Persistent organic pollution in Antarctic marine biota: Level, transport and risk assessment

Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao. 2021 Feb;32(2):750-762. doi: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.202102.031.

Abstract

Although the Antarctic is considered as a pristine region away from human pollution, traditional and emerging persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), have been constantly detected in the Antarctic, which received global concerns. POPs are persistent and toxic, prone to accumulate in organisms and further pose environmental risks. In order to understand their biogeochemical processes as well as impacts on organisms in the Antarctic, we summarized the research status of POPs in different trophic levels in the Antarctic marine, combining their living habits. We also proposed the future research directions of POPs in the vulnerable Antarctic ecosystem. Researches showed that the Antar-ctic was the region under the lowest pollution level all over the world. However, the types of POPs in Antarctic marine organisms were increasing in the past decades, meaning the area was affected increasingly by the activities inside and/or outside of this area. Scattered research data and different techniques hamper red the elucidation about the mechanism of POPs transport along the food chain. It is urgent to establish long-term monitoring and assessment program on POPs dynamics of Antarctic marine ecosystem.

尽管南极被认为是远离人类污染的净土,但近年来不断发现有机氯农药、多氯联苯、多溴联苯醚和全/多氟化合物等传统和“新型”持久性有机污染物(POPs)存在于南极的非生物及生物环境中,由此引发了全球各国对南极生态系统的不断关注。POPs性质稳定,能够久存于环境中,并具有毒性,易富集于生物体内并产生一定的健康风险。为了解南极和南大洋持久性有机污染物的生物地球化学过程及其对生物种群和生态系统产生的影响,本文以南大洋典型食物链为主线并结合南极海洋生物生活习性,综述了近年来国内外学者对南极海洋食物链不同营养级生物体内POPs的研究现状,并对南极海洋生态系统POPs研究前沿和热点提出了展望。研究显示,南极地区是世界上污染程度最低的地区,但过去几十年有关南极海洋生物中POPs的类型不断增加,表明该地区受到地区内/外活动的影响日益增加。零散的研究数据以及各异的技术方法使得目前仍无法阐析POPs沿食物链传递的机制。有关南极海洋生态系统POPs动态的长期监测与评估计划亟待建立。.

Keywords: POPs; Southern Ocean; bioaccumulation; marine life; risk assessment.

MeSH terms

  • Antarctic Regions
  • Biota
  • Ecosystem
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Humans
  • Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated* / analysis
  • Pesticides* / analysis
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

  • Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated
  • Pesticides
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls