Drinking water safety evaluation in the selected sub-Saharan African countries: A case study of Madagascar, Uganda and Rwanda.

In the Sub-Saharan region of Africa, access to safe drinking water remains limited in many countries. This study provides an overview of the quality of surface water and groundwater in rural and peri-urban areas of Madagascar, Uganda, and Rwanda. Selected physico-chemical parameters, inorganic species (including inorganic ions), and organic pollution indicators, such as total organic carbon, non-ionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, anionic surfactants, sum of phenolic compounds and formaldehyde, were analysed. Principal component analysis was applied to assess the variability of the water quality and identify regional dependencies. The inorganic ion composition in the majority of the studied samples meets WHO and EU requirements for drinking water intended for human consumption and poses no human health risk. However, an individual non-cancer-causing health index for nitrates and the values of Water Quality Index show a possible threat of ingesting the studied drinking water. The presence of surfactants (0.1-0.65 mgL-1), phenolic compounds (0.025-1.76 mgL-1) and formaldehyde (0.04-0.32 mgL-1) may also pose a risk to human, animal, and aquatic life. Additionally, in-situ measurements for E. coli and Total Coliforms conducted during the last field campaign in Madagascar (2022) revealed that all studied drinking water sources ranged from intermediate risk to unsafe. This result calls for the urgent need to enhance WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) services in the studied areas. The presence of both chemical and microbiological pollutants shows the need for the local authorities to develop and implement a catchment management plan to ensure the protection of water resources from potential pollution, and raise community awareness about the impact of human activity on water resources.

Efficient removal of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) from industrial/military wastewater using anodic oxidation on boron-doped diamond electrodes.

With growing public concern about water quality particular focus should be placed on organic micropollutants, which are harmful to the environment and people. Hence, the objective of this research is to enhance the security and resilience of water resources by developing an efficient system for reclaiming industrial/military wastewater and protecting recipients from the toxic and cancerogenic explosive compound-2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), which has been widely distributed in the environment. This research used an anodic oxidation (AO) process on a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode for the TNT removal from artificial and real-life matrices: marine water and treated wastewater. During experiments, TNT concentrations were significantly decreased, reaching the anodic degradation efficiency of above 92% within two hours and > 99.9% after six hours of environmental sample treatment. The presented results show the great potential of AO performed on BDD anodes for full-scale application in the industry and military sectors for TNT removal.

Engineering boron and nitrogen codoped carbon nanoarchitectures to tailor molecularly imprinted polymers for PFOS determination.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have gained significant attention as emerging contaminants due to their persistence, abundance, and adverse health effects. Consequently, the urgent need for ubiquitous and effective sensors capable of detecting and quantifying PFAS in complex environmental samples has become a priority. In this study, we present the development of an ultrasensitive molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) electrochemical sensor tailored by chemically vapour-deposited boron and nitrogen codoped diamond-rich carbon nanoarchitectures for the selective determination of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). This approach allows for a multiscale reduction of MIP heterogeneities, leading to improved selectivity and sensitivity in PFOS detection. Interestingly, the peculiar carbon nanostructures induce a specific distribution of binding sites in the MIPs that exhibit a strong affinity for PFOS. The designed sensors demonstrated a low limit of detection (1.2 µg L-1) and exhibited satisfactory selectivity and stability. To gain further insights into the molecular interactions between diamond-rich carbon surfaces, electropolymerised MIP, and the PFOS analyte, a set of density functional theory (DFT) calculations was performed. Validation of the sensor's performance was carried out by successfully determining PFOS concentrations in real complex samples, such as tap water and treated wastewater, with average recovery rates consistent with UHPLC-MS/MS results. These findings demonstrate the potential of MIP-supported diamond-rich carbon nanoarchitectures for water pollution monitoring, specifically targeting emerging contaminants. The proposed sensor design holds promise for the development of in situ PFOS monitoring devices operating under relevant environmental concentrations and conditions.

