Heavy metal and sulphur emissions to the atmosphere from human activities in Antarctica

doi:10.1016/0004-6981(89)90051-6

Atmospheric Environment (1967)

Volume 23, Issue 8, 1989, Pages 1669-1675

https://doi.org/10.1016/0004-6981(89)90051-6 Get rights and content

Abstract

Investigators have used the temporal record of heavy metal and sulphur concentrations in Antarctic snow to assess the extent of global atmospheric pollution in the Southern Hemisphere. These studies would be compromised by any significant local pollution from within Antarctica itself. Here, we present a comprehensive inventory of heavy metal and S emissions from human activities south of 60°S. These emissions are found to be due mainly to the use of gasoline, diesel fuel and kerosene on stations and in field operations, and to waste burning. We find that for S, Cd, Cu and Zn, emissions from within Antarctica are probably important only in local areas. However, for Pb, these emissions (about 1800 kg Pb a⁻¹), particularly from leaded gasoline and aviation gasoline, could account for a very significant part of the fallout flux to snow over the continent.

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Spatial distribution of multi-elements in moss revealing heavy metal precipitation in London Island, Svalbard, Arctic
2022, Environmental Pollution
Citation Excerpt :
In addition, the environmental impact of coal activities that have long since ceased is hardly reflected in bio-indicators like mosses that reveal contemporary contamination (Liu et al., 2012). Considering that Ny-Ålesund's electricity production is entirely supplied by gasoline generators (Rose et al., 2004; Yang et al., 2020), and that gasoline contains high levels of Pb (Boutron and Wolff, 1989; Zhan et al., 2014), it has been identified as an important source of local pollution (Beine et al., 1996; Yang et al., 2020). In addition, Zhan et al. (2014) reported that frequent maritime traffic also caused significant Pb contamination of the local environment, with a 40-fold increase in aerosols observed when large ships arrived in Ny-Ålesund (Zaborska et al., 2017; Zhan et al., 2014).
The Arctic is a sink for major pollutants in the Northern Hemisphere, and is an ideal place to investigate the migration of concerned metals on the local environment. In this study, 13 elements including Li, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, and Pb were determined in mosses (Dicranum angustum) from London Island in Ny-Ålesund. The results showed that the concentrations of different elements varied greatly at different altitudes, while their distributions in low (0–200 m) and high (200–300 m) altitudes based on cluster analysis were significantly different. Among them, Li, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, and As showed significant positive correlations with elevation. This result may be due to the influence of key environmental factors such as elements transported by the airborne dust carried by winds, and surface runoff from snow meltwater. Multiple receptor models (PCA, PMF, and UNMIX) were employed to discuss the sources of metals in mosses from London Island. Elements that showed positive correlation with altitude were attributed to natural sources, and Zn, Cd, Hg, and Pb, which lacked apparent correlation with elevation, were interpreted as from anthropogenic sources by the models. Among them, Zn, Cd, and Hg were from long-range deposition, while Pb was from mixed industrial sources.
Use of a non-planning driving background change methodology to assess the land-use planning impact on the environment
2020, Environmental Impact Assessment Review
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The quality of the regional environment is generally assessed according to the indicator values reflecting the quality of environmental structure and components (Chen et al., 2014, 2019). Since a regional environment system consists of the environmental elements with complex interaction among some of them, the environmental elements including the atmosphere, water and soil and the landscape, land use and biodiversity reflecting the structure of environmental system are the major considerations in an EQ assessment (Boutron and Wolff, 1989; L. Chen et al., 2014; Kot et al., 2015). Many land use types such as residential land, transportation land, industrial land, and in some cases arable land emit pollutants into the atmosphere, water, and soil, hence degrading the EQ (Chen et al., 2014; Chen et al., 2019).
The implementation of land-use planning (LUP) impacts on the environment and may degrade regional environmental quality due to the changes in land-use patterns. To minimize the environmental impact of non-LUP driven (NPD) land-use background changes (LUBC), we propose an NPD land-use background change (NPD-LUBC) methodology to improve the LUP environmental impact assessment (LUPEA) process. With the application of the state-impact-state (SIS) framework and spatial information technologies including remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS), the methodology was tested on the eastern Chinese city of Lianyungang. The results indicate that (1) our proposed methodology is capable of distinguishing the environmental impact in implementing a target LUP, i.e. a LUP scheme to be assessed, from those driven by NPD-LUBC; (2) the prediction of NPD Land-use pattern simulated through the discrimination of NPD forces provides the basic data to support the LUPEA using our proposed methodology; (3) SO₂, PM₁₀, and COD emitted into the atmosphere and water are the major pollutants considered in the LUPEA of the city; and (4) despite the positive impacts of the comprehensive land-use change under the direction of target LUP, the implementation of LUP would have negative impacts on the regional environment in the entire study area and in individual counties/districts respectively in 2020. Our proposed methodology provides a new and operable way for the areas with data to simulate NPD land-use pattern and predict the individual indicator values for the assessment.
