Toxic chemicals are traveling to Antarctica's remote interior
Researchers discovered that PFAS—forever chemicals used in industrial applications—are being transported across hemispheres and deposited across East Antarctica via atmospheric currents and sea spray. The 50-year record suggests sources thousands of miles away are contaminating one of Earth's most isolated regions, raising questions about how thoroughly these persistent toxins spread globally.
Originaltitel: Atmospheric transport and deposition of PFAS in East Antarctica: Evidence from snow transect measurements and a multidecadal record
The occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Antarctica has been previously reported; however, the mechanisms of their inland penetration and the interplay between their depositional histories and interhemispheric transport remain unclear. Here, PFAS in snow along a transect across East Antarctica (from Zhongshan Station to Dome A) and depositional records at Dome A were studied to elucidate the sources and transport of PFAS and to reconstruct the historical emission record. Our findings suggest that precursor degradation and sea spray aerosol are the main sources of PFAS and play a pivotal role in the regional and seasonal variability of PFAS accumulation. The half-century depositional records reveal connections between Antarctica and distant sources. We propose the hemispheric and interhemispheric transport of PFAS from source regions to Antarctica, where they are deposited.