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Biogeochemical cycling of Pb in the coastal marine environment at Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2003

S. DALLA RIVA ,
M.L. ABELMOSCHI ,
M. CHIANTORE ,
M. GROTTI ,
E. MAGI  and
F. SOGGIA
S. DALLA RIVA
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso 31, 16146 Genova, Italy
M.L. ABELMOSCHI
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso 31, 16146 Genova, Italy
M. CHIANTORE
Affiliation:
Dipteris, University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26,16132 Genova, Italy
M. GROTTI
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso 31, 16146 Genova, Italy
E. MAGI
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso 31, 16146 Genova, Italy
F. SOGGIA
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso 31, 16146 Genova, Italy
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Abstract

The biogeochemical cycle of lead in the marine coastal environment of Terra Nova Bay has been investigated by determining the lead concentration in a large number of matrices: marine sediments, pack ice, snow, seawater, marine microlayer, aerosol and eight species of marine organisms (the bivalve molluscs Adamussium colbecki and Laternula elliptica, the seastar Odontaster validus, the sea urchin Sterechinus neumayeri, the fish Trematomus bernacchii, the seaweeds Iridaea cordata and Phyllophora antarctica, and the nemertine worm Parborlasia corrugatus). The study of solid speciation of sediment showed that the site is not influenced by human activity and is hence suitable to examine natural processes. The concentration values found in the suspended paniculate matter (SPM) of pack ice core, aerosol, marine microlayer and seawater as well as the particulate morphology, investigated by SEM, seem to support the hypothesis that particulate lead is transferred from the atmosphere to the water column through three different mechanisms: (i) release of SPM from the pack ice during its melting, (ii) input from the continental land through wet deposition, (iii) transport by aerosol and marine microlayer. Concentration data both in the whole organism and in some target organs indicated two suitable biomonitor organisms: the bivalva Laternula elliptica (particularly its digestive gland) and the fish Trematomus bernacchii (particularly its bones).

Keywords

AntarcticaAntarctic Environmental Specimen Bankbiomonitorslead
Type
Research Article
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 15 , Issue 4 , December 2003 , pp. 425 - 432
Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 2003

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