US EPA

3113491 

Journal Article 

Baseline mercury and zinc concentrations in terrestrial and coastal organisms of Admiralty Bay, Antarctica 

dos Santos, IR; Silva, EV; Schaefer, C; Sella, SM; Silva, CA; Gomes, V; Passos, MJDCR; Ngan, PV 

2006 

Yes 

Environmental Pollution
ISSN: 0269-7491
EISSN: 1873-6424 

Elsevier 

OXFORD 

140 

2 

304-311 

English 

16168539 

10.1016/j.envpol.2005.07.007 

WOS:000235133700012 

This paper provides the first quantitative information on mercury in soil, coastal sediment, and in characteristic organisms of terrestrial and shallow coastal marine ecosystems from Admiralty Bay (King George Island, Antarctica). As expected for a remote area, mercury content is low in abiotic components of the ecosystem, and probably similar to natural levels. Mercury also occurs in very low concentrations in the vegetation, invertebrates and fish. These low mercury levels may be due to sulphide formation in reducing sediments of this environment. Higher concentrations of mercury occurred in bird feathers and mammal hair, indicating biomagnification. This was not found for Zinc. These results may be useful as a reference background to detect future inputs of trace elements in this remote area of the earth. Terrestrial vegetation and bird feathers are suggested as target regional biomonitors. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 

biomagnification; bioaccumulation; baseline studies; Antarctic; Ferraz Station 

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION