Bioaccumulation of PCBs and OCPs in Antarctic phytoplankton and zooplankton: Insights into bioconcentration and biomagnification in Fildes Bay.

This study was conducted at Fildes Bay, King George Island, Antarctica, from November 30th, 2019, to January 30th, 2020. We determined the concentrations of Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in phytoplankton, and zooplankton. The most abundant compounds found were hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in phytoplankton and γ-HCH in zooplankton.

Occurrence of Current-Use Pesticides in Sediment Cores from Lakes and Peatlands in Pristine Mountain Areas of Brazilian National Parks.

This study assessed the occurrence of current-use pesticides in sediment cores from six lakes and peatlands in high-altitude (1,952-2,374 meters) pristine areas within two southeastern Brazilian National Parks: Itatiaia National Park (IT-NP) and Serra dos Órgãos National Park (SO-NP). We sampled three sediment cores from lakes at IT-NP and three from peatlands at SO-NP, totaling 60 subsamples. Among the 38 current-use pesticides assessed, 17 were found in at least one sample, with 14 - including herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and acaricides - identified in both parks.

Distribution and bioconcentration of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in soils and vascular plant Colobanthus quitensis from Sub-Antarctic and Antarctic regions.

Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) are widely distributed across the globe, including polar regions. This study investigates the distribution and bioconcentration of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils and Colobanthus quitensis, while also estimating potential emission sources. Results indicated high concentrations of PAHs in soils and plants from the Sub-Antarctic region, while OCPs and PCBs were more prevalent in the Antarctic region, with higher contaminant concentrations found in soils than in plant tissues.