Tag / Global Change
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Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) levels in air and surface sea waters along the Antarctic Peninsula
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are widespread worldwide, even reaching polar regions. Among POPs, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and their metabolites have been reported scarcely in the Antarctic environment. Here we report the levels of p,p′-DDT, o,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDE, and o,p′-DDE in air and water samples collected during austral summer 2009. The levels found ranged from 0.25 to 4.26 pg m−3 in the atmospheric samples while…
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Occurrence and diffusive air-seawater exchanges of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Fildes Bay, King George Island, Antarctica
We report the levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in seawater and air, and the air-sea dynamics through diffusive exchange analysis in Fildes Bay, King George Island, Antarctica, between November 2019 and January 30, 2020. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) was the most abundant compound in both air and seawater with concentrations around 39 ± 2.1 pg m−3 and 3.2 ± 2.4 pg L−1 respectively. The most abundant PCB congener…
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Levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the Antarctic atmosphere over time (1980 to 2021) and estimation of their atmospheric half-lives
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are synthetic compounds that were intentionally produced in large quantities and have been distributed in the global environment, originating a threat due to their persistence, bioaccumulative potential, and toxicity. POPs reach the Antarctic continent through long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT). In these areas, low temperatures play a significant role in the environmental fate…
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Role of Microbes in the degradation of organic semivolatile compounds in polar ecosystems: A review
The Arctic and the Antarctic Continent correspond to two eco-regions with extreme climatic conditions. These regions are exposed to the presence of contaminants resulting from human activity (local and global), which, in turn, represent a challenge for life forms in these environments. Anthropogenic pollution by semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in polar ecosystems has been documented since the…
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Upper thermal limits and risk of mortality of coastal Antarctic ectotherms
Antarctic marine animals face one of the most extreme thermal environments, characterized by a stable and narrow range of low seawater temperatures. At the same time, the Antarctic marine ecosystems are threatened by accelerated global warming. Determining the upper thermal limits (CTmax) is crucial to project the persistence and distribution areas of the Antarctic marine…
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Monitoring persistent organic chemicals in Antarctica in support of global chemical policy: a horizon scan of priority actions and challenges
Global production and emission of chemicals exceeds societal capacities for assessment and monitoring. This situation calls for improved chemical regulatory policy frameworks and increased support for expedited decision making within existing frameworks. The polar regions of the Earth represent unique sentinel areas for the study of global chemical behaviour, and data arising from these areas…
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Continuous bioreactors enable high-level bioremediation of diesel-contaminated seawater at low and mesophilic temperatures using Antarctic bacterial consortia: Pollutant analysis and microbial community composition
In 2020, more than 21,000 tons of diesel oil were released accidently into the environment with most of it contaminating water bodies. There is an urgent need for sustainable technologies to clean up rivers and oceans to protect wildlife and human health. One solution is harnessing the power of bacterial consortia; however isolated microbes from different environments…
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Marine debris and associated organic pollutants in surface waters of Chiloé in the Northern Chilean Patagonia (42°–44°S)
We report the occurrence of plastics and associated persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in surface waters from Northern Chilean Patagonia. A total of 200 particles were found during the conducted survey. The highest number of particles found was 0.6 item m−3. We found that 53 % of the collected particles corresponded to plastic, with an average of 0.19 ± 0.18 item m−3. Microplastics (68 %) were the dominant…
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Fondos // U Mayor es institución asociada de dos proyectos adjudicados en Concurso Anillos de Investigación en Ciencia y Tecnología
Los investigadores del Centro de Nanotecnología Aplicada, Gabriel Abarca y César Morales y Sebastián Abades, del Centro GEMA, Genómica, Ecología y Medioambiente, son parte de los trabajos reconocidos por Conicyt entre 200 postulantes. Apoyar proyectos de investigación que se sustenten en un trabajo colaborativo, amplio y multidisciplinario es el objetivo del Concurso Anillos de Investigación en…