PAHs in soil and surface marine sediment near Jubany station (Antarctica)

The authors observed a significant decrease in the soil content in summer 2005 (range 12 ±1 - 153±22 ng g-1) compared to summer 2004 35 (range 162±15 - 1182±113 ng g-1) contemporaneously was observed the accumulation in the marine sediment of the area. The PAH concentrations in surface sediment collected nearby the station increased drastically in 2005 (range: 36±3 - 1908±114 ng g-1) compared to 2004 (range: 28±3 - 312±24 ng g-1).

Precipitation regime and water run off suggest that an important wash out of soil-PAHs occurred during the interval time between samplings. Results showed that the present PAH contamination level of Jubany Station was relatively low compared to other reported cases in Antarctica but also suggests that an increase in rain and in thawing processes caused by the global warming could result in an important soil associated PAH mobilization with unpredictable consequences.