trace metal in Antarctic ecosystems, larsemann Hills, East Antarctica

Both impacted and non-impacted sites were included in the study. Four different leaching solutions (1 M MgCl2, 1M CH3COONH4, 1M NH4NO3, and 0.3 N HCl) were tested on the fine fraction (<63 lm) of the sediments to extract the mobile fraction of trace metals derived from human impact and from weathering of basement lithologies.

Results of these tests indicate that dilute HCl partly dissolves primary minerals present in the sediment, thus leading to an overestimate of the mobile trace metal fraction. Concentrations of trace metals released using the other 3 procedures indicate negligible levels of anthropogenic contribution to the trace metal budget. Data derived from this study and a thorough characterization of the site allowed the authors to define natural baseline levels of trace metals in sediments, mosses and algae, and their spatial variability across the area.