Antarctic Science

Table of Contents - 1991 - Volume 3, Issue 03  


Review

Hydrocarbons in the Antarctic marine environment

G.C. Cripps a1 and J. Priddle a1
a1 British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, U.K.

Article author query
cripps g   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
priddle j   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 

Abstract

The Antarctic marine ecosystem contains low concentrations of a range of hydrocarbons, overwhelmingly biogenic in origin. The low natural levels of hydrocarbons and the small amount of local human activity make the Antarctic marine ecosystem suitable as a yardstick against which future global pollution by hydrocarbons can be assessed. At present, contamination is very low and difficult to resolve against the background. Local pollution is restricted to a very few events. A systematic programme with a clear definition of the natural background is proposed to monitor both global and local pollution.

(Received January 16 1991)
(Accepted May 30 1991)


Key Words: aliphatic; Antarctica; ecosystem; environment; hydrocarbon; pollution; polyaromatic.

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