Closing the loop: Upcycling secondary waste materials into nanoarchitectured carbon composites for the electrochemical degradation of pharmaceuticals.

In this study, we demonstrated the application of electrochemical oxidation as a safer and cleaner technology for minimizing the impact of pharmaceuticals in wastewaters, simultaneously mediated by upcycled secondary waste materials (SWMs)-derived electrodes, to further reduce their environmental impact. The modularity, scalability, ease of operation and reliability make electrochemical oxidation an ideal process for the destruction of emerging persistent pollutants; however, their full-scale application is hindered by energy efficiency and the potential release of toxic by-products. Thus, the answer to these issues can be found in the design of tailored multifunctional electrode material. For the first time, SWMs derived from combustion and industrial processes have been employed with the simultaneous dual function of functional fillers, in a polyacrylonitrile fibrous matrix, and as a catalyst for the growth of carbon nanofeatures over the fiber surface, to increase the surface area and charge transfer. Next, the tailored composites were employed as anodes for the electrochemical oxidation of acetaminophen, both in phosphate buffer and in a real wastewater sample. The results suggest that SWMs can substitute costly engineered fillers in carbon-based electrodes and that the absence of reaction by-products (monitored by UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS), together with the low energy consumption, make the tailored fibrous composite electrodes good candidates for the development of safer and cleaner technologies with reduced environmental impact.

Electrochemical oxidation of landfill leachate using boron-doped diamond anodes: pollution degradation rate, energy efficiency and toxicity assessment.

Electrochemical oxidation (EO), due to high efficiency and small carbon footprint, is regarded as an attractive option for on-site treatment of highly contaminated wastewater. This work shows the effectiveness of EO using three boron-doped diamond electrodes (BDDs) in sustainable management of landfill leachate (LL). The effect of the applied current density (25-100 mA cm-2) and boron doping concentration (B/C ratio: 500 ppm, 10,000 ppm and 15,000 ppm) on the performance of EO was investigated. It was found that, of the electrodes used, the one most effective at COD, BOD20 and ammonia removal (97.1%, 98.8% and 62%, respectively) was the electrode with the lowest boron doping. Then, to better elucidate the ecological role of LLs, before and after EO, cultivation of faecal bacteria and microscopic analysis of total (prokaryotic) cell number, together with ecotoxicity assay (Daphnia magna, Thamnocephalus platyurus and Artemia salina) were combined for the two better-performing electrodes. The EO process was very effective at bacterial cell inactivation using each of the two anodes, even within 2 h of contact time. In a complex matrix of LLs, this is probably a combined effect of electrogenerated oxidants (hydroxyl radicals, active chlorine and sulphate radicals), which may penetrate into the bacterial cells and/or react with cellular components. The toxicity of EO-treated LLs proved to be lower than that of raw ones. Since toxicity drops with increased boron doping, it is believed that appropriate electrolysis parameters can diminish the toxicity effect without compromising the nutrient-removal and disinfection capability, although salinity of LLs and related multistep-oxidation pathways needs to be further elucidated.

Pharmaceuticals and other contaminants of emerging concern in Admiralty Bay as a result of untreated wastewater discharge: Status and possible environmental consequences.

Considering how the impact of human activity in Antarctica is growing, the aim of this study was to conduct the first assessment of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), other emerging contaminants (ECs), and antibiotic resistance genes present in the western shore of the Admiralty Bay region of King George Island. In total, more than 170 substances were evaluated to assess the potential environmental risks they pose to the study area. The major evaluated source of pollutants in this study is discharged untreated wastewater. The highest PPCP concentrations in wastewater were found for naproxen (2653 ngL-1), diclofenac (747 ngL-1), ketoconazole (760 ngL-1), ibuprofen (477 ngL-1) and acetaminophen (332 ngL-1). Moreover, the concentrations of benzotriazole (6340 ngL-1) and caffeine (3310 ngL-1) were also high. The Risk Quotient values indicate that azole antifungals (ketoconazole), anti-inflammatories (diclofenac, ibuprofen) and stimulants (caffeine) are the main groups responsible for the highest toxic burden. In addition, antibiotic resistance genes integrons (int 1) and sulphonamide resistance genes (sul 1-2) were detected in wastewater and seawater. These results indicate that regular monitoring of PPCPs and other ECs is of great importance in this environment. Additionally, the following mitigation strategies are suggested: (1) to create a centralised record of the medications prescribed and consumed in situ (to improve knowledge of potential contaminants without analysis); (2) to use more environmentally friendly substitutes both for pharmaceuticals and personal care products when possible (limiting consumption at the source); and (3) to apply advanced systems for wastewater treatment before discharge to the recipient (end-of-pipe technologies as a final barrier).

