Influencia de los Microplásticos (MPs) y Productos Farmacéuticos y de Cuidado Personal (PPCPs) Derivados de la Actividad Humana Costera y sus Efectos en el Ecosistema Antártico.
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Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universidad de Concepción
Abstract
El incremento de la actividad humana en la Antártica ha generado numerosos impactos en el ecosistema. Recientemente ha sido descrita la presencia de microplásticos (MPs) y Productos farmacéuticos y de cuidado personal (PPCPs) en ambientes costeros, principalmente en la Península Antártica. El objetivo de esta tesis fue evaluar la contribución de la actividad humana en las concentraciones de MPs y PPCPs en el ecosistema antártico. Para esto, se determinó la abundancia y composición de microplásticos en suelos y en sedimentos intermareales de la Bahía Fildes, Antártica. En los suelos se obtuvo un promedio de 13,6 partículas/50 ml de muestra, con una longitud máxima de partículas de <500 µm. Estas partículas fueron identificadas como fragmentos, caracterizados por su composición basada en resina fenoxi de color naranjo, idénticos a los revestimientos de las instalaciones de la base Frei. En contraste, en los sedimentos intermareales se registraron exclusivamente fibras en una menor abundancia (1,5 partículas/50 ml de muestra), pero mayor longitud (<2000 µm). Estas fibras se caracterizaron po una composición de tereftalato de polietileno (PET) de distintos colores, con mayores abundancias en los sitios cercanos a los efluentes de aguas residuales, donde además se encontraron fibras de algodón, lo que permite presumir que su principal fuente corresponde a aguas grises. Respecto a las variables ambientales evaluadas, si bien la materia orgánica se correlacionó positivamente con los fragmentos de plástico del suelo, esta variable parece explicarse más en la composición de los microplásticos. En tanto, las fibras de los sedimentos intermareales se correlacionaron positivamente al tamaño de partícula de los sedimentos. En general, las variables ambientales seleccionadas en este estudio parecen no explicar las concentraciones de microplásticos. Finalmente, se observó que, a pesar de las restricciones impuestas en zonas protegidas, la contaminación por microplásticos se ha expandido a éstas áreas. Un objetivo adicional fue identificar las fuentes, concentraciones y distribución de PPCPs en el sistema costero antártico y sus efectos en la biota. De modo que se realizó una revisión de los artículos científicos disponibles en la Antártica, junto a la bibliografía del Consejo de Administradores de Programas Antárticos Nacionales (CONMAP) y la Secretaría del Tratado Antártico (ATS). Esto se complementó con los datos espaciales de Quantarctica. Los resultados muestran que existe una amplia variedad de PPCPs reportados en aguas costeras los que alcanzan concentraciones de hasta 60000 ng/l. Las mayores concentraciones se detectaron en base Esperanza debido a la ausencia de tratamiento, siendo significativamente elevados para los analgésicos acetaminofén (48744 ng/l), diclofenaco (15087 ng/l) e ibuprofeno (10053 ng/l). No obstante, la implementación de un sistema de tratamiento terciario en base Scott igualmente arrojó altos valores para los filtros UV 4- metil-bencilidenoalcanfor (4-MBC) (<11700 ng/l) y 2,4- dihidroxibenzofenona (BP-1) (<6830 ng/l), así como el surfactante 4-t-octilfenol (OP) (<7050 ng/l). En general, se observó que el número de ocupantes de cada estación no fue tan determinante como la implementación de algún sistema de tratamiento de aguas residuales. Sin embargo, otras variables como la frecuencia de muestreo también deben ser consideradas. De este modo, se identificó a los efluentes como la principal fuente de PPCPs en la Antártica, siendo mayores las concentraciones en zonas aledañas a las bases en comparación de mar adentro. Además, la biota antártica ha sido poco estudiada, con solo una especie evaluada, por lo tanto, los eventuales efectos de los microplásticos son por ahora desconocidos. Esta tesis demuestra que las actividades humanas en la Antártica han resultado en la contaminación por MPs y PPCPs de sus suelos, agua de mar y sedimentos costeros, y que existe un alto grado de desconocimiento de los eventuales efectos en la biota. Dado que la mayoría de las estaciones antárticas se localizan en las zonas costeras, sus efluentes tienen una gran influencia sobre el ambiente marino, siendo identificados como la principal fuente de contaminación por MPs y PPCPs. En contraste, los suelos son dominados por la contaminación de microplásticos que en bahía Fildes responde al uso de suelo mediante la infraestructura. En este sentido, debido a las restricciones que rigen del Protocolo Ambiental, las limitadas actividades efectuadas dentro del territorio antártico sólo permitirían el uso y posterior eliminación de PPCPs principalmente mediante los efluentes, de modo que su presencia en suelos se espera que sea escasa o nula. El principal inconveniente es que algunas de las estaciones de investigación carecen de tratamiento terciario, descrito como uno de los más efectivos en la remoción de PPCPs. Asimismo, se permite la liberación de efluentes sin tratamiento directamente al mar. En consecuencia, mayores esfuerzos por sobre lo dictado por el Protocolo Ambiental, como el mejoramiento voluntario de estos sistemas de tratamiento y el control, tanto en el ingreso como uso de estos contaminantes, son medidas que podrían compensar la deficiente remoción de algunos contaminantes, ante la espera de nuevas regulaciones de los contaminantes emergentes antes mencionados.
