Abstract:

As a result of global distillation or the grasshopper effect, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can shift from low to high latitudes, and they have been detected in the polar regions. In this study, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to analyze 16 PAHs in the top soil of 20 sites on Fildes Peninsula in Antarctica. At the 20 sites, total concentration of the 16 PAHs ranged from 2.37 to 27.31 ng·g⁻¹ (dw), with an average of 9.82 ng·g⁻¹ (dw). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with two and three rings were dominant, and have been transported from petroleum and petroleum combustion sources over long distances to the study area through the atmosphere. The ecological risk assessment shows that while the study area is at low risk, attention needs to be paid to the potential environmental toxicity. Studies and assessments of PAH distribution, sources, and ecological risks are important and can provide the scientific basis for pollution control and environmental protection for Fildes Peninsula and other areas of Antarctica.