Time course of lead induced proteomic changes in gill of the Antarctic limpet Nacella Concinna (Gastropoda: Patellidae)
2017, Journal of Proteomics
Citation Excerpt :
Moreover, while the deposition of Pb in Antarctic snow has been decreasing in recent decades [20], metal emissions, including Pb, from human activities in Antarctica have the potential to cause environmental contamination in localized areas. For example, the main anthropogenic emissions within Antarctica are related to the burning of fuel for the operation of power plants, motorcycles, trucks, ships and aircrafts [21]. Indeed, the increased levels of Pb concentrations recorded in the proximity of the research stations indicated an anthropogenic origin. [13].
The effect of increasing levels of metals from anthropogenic sources on Antarctic invertebrates is poorly understood. Here we exposed limpets (Nacella concinna) to 0, 0.12 and 0.25 μg L^− 1 lead for 12, 24, 48 and 168 h. We subsequently quantified the changes in protein abundance from gill, using 2D gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. We identified several antioxidant proteins, including the metal binding Mn-superoxide dismutase and ferritin, increasing abundances early on. Chaperones involved in the redox-dependent maturation of proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) showed higher abundance with lead at 48 h. Lead also increased the abundance of Zn-binding carbonic anhydrase at 12 h, suggesting a challenge to acid-base balance. Metabolic proteins increased abundance at 168 h, suggesting a greater ATP demand during prolonged exposure. Changes in abundance of the small G-protein cdc42, a signaling protein modifying cytoskeleton, increased early and subsequently reversed during prolonged exposure, possibly leading to the modification of thick filament structure and function. We hypothesize that the replacement of metals initially affected antioxidant proteins and increased the production of reactive oxygen species. This disrupted the redox-sensitive maturation of proteins in the ER and caused increased ATP demand later on, accompanied by changes in cytoskeleton.
Proteomic analysis of gill tissue in Antarctic limpets exposed to different concentrations of lead (Pb) over a 168 h time period showed that proteomic changes vary with time. These changes included an increase in the demand of scavenging reactive oxygen species, acid-base balance and a challenge to protein homeostasis in the endoplasmic reticulum early on and subsequently an increase in energy metabolism, cellular signaling, and cytoskeletal modifications. Based on this time course, we hypothesize that the main mode of action of lead is a replacement of metal-cofactors of key enzymes involved in the scavenging of reactive oxygen species and the regulation of acid-base balance.
Environmental contamination in Antarctic ecosystems
2008, Science of the Total Environment
Although the remote continent of Antarctica is perceived as the symbol of the last great wilderness, the human presence in the Southern Ocean and the continent began in the early 1900s for hunting, fishing and exploration, and many invasive plant and animal species have been deliberately introduced in several sub-Antarctic islands. Over the last 50 years, the development of research and tourism have locally affected terrestrial and marine coastal ecosystems through fuel combustion (for transportation and energy production), accidental oil spills, waste incineration and sewage. Although natural “barriers” such as oceanic and atmospheric circulation protect Antarctica from lower latitude water and air masses, available data on concentrations of metals, pesticides and other persistent pollutants in air, snow, mosses, lichens and marine organisms show that most persistent contaminants in the Antarctic environment are transported from other continents in the Southern Hemisphere. At present, levels of most contaminants in Antarctic organisms are lower than those in related species from other remote regions, except for the natural accumulation of Cd and Hg in several marine organisms and especially in albatrosses and petrels. The concentrations of organic pollutants in the eggs of an opportunistic top predator such as the south polar skua are close to those that may cause adverse health effects.
Population growth and industrial development in several countries of the Southern Hemisphere are changing the global pattern of persistent anthropogenic contaminants and new classes of chemicals have already been detected in the Antarctic environment. Although the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty provides strict guidelines for the protection of the Antarctic environment and establishes obligations for all human activity in the continent and the Southern Ocean, global warming, population growth and industrial development in countries of the Southern Hemisphere will likely increase the impact of anthropogenic contaminants on Antarctic ecosystems.
Lead and mercury in aerosol particles collected over the South Pole during ISCAT-2000
2004, Atmospheric Environment
Citation Excerpt :
As noted by Boyle et al. (1994), however, the inherent “noisiness” of the atmosphere/ocean system has made it difficult to quantify decadal-scale trends in Pb, and therefore, one must be cautious about interpreting the magnitude of the differences observed between ISCAT 2000 Pb concentrations versus those reported earlier. Furthermore, Boutron and Wolff (1989) have suggested that local pollution from human activities may have increased Pb concentrations over Antarctica. If so, the apparent decrease now seen in aerosol Pb concentrations at SP may be due in part to changes in Pb emissions from local pollution sources.
As part of the ISCAT-2000 field study, aerosol particle samples were collected over ∼24 hr intervals at the South Pole (SP), and they were analyzed for trace elements and for selected ions important for Antarctic sulfur and nitrogen chemistry. This paper focuses on lead and mercury while a companion paper in this issue presents the results of the aerosol ion studies. The results showed that most trace metals were below their limits of detection. Two that were not were Pb and Hg. Lead was only quantified in 15 of 53 samples, and based on those data, the mean concentration of Pb would be <0.032 ng m⁻³. This is substantially lower than the aerosol Pb concentrations reported for the SP in the early to mid-1970s, suggesting that the decrease may be related to controls on pollution emissions; however, contamination of the earlier samples also would explain the difference. The arithmetic mean concentration of filterable Hg was 0.04 ng m⁻³; thus approaching levels reported for the Arctic. In contrast to the Arctic, however, filterable Hg at the SP was not associated with low ozone mixing ratios; rather the reactions driving the cycling of Hg at the SP appear to involve HO_x radicals, reactive nitrogen, and more than likely other substances through complex and not fully understood pathways.
Aerosol composition and its sources at the King Sejong Station, Antarctic peninsula
2004, Atmospheric Environment
The annual cycles of major metals and ions in suspended particulate matters (SPM) have been investigated at a costal site of the Antarctic Peninsula in order to elucidate temporal variations as well as major source processes responsible for their formation. The measurements had been performed from January 2000 to December 2001 at the Korean Antarctic research station, ‘King Sejong’ (62°13′ S, 58°47′ W). The observed time series of important aerosol components showed clear seasonal variation patterns, while the mean elemental concentrations (e.g., 1875 (Al), 10.3 (Ba), 0.3 (Bi), 1.3 (Cd), 1.7 pg m⁻³ (Co)) were generally compatible with those reported previously. The presence of high EF values with respect to both mean crustal and seawater composition (such as Bi, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, V, and Zn), however, suggests a possibly important role of anthropogenic processes in this remote site. In contrast, the concentrations of ionic species were not clearly distinguishable from those of other Antarctic sites; but the consideration of ionic mass balance between cations and anions pointed out the uniqueness of their source/sink processes in the study area. The major source processes of those aerosol components were also investigated using a series of statistical analyses. The overall results of our study indicated the dominance of several processes (or sources) such as sea-salt emission, secondary aerosol formation, and anthropogenic pollution from both local and distant sources.

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Heavy metal and sulphur emissions to the atmosphere from human activities in Antarctica

Abstract

Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta

Atmospheric Environment

Distribution of trace metals in petroleum and its heavy refinery products

J. Chem. Tech. Biotechnol.

Changes in copper, zinc and cadmium concentration in Antarctic ice during the past 40,000 years

Nature

Le plomb dans l'atmosphère

La Recherche

Atmospheric lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic in Antarctica and Greenland recent snow and ancient ice

Lead concentration changes in Antarctic ice during the Wisconsin/Holocene transition

Nature

Relative levels of natural and anthropogenic lead in recent Antarctic snow

J. geophys. Res.

Atmospheric lead in Antarctic ice during the last climatic cycle

Ann. Glaciol.

Source-receptor reconciliation of routine air monitoring data for trace metals: an emission inventory assisted approach

Envir. Sci. Technol.

Trace elements in simultaneously sampled aerosol and snow from the Antarctic Peninsula

Ann. Glaciol.

Trace elements in Antarctic air and snowfall

Ann. Glacioal.

Antarctica: Glaciological and Geophysical Folio

Trace substances in the Antarctic atmosphere