The increase in human activity in Antarctica has generated numerous impacts on the ecosystem. The presence of microplastics (MPs) and pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) in coastal environments, mainly in the Antarctic Peninsula, has recently been described. The objective of this thesis was to evaluate the contribution of human activity in the concentrations of PMs and PPCPs in the Antarctic ecosystem. For this, the abundance and composition of microplastics in soils and intertidal sediments of Fildes Bay, Antarctica, were determined. In the soils, an average of 13.6 particles/50 ml of sample was obtained, with a maximum particle length of <500 µm. These particles were identified as fragments, characterized by their composition based on orange-colored phenoxy resin, identical to the coatings of the Frei base facilities. In contrast, in the intertidal sediments fibers were exclusively recorded in a lower abundance (1.5 particles/50 ml of sample), but greater length ( <2000 µm). These fibers were characterized by a composition of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) of different colors, with greater abundances in the sites near the wastewater effluents, where cotton fibers were also found, which allows us to presume that their main source corresponds to grey waters. Regarding the environmental variables evaluated, although organic matter was positively correlated with plastic fragments in the soil, this variable seems to be explained more by the composition of microplastics. Meanwhile, intertidal sediment fibers were positively correlated to sediment particle size. In general, the environmental variables selected in this study do not seem to explain the concentrations of microplastics. Finally, it was observed that, despite the restrictions imposed in protected areas, microplastic contamination has spread to these sites. An additional objective was to identify the sources, concentrations and distribution of PPCPs in the Antarctic coastal system and their effects on biota. A review of the scientific articles available in Antarctica was carried out, together with the bibliography of the Council of Administrators of National Antarctic Programs (CONMAP) and the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty (ATS). This was supplemented by spatial data from Quantarctica. The results show that there is a wide variety of PPCPs reported in coastal waters, reaching concentrations of up to 60,000 ng/l. The highest concentrations were detected in the Esperanza base due to the absence of treatment, being significantly high for the analgesics acetaminophen (48744 ng/l), diclofenac (15087 ng/l) and ibuprofen (10053 ng/l). However, the implementation of a Scott-based tertiary treatment system also yielded high values for the UV filters 4-methyl benzylidenecamphor (4-MBC) (<11700 ng/l) and 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (BP-1) (<6830 ng/l), as well as the surfactant 4-t-octylphenol (OP) (<7050 ng/l). In general, it was observed that the number of occupants of each station was not as decisive as the implementation of a wastewater treatment system. However, other variables such as sampling frequency must also be considered. In this way, effluents were identified as the main source of PPCPs in Antarctica, with higher concentrations in areas surrounding the bases compared to offshore. In addition, the Antarctic biota has been little studied, with only one species evaluated, therefore, the eventual effects of microplastics are unknown at this time. This thesis demonstrates that human activities in Antarctica have resulted in contamination by PMs and PPCPs of its soils, seawater and coastal sediments, and little is known about the possible effects on the biota. Since most Antarctic stations are located in coastal areas, their effluents have a great influence on the marine environment, being identified as the main source of pollution by PMs and PPCPs. In contrast, the soils are dominated by microplastic contamination that in Fildes Bay responds to land use through infrastructure. In this sense, due to the restrictions that govern the Environmental Protocol, the limited activities carried out within the Antarctic territory would only allow the use and subsequent elimination of PPCPs, mainly through effluents, so that their presence in soils is expected to be scarce or null. The main drawback is that some of the research stations lack tertiary treatment, described as one of the most effective in removing PPCPs. Likewise, the release of effluents without treatment directly into the sea is allowed. Consequently, greater efforts beyond what is dictated by the Environmental Protocol, such as the voluntary improvement of these treatment systems and the control, both in the entry and use of these pollutants, are measures that could compensate for the poor removal of some pollutants, given waiting for new regulations of the aforementioned emerging pollutants.
