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Alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in marine surficial sediment near Antarctic stations at Fildes Peninsula, King George Island

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2011

Margarita Préndez*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Química Orgánica y Fisicoquímica, Laboratorio de Química de la Atmósfera, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Sergio Livingston 1007, Independencia, Santiago, Chile
Carolina Barra
Affiliation:
Departamento de Química Orgánica y Fisicoquímica, Laboratorio de Química de la Atmósfera, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Sergio Livingston 1007, Independencia, Santiago, Chile
Carla Toledo
Affiliation:
Departamento de Química Inorgánica y Analítica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Sergio Livingston 1007, Independencia, Santiago, Chile
Pablo Richter
Affiliation:
Departamento de Química Inorgánica y Analítica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Sergio Livingston 1007, Independencia, Santiago, Chile

Abstract

Alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were quantified in samples of coastal sediments along Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, during the summers of 2005 and 2007. Quantification was done by using GC-MS and applying the EPA 3550B method. Individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) concentrations were below 14.4 ng g-1 dry wt in 2005 and below 88.7 ng g-1 dry wt in 2007. Alkanes concentrations were higher than those of PAHs and ranged from 8 to 2236 ng g-1 dry wt in 2005 and from 53 to 745 ng g-1 dry wt in 2007. Results of total PAHs and alkanes were integrated along with base administrative and geographic maps in a GIS environment to determine the geographic extent of hydrocarbons detected. The largest concentrations were found in areas near research stations where total n-alkanes suggest petrogenic sources and where some diagnostic ratios suggest the presence of some PAHs produced by pyrogenic processes. Even if concentrations of hydrocarbons are low, they seem to be a result of increases in scientific activities, in the activities of the stable population, in the number of tourists, or a combination of theses factors.

Type
Biological Sciences
Copyright
Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2011

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