Heavy metal concentrations in the benthic trophic web of Martel Inlet, Admiralty Bay (King George Island, Antarctica)

Abstract

Knowledge of the metals behaviour in the Antarctic environment is important for conserving this continent, which can be impacted by local activities, such as research stations and by atmospheric and oceanic transport over long distances. As, Cd Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn levels and the nitrogen isotope ratio were investigated using benthic samples from Martel Inlet, Admiralty Bay. The results showed the biodilution of As and a tendency of increasing concentrations of Cd and Cu along the trophic web. Biomagnification was verified only for Zn, and this was attributed to its essentiality to the biota, and to the acting of metallothioneins proteins that participate in homeostasis, store and detoxify metals. These results can be used as baseline levels for the biota in the Antarctic region and assist the monitoring and management work developed by the Brazilian INCT-APA (National Institute of Science and Technology for Environmental Research Antarctic).

Keywords: Biomagnification; Mercury; Nitrogen isotopes; Trace elements.