen compounds of PAHs were estimated in the samples by GC–MS/MS (Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) technique.

Results

PAHs levels were found from 10.33 to 44.35 pg ml−1 in the lake water samples. Fluorene was detected in all fifteen different lakes. The highest concentration of fluorene was found in the L7BNG lake. PAHs diagnostic ratios were found in the range of 0.76–4.68 for ∑LMW/∑HMW, 0.44–0.80 for FL/(FL + PYR), 1.00 for ANT/(ANT + PHE), 0.37–0.58 for FLA/(FLA + PYR), 0.44–0.47 for BaA/(BaA + CHR) in all fifteen different lakes.

Conclusion

The present study confirms the presence of PAHs in a small amount in Grovnes peninsula, East Antarctica. The presence of additional pollutants should be investigated in order to comprehensively assess the scale of environmental pollution in Antarctica.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge with thanks to the Director of NCPOR (National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research) and Earth Sciences, Ministry for the participation in 34th ISEA.

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This study was not supported by any funding agency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Amity Institute of Environmental Toxicology, Safety and Management (AIETSM), Amity University, Block-J1, Sector 125, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201303, India

    Laxmi Kant Bhardwaj & Tanu Jindal

  2. Cultivator Phyto Lab Pvt. Ltd., Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

    Sandeep Sharma

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  1. Laxmi Kant Bhardwaj
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Bhardwaj, L.K., Sharma, S. & Jindal, T. Occurrence of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Lake Water at Grovnes Peninsula Over East Antarctica. Chemistry Africa 4, 965–980 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42250-021-00278-0

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