title: Molecular characterisation of anthropogenic sources of sedimentary organic matter from Potter Cove, King George Island, Antarctica.
abstract: Although relatively recent, human activities in Antarctica, such as growing tourism, fishery activities, and scientific operations, have affected some areas of this continent. These activities eventually release pollutants, such as petroleum and its derivatives and sewage, into this environment. Located on King George Island (25 de Mayo Island), Potter Cove (62°14'S, 58°39'W) is home to the Argentine Carlini research station. To evaluate the anthropogenic impacts surrounding Potter Cove, sediment samples were collected and analysed for sewage and fuel introduction via the determination of organic markers. The highest concentrations were found in the central portion of the fjords, where fine sediments are deposited and the accumulation of organic molecules is favoured. Aliphatic hydrocarbons were mainly derived from biogenic sources, evidenced by the predominance of odd short-chain n-alkanes. Anthropogenic impacts were evidenced primarily by the presence of PAHs, which were predominantly related to petrogenic sources, such as vessel and boat traffic. Sewage marker concentrations were much lower than those found in other Antarctic regions. These results indicate that oil hydrocarbons and sewage inputs to Potter Cove may be considered low or only slightly influential.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos do Mar da Universidade Federal do Paraná, P.O. Box 61, 83255-976 Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sistemas Costeiros e Oceânicos (PGSISCO) da Universidade Federal do Paraná, P.O. Box 61, 83255-976 Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: anadauner@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana Lúcia L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Dauner
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Junín 956, C1113AAD Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto Antártico Argentino, Dirección Nacional del Antártico, Balcarce 290, C1064AAF Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Edgardo A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Junín 956, C1113AAD Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto Antártico Argentino, Dirección Nacional del Antártico, Balcarce 290, C1064AAF Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Walter P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: MacCormack
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos do Mar da Universidade Federal do Paraná, P.O. Box 61, 83255-976 Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: ccmart@ufpr.br.
authors.forename: César C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D000864:Antarctic Regions; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D063366:Estuaries; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Antarctica; Carlini station; Coprostanol; PAHs; Petroleum hydrocarbons; Sewage