دانلود رایگان مقاله انگلیسی آلودگی خاک با فلزات سمی در نزدیک یک پناهگاه در جزیره روبرت، سرزمین جنوبی دریایی - اشپرینگر 2017

Abstract

The anthropogenic effects of Antarctic refuge buildings and research stations on the surrounding soils are scarcely investigated, especially when the structures are small-sized, and sporadically used or visited. The Coppermine Peninsula (Robert Island, South Shetland Islands archipelago) possesses one of the richest flora in Antarctica, being classified as an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA). There, a small refuge (Luis Risopatrón) has been seasonally occupied for scientific purposes since 1957, although no studies on the anthropic disturbances in the surroundings soils are reported. The aim of this study was the determination of the potentially toxic metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn) mass fractions in surface soils (n = 40) collected at the surroundings of the Luis Risopatrón refuge. Enrichment factors (EF) and geoaccumulation index (Igeo) were also calculated, using Zr as the reference element, in order to evaluate the anthropogenic impacts of these small buildings in the studied area. The main contaminants were Pb and Zn, which presented EF and Igeo values ranging from 1.0 to 18.3 and from −1.8 to 3.5. The mass fractions of these elements determined after an aqua regia extraction varied from 5.4 to 102 mg kg−1 Pb and from 43 to 210 mg kg−1 Zn. These results highlight that a small refuge can show environmental disturbance from low to moderate, with few hotspots with heavily contaminated soils. Environmental monitoring strategy for similar refuges anywhere in Antarctica is recommended.

3.3 Conclusions and Outlook

Despite the occasional human occupation for over half a century, the results of this study permit to conclude that among the investigated elements, the environmental pollution of soils around the Luis Risopatrón refuge varies from low to moderate. However, attention must be paid to the Pb enrichment at the surface soil, which can lead to detrimental changes in the ecosystem. This finding also corroborates the need for the implementation of systematic environmental monitoring and assessment program for the Antarctic refuges. The combined use of both geochemical indices, EF and Igeo, appears to be a suitable and reliable environmental assessment tool for such systematic monitoring.

Future studies focusing on the chemical speciation analyses of the potentially toxic elements determined herein, especially Pb, should be subject to investigation in order to provide detailed information on the real menace of the anomalous levels found in the hotspot areas to the adjacent environment. Additional investigations dealing with the determination of the mobile fraction of the toxic metals can also be advantageous in order to give support to the environmental impact mitigation measures.

The results of the present study can alert researchers and environmental agencies towards the implementation of monitoring programs to Antarctic refuges, taking into account that similar constructive materials are used in these human settlements anywhere in Antarctica, and the strict rules imposed by the Madrid Protocol regarding impact mitigation.