title: Presence of endocrine disruptors in freshwater in the northern Antarctic Peninsula region.
abstract: The increasing human presence in Antarctica and the waste it generates is causing an impact on the environment at local and border scale. The main sources of anthropic pollution have a mainly local effect, and include the burning of fossil fuels, waste incineration, accidental spillage and wastewater effluents, even when treated. The aim of this work is to determine the presence and origin of 30 substances of anthropogenic origin considered to be, or suspected of being, endocrine disruptors in the continental waters of the Antarctic Peninsula region. We also studied a group of toxic metals, metalloids and other elements with possible endocrine activity. Ten water samples were analyzed from a wide range of sources, including streams, ponds, glacier drain, and an urban wastewater discharge into the sea. Surprisingly, the concentrations detected are generally similar to those found in other studies on continental waters in other parts of the world. The highest concentrations of micropollutants found correspond to the group of organophosphate flame retardants (19.60-9209ngL(-1)) and alkylphenols (1.14-7225ngL(-1)); and among toxic elements the presence of aluminum (a possible hormonal modifier) (1.7-127µgL(-1)) is significant. The concentrations detected are very low and insufficient to cause acute or subacute toxicity in aquatic organisms. However, little is known as yet of the potential sublethal and chronic effects of this type of pollutants and their capacity for bioaccumulation. These results point to the need for an ongoing system of environmental monitoring of these substances in Antarctic continental waters, and the advisability of regulating at least the most environmentally hazardous of these in the Antarctic legislation.
authors.affiliation: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Health Research Group (Toxamb), Rey Juan Carlos University, Avda. Atenas s/n, E-28922 Alcorcón, (Madrid), Spain. Electronic address: segn82@gmail.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.affiliation: Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME), C/ Ríos Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moreno-Merino
authors.affiliation: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Health Research Group (Toxamb), Rey Juan Carlos University, Avda. Atenas s/n, E-28922 Alcorcón, (Madrid), Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matellanes
authors.affiliation: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Health Research Group (Toxamb), Rey Juan Carlos University, Avda. Atenas s/n, E-28922 Alcorcón, (Madrid), Spain; Biology and Geology Department, ESCET, Rey Juan Carlos University, Avda Tulipán s/n, Mostoles, (Madrid), Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Catalá
authors.affiliation: Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), C/Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gorga
authors.affiliation: Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Parc Científic i Tecnològic de la Universitat de Girona, Edifici H2O, Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrovic
authors.affiliation: Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), C/Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López de Alda
authors.affiliation: Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), C/Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Parc Científic i Tecnològic de la Universitat de Girona, Edifici H2O, Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barceló
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Water, Empalme J. Newbery km 1,620, Ezeiza, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME), C/ Ríos Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Durán
authors.affiliation: Department of Geology and Geochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Autonomous University of Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Health Research Group (Toxamb), Rey Juan Carlos University, Avda. Atenas s/n, E-28922 Alcorcón, (Madrid), Spain; Department of Preventive Medicine, Public Health, Inmunology and Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciencies, Rey Juan Carlos University, Avda. Atenas s/n, E-28922 Alcorcón, (Madrid), Spain. Electronic address: yolanda.valcarcel@urjc.es.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Valcárcel
mesh_terms: D000864:Antarctic Regions; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Antarctica; Anthropogenic pollution; Continental water; Emerging contaminants; Environmental contamination; Micropollution