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Presence and Distribution of Persistent Toxic Substances in Sediments and Marine Organisms of Potter Cove, Antarctica

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Abstract

Levels of butyltin compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls, and heavy metals were analyzed in marine sediments and organisms (Notothenia coriiceps, Laternula elliptica, and Nacella concinna), each of which has a different feeding strategy, in Potter Cove, Antarctica. PCBs were lower than detection limits in all samples. Only butyltin compounds were detected in a restricted area near the scientific station. Chromium, copper, magnesium, lead (Pb), and zinc had similar behavior in the cove, probably because they are regulated by similar process and conditions. However, Pb levels in some sites of the cove seem to be related to human activities in the area. Cadmium levels were relatively low, with the highest values found close to the shoreline, which is probably influenced by seasonal streams draining waters from Potter Peninsula. Results showed that despite the fact that Jubany Station has been operating for >50 years, surface sediment and biota from Potter Cove do not exhibit levels of pollutants representing environmental concern.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Jubany Station crew and especially Oscar Gonzalez, Lucas Ruberto, and Denis Brion for their assistance during fieldwork. This research was carried out under an agreement between the Instituto Antártico Argentino and the Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica of the Universidad de Buenos Aires. Field and laboratory works were supported by the Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBACyT U007), the Agencia Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (Picto 11555), the Canadian Research Chair in Ecotoxicilogy of High Latitude Ecosystems, and the Québec-Ocean Strategic Network (FQRNT). Many thanks go to personal of the Institut des Sciences de la Mer à Rimouski (ISMER/UQAR) for technical and professional assistance in chemical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Antártico Argentino, Cerrito 1248 (C1010AAZ), Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Antonio Curtosi, Cristian Vodopivez & Walter Patricio Mac Cormack

  2. Institut des Sciences de la Mer de Rimouski, Université du Québec à Rimouski, 310 Allée des Ursulines, Rimouski, G5L 3A1, Canada

    Antonio Curtosi, Emilien Pelletier & Richard St Louis

  3. Cátedra de Biotecnología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos, Junín 956 (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Walter Patricio Mac Cormack

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  1. Antonio Curtosi
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  2. Emilien Pelletier
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  5. Walter Patricio Mac Cormack
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Correspondence to Walter Patricio Mac Cormack.

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Curtosi, A., Pelletier, E., Vodopivez, C. et al. Presence and Distribution of Persistent Toxic Substances in Sediments and Marine Organisms of Potter Cove, Antarctica. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 59, 582–592 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-010-9509-2

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