Tracing Human Chemical Footprints in Antarctic Wastewater

Despite its geographical isolation, Antarctica is increasingly affected by human-derived chemical inputs, including emerging contaminants released from research infrastructure. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) operating at Antarctic research stations are designed to minimise environmental discharges, however, harsh climatic conditions and operational constraints may reduce treatment efficiency, allowing contaminants to enter sorrounding ecosystems [1], [2]. This study provides the first comprehensive characterization of organic pollutants in wastewater effluents from the Korean research Station Jang Bogo (JBS) and presents a direct comparison with previosly collected data from the Italian Mario Zucchelli Station (MZS) [3]. The objectives were to quantify selected target contaminants, identify additional compounds through suspect screening and estimate spatial and temporal differences in contaminant profiles between the two stations. Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Samplers (POCIS) were deployed at JBS during two austral summer campaigns (February and November-December 2023). Samplers were deployed for two-week periods to evaluate short-term variability. Extracts were analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of 47 target analytes and high-resolution mass spectrometry for suspect screening. Fourteen target compounds were detected in JBS effluents, with the artificial sweetener sucralose consistently observed at the highest levels. Pharmaceuticals such as metformin and ibuprofen, as well as anthropogenic tracers including caffeine, were also identified. Suspect screening revealed the presence of additional pharmaceuticals and transformation products, suggesting incomplete removal and in-system degradation processes. Overall contaminant concentrations at JBS were lower than those previously reported for MZS, potentially reflecting differences in station occupancy and/or improved treatment configurations. These findings demonstrate that time-integrative passive sampling combined with target and non-target analytical approaches is an effective strategy for evaluating contaminant occurrence, treatment performance and exposure potential in Antarctic WWTP effluents. This work contributes to a growing understanding of the human chemical footprint in polar environments and supports future monitoring efforts in remote regions. References: [1] R. Bargagli and E. Rota, “Environmental contamination and climate change in Antarctic ecosystems: an updated overview,” Environ. Sci. Adv., vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 543–560, 2024, doi: 10.1039/d3va00113j. [2] A. Olalla, L. Moreno, and Y. Valcárcel, “Prioritisation of emerging contaminants in the northern Antarctic Peninsula based on their environmental risk,” Sci. Total Environ., vol. 742, p. 140417, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140417. [3] H. MacKeown, C. Scapuzzi, M. Baglietto, B. Benedetti, M. Di Carro, and E. Magi, “Wastewater and seawater monitoring in Antarctica: Passive sampling as a powerful strategy to evaluate emerging pollution,” Sci. Total Environ., vol. 925, no. February, p. 171755, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171755.