The increase in human activity in Antarctica has generated numerous impacts on the ecosystem. The presence of microplastics (MPs) and pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) in coastal environments, mainly in the Antarctic Peninsula, has recently been described. The objective of this thesis was to evaluate the contribution of human activity in the concentrations of PMs and PPCPs in the Antarctic ecosystem. For this, the abundance and composition of microplastics in soils and intertidal sediments of Fildes Bay, Antarctica, were determined. In the soils, an average of 13.6 particles/50 ml of sample was obtained, with a maximum particle length of <500 µm. These particles were identified as fragments, characterized by their composition based on orange-colored phenoxy resin, identical to the coatings of the Frei base facilities. In contrast, in the intertidal sediments fibers were exclusively recorded in a lower abundance (1.5 particles/50 ml of sample), but greater length ( <2000 µm). These fibers were characterized by a composition of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) of different colors, with greater abundances in the sites near the wastewater effluents, where cotton fibers were also found, which allows us to presume that their main source corresponds to grey waters. Regarding the environmental variables evaluated, although organic matter was positively correlated with plastic fragments in the soil, this variable seems to be explained more by the composition of microplastics. Meanwhile, intertidal sediment fibers were positively correlated to sediment particle size. In general, the environmental variables selected in this study do not seem to explain the concentrations of microplastics. Finally, it was observed that, despite the restrictions imposed in protected areas, microplastic contamination has spread to these sites. An additional objective was to identify the sources, concentrations and distribution of PPCPs in the Antarctic coastal system and their effects on biota. A review of the scientific articles available in Antarctica was carried out, together with the bibliography of the Council of Administrators of National Antarctic Programs (CONMAP) and the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty (ATS). This was supplemented by spatial data from Quantarctica. The results show that there is a wide variety of PPCPs reported in coastal waters, reaching concentrations of up to 60,000 ng/l. The highest concentrations were detected in the Esperanza base due to the absence of treatment, being significantly high for the analgesics acetaminophen (48744 ng/l), diclofenac (15087 ng/l) and ibuprofen (10053 ng/l). However, the implementation of a Scott-based tertiary treatment system also yielded high values for the UV filters 4-methyl benzylidenecamphor (4-MBC) (<11700 ng/l) and 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (BP-1) (<6830 ng/l), as well as the surfactant 4-t-octylphenol (OP) (<7050 ng/l). In general, it was observed that the number of occupants of each station was not as decisive as the implementation of a wastewater treatment system. However, other variables such as sampling frequency must also be considered. In this way, effluents were identified as the main source of PPCPs in Antarctica, with higher concentrations in areas surrounding the bases compared to offshore. In addition, the Antarctic biota has been little studied, with only one species evaluated, therefore, the eventual effects of microplastics are unknown at this time. This thesis demonstrates that human activities in Antarctica have resulted in contamination by PMs and PPCPs of its soils, seawater and coastal sediments, and little is known about the possible effects on the biota. Since most Antarctic stations are located in coastal areas, their effluents have a great influence on the marine environment, being identified as the main source of pollution by PMs and PPCPs. In contrast, the soils are dominated by microplastic contamination that in Fildes Bay responds to land use through infrastructure. In this sense, due to the restrictions that govern the Environmental Protocol, the limited activities carried out within the Antarctic territory would only allow the use and subsequent elimination of PPCPs, mainly through effluents, so that their presence in soils is expected to be scarce or null. The main drawback is that some of the research stations lack tertiary treatment, described as one of the most effective in removing PPCPs. Likewise, the release of effluents without treatment directly into the sea is allowed. Consequently, greater efforts beyond what is dictated by the Environmental Protocol, such as the voluntary improvement of these treatment systems and the control, both in the entry and use of these pollutants, are measures that could compensate for the poor removal of some pollutants, given waiting for new regulations of the aforementioned emerging pollutants.
Description
Tesis presentada para optar al grado de Doctor en Ciencias Ambientales con mención en Sistemas Acuáticos Continentales
Keywords
Ciencias Ambientales, Ecosistema costero, Contaminación Aspectos ambientales