Sources and composition of chemical pollution in Maritime Antarctica (King George Island), part 1: Sediment and water analysis for PAH sources evaluation in the vicinity of Arctowski station.

The paper presents a study regarding the identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in fresh waters and surface sediments on the western shore of Admiralty Bay over four sampling seasons from 2017 to 2018. The results were compared to literature data from 2016 to provide a more comprehensive image of the environmental fate of PAHs over the years. The highest value of Σ PAHs was 82.9 ng/L and 445 ng/g dw in water and sediment samples, respectively. The analysis of PAH indicator ratio values showed that pyrogenic or mixed sources contribute to the PAH pollution in Antarctic sediments and water more than does petroleum. The main source is the combustion of biomass (e.g. as a result of fires) and coal, and PAHs are mostly associated with the activity of stations or are transported to a lesser extent by long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT) from South America. The values of the ΣLMW/ΣHMW ratio in sediments indicate that petrogenic sources contribute to PAH contamination, but among the six PAH ratios tested, petrogenic sources were identified as dominant in approximately 17-19% of cases. Lack of coherence in the obtained results confirms the mixed origin of PAHs in the studied samples. Although the differentiation of PAHs sources is still ambiguous, caution is recommended in light of the Antarctic system's evident and rapid response to global and local PAH emissions, and the dependency of accumulation and release cycle processes on weather conditions. A reduction in petrol usage in favour of renewable energy sources, and restriction of tourism are strongly recommended for better preservation of the pristine Antarctic environment.

Kinetics of the Organic Compounds and Ammonium Nitrogen Electrochemical Oxidation in Landfill Leachates at Boron-Doped Diamond Anodes.

Electrochemical oxidation (EO) of organic compounds and ammonium in the complex matrix of landfill leachates (LLs) was investigated using three different boron-doped diamond electrodes produced on silicon substrate (BDD/Si)(levels of boron doping [B]/[C] = 500, 10,000, and 15,000 ppm-0.5 k; 10 k, and 15 k, respectively) during 8-h tests. The LLs were collected from an old landfill in the Pomerania region (Northern Poland) and were characterized by a high concentration of N-NH4+ (2069 ± 103 mg·L-1), chemical oxygen demand (COD) (3608 ± 123 mg·L-1), high salinity (2690 ± 70 mg Cl-·L-1, 1353 ± 70 mg SO42-·L-1), and poor biodegradability. The experiments revealed that electrochemical oxidation of LLs using BDD 0.5 k and current density (j) = 100 mA·cm-2 was the most effective amongst those tested (C8h/C0: COD = 0.09 ± 0.14 mg·L-1, N-NH4+ = 0.39 ± 0.05 mg·L-1). COD removal fits the model of pseudo-first-order reactions and N-NH4+ removal in most cases follows second-order kinetics. The double increase in biodegradability index-to 0.22 ± 0.05 (BDD 0.5 k, j = 50 mA·cm-2) shows the potential application of EO prior biological treatment. Despite EO still being an energy consuming process, optimum conditions (COD removal > 70%) might be achieved after 4 h of treatment with an energy consumption of 200 kW·m-3 (BDD 0.5 k, j = 100 mA·cm-2).

Sources and composition of chemical pollution in Maritime Antarctica (King George Island), part 2: Organic and inorganic chemicals in snow cover at the Warszawa Icefield.

