Occurrence and flux of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in settling particulate matter from the water column in Fildes Bay, Antarctica

This study investigates the occurrence, sources and fluxes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in settling particulate matter (SPM) from the water column from two locations in Fildes Bay (King George Island), Antarctica. Fildes Bay is an area influenced by research stations, maritime activities, and tourism. The SPM sample was obtained from a Sediment trap (20–50 m depth) during summer Antarctic expeditions. In this work, which complements our previous study regarding of PAHs (18), PAHs were quantified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The results show Σ18PAHs ranged from 2 to 18 ng g-1 dry weight (DW), in which PAHs predominate 2- to 3- ring. The fluxes from SPM in the water column ranged from 0.03 to 0.70 ng m-2 day-1 and increased near Collins Glacier. The temporal variability observed during the sampling period highlights the influence of both natural and anthropogenic factors. These findings contribute to the scarce dataset available for Antarctic marine environments and emphasize the importance of long-term monitoring to assess pollutant dynamics under changing climatic conditions.