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Aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs and PAHs) were investigated in soil and meltwater stream sediments near the Uruguayan Artigas Research Station (BCAA). Gas chromatography with flame ionization detection and gas chromatography mass spectrometry were used to determine the composition of AHs and PAHs, respectively. Total AH concentrations were in the range 0.57–2333 µg g-1, while total PAH concentrations were in the range 1.36–51 650 ng g-1. Based on AH and PAH concentrations, sites in the service area and next to the boat storeroom are highly contaminated, while the other sites sampled have moderate to low contamination levels or are not impacted. High unresolved complex mixture concentrations indicate the occurrence of previous petrogenic contamination, but the dominance of low molecular weight and alkyl PAHs indicate recent oil introductions. Anthropogenic hydrocarbons dominate and are related to diesel fuel and organic residue combustion, fuel storage and boat traffic. Petrogenic contamination is relatively high, as at other Antarctic stations, but is restricted to the boat storeroom and the service area where the incinerator, the generator room and fuel tanks are located. Improvements made in fuel management procedures and the dismantling of the old fuel tanks will reduce the risk of diesel leaks and their impact on the environment near the BCAA. This study provides reference information for future environmental monitoring.

Organochlorine contaminants (OCs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were investigated in the eggs of five bird species from the South Shetland Islands. Additionally, OCs and PBDEs were also analysed in embryos of two species. The concentration ranges in eggs were (ng g-1wet weight) 2.11 to 541 for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), p,p’-DDE and 1.50 to 603 for mirex. The PCBs were predominant in the eggs ofMacronectes giganteus,Catharacta antarcticaandLarus dominicanus, whereas hexachlorobenzene (HCB) was the major compound found in the eggs ofPygoscelis antarcticusandSterna vittata. The PBDE congeners were detected only in the eggs ofC. antarctica(PBDE 47 and 153) andS. vittata(PBDE 47). There were differences in OC concentrations of up to two orders of magnitude betweenM. giganteusembryos which were related to the development stage and OC concentrations in the respective eggs. Trophic ecology and post-breeding dispersal exerted an influence on contaminant patterns. Comparisons with data from the literature indicate an increase in the concentrations of some OCs over recent years.

Admiralty Bay on the King George Island hosts the Brazilian, Polish and Peruvian research stations as well as the American and Ecuadorian field stations. Human activities in this region require the use of fossil fuels as an energy source, thereby placing the region at risk of hydrocarbon contamination. Hydrocarbon monitoring was conducted on water and sediment samples from the bay over 15 years. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used for the analysis of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in seawater samples and gas chromatography with flame ionization and/or mass spectrometric detection was used to analyse individual n-alkanes and PAHs in sediment samples. The results revealed that most sites contaminated by these compounds are around the Brazilian and Polish research stations due to the intense human activities, mainly during the summer. Moreover, the sediments revealed the presence of hydrocarbons from different sources, suggesting a mixture of the direct input of oil or derivatives and derived from hydrocarbon combustion. A decrease in PAH concentrations occurred following improvement of the sewage treatment facilities at the Brazilian research station, indicating that the contribution from human waste may be significant.

Aliphatic (AHs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations were measured in marine surface sediments around the Brazilian station in Admiralty Bay, during the summers of 1997/98 and 1999/2000 using GC-FID and GC-MS. Total aliphatic hydrocarbons ranged from 0.15 to 13.28 μg·g−1 (dry weight) while n-alkanes varied between 0.10 and 9.63 μg·g−1. The highest concentrations were obtained at the sewage outfall, with decreasing levels away from the outfall. The distribution of n-alkanes showed significant quantities of long chain n-alkanes (n-C22 to n-C34) at sites near the Brazilian station that may be attributed to the station activities. A short chain n-alkanes sequence (n-C12 to n-C21) associated with diesel fuel arctic (DFA) was present in all the samples. Total PAHs varied from 9.45 to 270.5 ng·g−1. The higher PAHs level and the presence of an unresolved complex mixture only in sediment from the sewage outfall is an indication of oil contamination at this location. A slight increase in PAHs near the Brazilian station since 1993 may be attributed to an increase in the number of staff over recent years. In general, the concentration of AHs and PAHs was similar to that found in other Antarctic areas.