The study area is located on King George Island, where 90% of the area is permanently glaciated. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the inorganic and organic chemistry of snow cover in the icefield and a comparison against previous results obtained in fresh water. Snow samples were collected in the summer of 2017 in the Warszawa Icefield area. Sampling points are located along two transects: between the Arctowski Polish Polar Station and the Carlini Base (N = 4), and from the forefield to the upper part of Ecology Glacier (N = 5). In the snow samples, (1) basic ions, (2) major trace metals and metalloids (and B), and (3) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were detected and quantified. Additionally, the parameters of pH, specific electrolytic conductivity (SEC25) and total organic carbon (TOC) were determined. The results show a low concentration of inorganic elements (<30 mg/L), TOC (<1 mg/L) and PAHs (0.11-1.4 ng/L) in collected snow samples. A slight increase in PAHs and heavy-metals concentration has been observed at the marginal parts of the icefield, which suggests the impact of scientific stations. Based on this result there is a need to conduct research on pollutant levels in ice cores on King George Island to assess the risk associated with rapid glacier thawing and pollution remobilisation.

Simultaneous opto-electrochemical monitoring of carbamazepine and its electro-oxidation by-products in wastewater.

The growing human impact on aquatic environments deriving from the extensive use of pharmaceuticals and the release of persistent pollutants necessitates the implementation of new, widespread methods for characterising and quantifying such contaminants and their related degradation products. Carbamazepine, 5 H-dibenzo[b,f]azepine-5-carboxamide, (CBZ) is a widely used anti-epileptic drug characterised by limited removal by conventional wastewater treatments and high persistency in the environment. In this work, CBZ detection and quantification was performed in phosphate buffer, as well as in samples of complex matrix-like landfill leachates and treated wastewater originating from a medical facility, and simultaneously by optical and electrochemical methods using a novel transparent carbon-based nanostructured electrode. Coupling electrochemical (differential pulse voltammetry) with optical (UV-visible spectroscopy) methods, it has been possible to reach the limit of detection (LOD) for CBZ at the levels of 4.7 µM for the electrochemical method, 10.3 µM for the spectroscopic method, and 3.6 µM for the opto-electrochemical method. Raman spectroscopy and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry techniques were employed to support and validate the combined technique. The novel developed technique showed high selectivity to carbamazepine and its by-products, even in environmental samples. Thus, this environmentally friendly, fast and accurate detection method is believed to be successfully implementable in investigating other pharmaceutical and chemical contaminates of concern.

First evaluation of wastewater discharge influence on marine water contamination in the vicinity of Arctowski Station (Maritime Antarctica).

In Antarctica, waste is generated mainly during scientific research programmes and related logistics. In this study, the impact of wastewater on the western shore of Admiralty Bay was investigated during austral summer in 2017 and 2019. A range of physicochemical parameters and the presence of selected trace metals, formaldehyde and different groups of surfactants were determined in wastewater coming from Arctowski Station and in nearby coastal waters. The presence of selected trace metals (e.g., Cr: 2.7-4.4 µg/L; Zn: 15.2-37.3 µg/L; and Ni: 0.9-23.3 µg/L) and the sums of cationic (0.3-1.5 mg/L), anionic (3.1-1.7 mg/L), and non-ionic (0.6-2.4 mg/L) surfactants in wastewater indicated the potential influence of anthropogenic factors on sea water. The determined surfactants are found in many hygiene products that end up in the waste water tank after human use and, if untreated, can be released into surface waters with discharge. In addition, the levels of some trace metals indicate that they cannot come only from natural sources, but are the result of human activity. The reported data show disturbances in the marine environment caused by non-treated wastewater discharge, e.g. by comparing the obtained results from the values of the no observed effect concentrations (NOECs) on selected Antarctic bioindicators, and provide information for the implementation of proper wastewater treatment at any Antarctic station in the future.

Electrochemical oxidation of PFOA and PFOS in landfill leachates at low and highly boron-doped diamond electrodes.

Polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) may reach landfill leachates (LLs) due to improper waste management. In this study perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) were used as representatives of PFASs in the decomposition on boron-doped diamond electrodes (BDDs) with high (10k ppm) and low (0.5k ppm) boron doping concentrations. The result shows that although better COD removal efficacies are obtained on the low-doped BDD (59 % after 8 h), the decomposition rate of PFOA and PFOS was not affected by boron doping. In LLs, at the current density of 75 mA/cm2, averaged removal efficiencies of 80 % and 78 % were achieved for PFOA and PFOS, respectively. But besides concentration of mother compounds, the presence of intermediates during electrolysis should be monitored. After 8 h of LL electrolysis, the presence of long-chain degradates C6F13 and C6F13COO- was still observed only in 10k BDD-PFOA assays, while during 0.5k assays C6F13 and C6F13COO- form more intesively at the beginning of the process. This indirectly confirms the more intensive generation of perfluoroalkoxy and hydroxyl radicals and higher susceptibility to electrolysis of PFOA's long-chain intermediates on 0.5k BDD. This is the first study reporting BDD-electrolysis as promising in PFAS removal from the complex matrix of LLs, despite the oxidation of competing LLs components.

Seashore sediment and water chemistry at the Admiralty Bay (King George Island, Maritime Antarctica) - Geochemical analysis and correlations between the concentrations of chemical species.

This study covers water and sediment chemical characteristics by the western shore of Admiralty Bay (King George Island, Antarctica) in 2016. Chemical processes between sediment and water have been described based on the determination of ions, metals, non-metals, and TOC concentrations. Rock weathering is an important source of Fe, Ni, Co, Al in the seashore area. The PCA shows the impact of acidification in the release metals from sediment. Our results indicate that riverine mineral fluxes need to be accounted for as the volume of melt increases in response to climate change. Based on geoaccumulation indexes (anthropogenic fingerprint), we observed an increased concentration of Pb (Igeo = 1.643), in the lake near station facilities and Cd in the area of Ecology Glacier (Igeo > 1.389). Taking into account climate change and the intensification of anthropopressure, our study indicates that Antarctica requires a special focus on the seasonal dynamics of mineral content and pollution assessment.

Differences between selected volatile aromatic compound concentrations in sludge samples in various steps of wastewater treatment plant operations.

Sewage sludge, one of the main wastes generated during wastewater treatment, constitutes an important source of emissions of volatile chemical compounds such as volatile aromatic compounds These substances may undergo various changes as a result of operations and unit processes, which affects their concentrations in sewage sludge. An important factor determining the potential hazardousness of volatile organic compounds is the quality of wastewater delivered to wastewater treatment plants and the technical and equipment solutions applied to wastewater. In this study, a rapid and sensitive headspace gas chromatography method, coupled with tandem mass spectrometry using the standard addition method, was developed for the determination of selected volatile aromatic compounds in sewage sludge samples collected at different stages from three wastewater treatment plants located in Poland. This study attempted to assess the relationship between differences in the emissions of representative VACs and the given stage of the technological process within three analysed wastewater treatment plants. Toluene was detected with the highest frequency in analysed samples, at concentrations varying from 0.234 ± 0.035 ng/g of sludge to 28.3*102±3.2*102 ng/g of sludge. The highest concentration levels were determined for p-cresol, with concentrations ranging from 44.0*101±5.6*101 ng/g of sludge (sludge from aerobic chamber, wastewater treatment plant no.2) to 47.7*102±6.9*102 ng/g of sludge (sludge from aerobic chamber, wastewater treatment plant no.1), while the lowest concentration levels were observed for chlorobenzene, with concentrations ranging from 0.1300 ±â€¯0.0030 ng/g of sludge (sludge from anaerobic chamber, wastewater treatment plant no.2), to 0.2606 ±â€¯0.0046 ng/g of sludge (primary sludge, wastewater treatment plant no.1). The repeatability of the method was better than 10%, with accuracy levels in the ranges 89%-108%.Wastewater treatment technologies and residual sludge management in the selected wastewater treatment plantsinfluenced volatile aromatic compounds emission. Furthermore, the diversity of the wastewater quality, depending on the catchment area, is also an important factor determining the differentiation in volatile aromatic compounds emission. The microbial composition of raw wastewater highly influenced not only the treatment effectiveness of wastewater treatment plants but also the production of intermediate products, such as volatile aromatic compounds, which may contribute to odour emissions.

