Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a group of toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals including endocrine disrupting compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and flame retardants such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The Antarctic continent, despite its remoteness and absence of point sources, is vulnerable to contamination by POPs, due to the ability of these chemicals to undergo long range atmospheric transport (LRAT) and condense in cold climates. This review gives an overview of the most important processes that determine transport and fate of POPs in Antarctica and draws together published scientific literature on levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in air, sea-water, sea/ice, sediments, snow, ice and plankton in Antarctica. Antarctic air data indicate a marked decline in some OCPs over the last three decades. Various studies evidenced that the presence of snow and ice, which efficiently scavenge POPs, strongly influence the behaviour and transfer of OCPs between the atmosphere and ocean surface waters where phytoplankton blooms. Sediment, soil, snow and ice act as recorders of POP levels over the years. The snow-pack also provides an important reservoir for atmospheric OCPs, which are released with melting during the summer season. Recent studies have also focused attention on the role on both ice algae and phytoplankton in providing the first step in pollutant transport up the food chain.
Levels and trends of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in Antarctica / A. Cincinelli; R.M. Dickhut. - STAMPA. - (2010), pp. 143-164.
Levels and trends of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in Antarctica
CINCINELLI, ALESSANDRA;
2010
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a group of toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals including endocrine disrupting compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and flame retardants such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The Antarctic continent, despite its remoteness and absence of point sources, is vulnerable to contamination by POPs, due to the ability of these chemicals to undergo long range atmospheric transport (LRAT) and condense in cold climates. This review gives an overview of the most important processes that determine transport and fate of POPs in Antarctica and draws together published scientific literature on levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in air, sea-water, sea/ice, sediments, snow, ice and plankton in Antarctica. Antarctic air data indicate a marked decline in some OCPs over the last three decades. Various studies evidenced that the presence of snow and ice, which efficiently scavenge POPs, strongly influence the behaviour and transfer of OCPs between the atmosphere and ocean surface waters where phytoplankton blooms. Sediment, soil, snow and ice act as recorders of POP levels over the years. The snow-pack also provides an important reservoir for atmospheric OCPs, which are released with melting during the summer season. Recent studies have also focused attention on the role on both ice algae and phytoplankton in providing the first step in pollutant transport up the food chain.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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