2023-05-24 11:54:35
A team of Spanish scientists evaluates the human influence on the chemical contamination of the area
A team of Spanish scientists has located nicotine y antidepressants among the contaminants present in the waters of Antarctica, a study that reveals the impact of human activity in the interior and on the coast of this continent that requires measures to prevent its dispersion.
The work, which is published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, has evaluated the human influence on chemical contamination of the waters of the northern region of the Antarctic Peninsula.
The study, in which the University of Granada and the Autonomous University of Madrid, the Institute for Environmental Diagnosis and Water Studies (IDAEA-CSIC) and the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (CN-IGME CSIC) have participated, has quantified that are concerned by their presence both in fresh waters and in coastal marine waters.
Las samples analyzed They come from streams, lagoons, springs and even coastal marine water, and areas affected by human activities such as bases and camps have been sampled.
Los analysis of organic microcontaminants Anthropogenics included seven pharmaceuticals, such as ibuprofen, antibiotics, and antidepressants, but also nicotine and caffeine, and an industrial anticorrosive product tolitriazole.
The IDAEA researcher and person in charge of the analysis of these contaminants, Miren López de Alda, has remarked that nicotine and citalopram had not been studied before in Antarctica, while the rest of the substances were included because they had already been detected before.
According to IGME head scientist Luis Moreno Merino, the study confirms that human activities carried out in Antarctica are responsible for the dispersion of this type of contaminant in its waters.
Regarding the toxicity of the substances, those that arouse the greatest concern in this region are citalopram, clarithromycin, nicotine, venlafaxine and hydrochlorothiazide, according to researcher Ramón y Cajal at the University of Granada and first author of the article, Cristina Shutter.
The work shows that chemical contamination of anthropic origin is dispersed and reaches areas where scientific activity is not carried out and even less tourism, for which reason the team has recommended continuing surveillance, especially in regions with the highest concentration of bases, ships and visitors.
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