Landfill leachates and wastewater of maritime origin as possible sources of endocrine disruptors in municipal wastewater.

In this study, wastewater from municipal services, such as a port wastewater reception facility (PRF-WW) and a municipal solid waste plant (MSWP), was tested for the presence of the suspected endocrine-disrupting compounds phthalates (PAEs) and bisphenol A (BPA). PAEs and BPA were found in this study in high concentrations in raw wastewater obtained from passenger ships (RMT-WWs) (up to 738 µg/L and 957 µg/L, respectively) collected in the Port of Gdynia and in landfill leachates (LLs) (up to 536 µg/L and up to 2202 µg/L, respectively) from a MSWP located near Gdynia. In particular, the presence of reprotoxic di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP, up to 536 µg/L in LLs and up to 738 µg/L in RMT-WWs) requires further action because if this compound, as well as other PAEs and BPA, is not degraded by activated sludge microorganisms, it may reach receiving waters and adversely impact aquatic organisms. Therefore, PAEs and BPA should be removed either during the onsite pretreatment of tested industrial wastewater or during tertiary treatment at municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs, representing end-of-pipe technology). Graphical abstract.

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other organic pollutants in freshwaters on the western shore of Admiralty Bay (King George Island, Maritime Antarctica).

Organic contamination in freshwater samples has never been investigated at the western shore of Admiralty Bay. Therefore, the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in five different sites distributed along a shore running from the Arctowski Station to the Baranowski Glacier was studied. Moreover, organic compounds such as n-alkanes, toluene and ethylbenzene were also noted. Increased ΣPAHs in late Austral summer 2016 are the result of long-range atmospheric transport of air masses from South America, confirmed by 10-day backward air mass trajectories analysis. The presence of n-alkanes and other hydrocarbons, as well as the evaluation of PAH indices (e.g. ΣLMW/ΣHMW* > 1), shows the use of fuel and indicate local human activity. As a final conclusion, our analysis indicates a mixed origin of PAHs (global and local). The presence of PAHs and other hydrocarbons in the water environment may constitute a potentially negative effect on the Antarctic ecosystem and it should be investigated in detail during further research (//*ΣLMW-sum of low molecular weight PAHs (two- and three-ring PAHs); ΣHMW-sum of high molecular weight PAHs (four- and five-ring PAHs)//). Graphical abstract.

The influence of global climate change on the environmental fate of anthropogenic pollution released from the permafrost: Part I. Case study of Antarctica.

This article presents a review of information related to the influence of potential permafrost degradation on the environmental fate of chemical species which are released and stored, classified as potential influence in future Antarctic environment. Considering all data regarding climate change prediction, this topic may prove important issue for the future state of the Antarctic environment. A detailed survey on soil and permafrost data permitted the assumption that this medium may constitute a sink for organic and inorganic pollution (especially for persistent organic pollution, POPs, and heavy metals). The analysis of the environmental fate and potential consequences of the presence of pollutants for the existence of the Antarctic fauna leads to a conclusion that they may cause numerous negative effects (e.g. Endocrine disruptions, DNA damage, cancerogenicity). In the case of temperature increase and enhanced remobilisation processes, this effect may be even stronger, and may disturb natural balance in the environment. Therefore, regular research on the environmental fate of pollution is required, especially in terms of processes of remobilisation from the permafrost reserves.

Water chemistry of tundra lakes in the periglacial zone of the Bellsund Fiord (Svalbard) in the summer of 2013.

Climate changes observed in the Arctic (e.g. permafrost degradation, glacier retreat) may have significant influence on sensitive polar wetlands. The main objectives of this paper are defining chemical features of water within six small arctic lakes located in Bellsund (Svalbard) in the area of continuous permafrost occurrence. The unique environmental conditions of the study area offer an opportunity to observe phenomena influencing water chemistry, such as: chemical weathering, permafrost thawing, marine aerosols, atmospheric deposition and biological inputs. In the water samples collected during the summer 2013, detailed tundra lake water chemistry characteristics regarding ions, trace elements, pH and specific electrolytic conductivity (SEC25) analysis were determined. Moreover, water chemistry of the studied lakes was compared to the water samples from the Tyvjobekken Creek and precipitation water samples. As a final step of data analysis, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed. Detailed chemical analysis allowed us to conclude what follows: (1) Ca2+, Mg2+, SO42-, Sr are of geogenic origin, (2) NO3- present in tundra lakes and the Tyvjobekken Creek water samples (ranging from 0.31 to 1.69mgL-1 and from 0.25 to 1.58mgL-1 respectively) may be of mixed origin, i.e. from biological processes and permafrost thawing, (3) high contribution of non-sea-salt SO42->80% in majority of studied samples indicate considerable inflow of sulphate-rich air to the study area, (4) high content of chlorides in tundra lakes (range: 25.6-32.0% meqL-1) indicates marine aerosol influence, (5) PCA result shows that atmospheric transport may constitute a source of Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Ga, Ba and Cd. However, further detailed inter-season and multi-seasonal study of tundra lakes in the Arctic are recommended. Especially in terms of detailed differentiation of sources influence (atmospheric transport vs. permafrost degradation).

Impact of a newly-formed periglacial environment and other factors on fresh water chemistry at the western shore of Admiralty Bay in the summer of 2016 (King George Island, Maritime Antarctica).

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the inorganic chemistry of flowing water at the western shore of Admiralty Bay. In the water samples, ions, and major and trace metals (and B) were detected and quantified. Additionally, the parameters of pH, specific electrolytic conductivity (SEC25) and total organic carbon (TOC) were determined. Moreover, multivariate data set was created and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed. Generally, the water has low total content of the measured mineral constituents <100mgL-1. PCA analysis we distinguished two groups of chemical variables shaping water chemistry in the investigated creeks: I - components of marine aerosol origin (presence of Na+, Cl- and B) and II - those associated with chemical weathering processes (presence of Al and Fe). Furthermore, the results showed that the flowing water in the newly-formed periglacial areas (formed over the last 30years) are rich in easily soluble Al and Fe and have lower total measured contents of mineral constituents during the summer period than creeks in non-glacial catchments. Permafrost influence on water chemistry is difficult to identify. The rather insignificant difference between TOC concentrations in waters during summer indicates that permafrost is not a store of organic matter in the studied area. Moreover, local biological factors (lichens and mosses) and those limited to the sea-shore vicinity (seabirds and mammals activity) are significant sources of PO43-, NO3-, and NH4+. Despite the described geological and biological features influencing water chemistry, the impact of anthropogenic activity still needs to be verified, especially in terms of heavy metal concentrations.

How Important Is Research on Pollution Levels in Antarctica? Historical Approach, Difficulties and Current Trends.

Despite the fact that Antarctica is a continent notably free from large negative impact of human activities, literature data can be the basis for concluding that this is not an area free from anthropogenic pollutants. Pollutants, which are identified in various elements of the environment of Antarctica, are mostly connected with long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT) and deposition in this area. The study presents: a historical overview of research pertaining to the presence of pollutants in entire Antarctica; a description of the development of research on pollutants in various environmental samples conducted in this area since 1960; a detailed description of contemporary analytical research (2000-2014); information on concentration levels of a broad range of pollutants present in various elements of the environment. The data collected can provide grounds for concluding that pollutants present in this area can contribute to gradual degradation of Antarctic ecosystem.