Abstract

The doctoral dissertation included a review of the scientific literature that resulted in the selection of the research area, type of samples and chemical species that were marked. The published series of articles contains an in-depth description of the results of chemical analyses of surface water, sediment and snow samples from the Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA 1) – King George Island. In addition, studies have been conducted to assess the impact that raw wastewater discharge into Admiralty Bay has had on the Antarctic environment. The aim of the doctoral thesis was to analyse the results of a wide range of determinations of chemical individuals, including newly emerging pollutants in selected Antarctic environments. Information was provided on the concentration levels of, inter alia, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, pharmaceuticals, selected metals, non-metals and ions present in environmental samples from West Antarctica, sources of origin of the studied chemical species and their potential effects on Antarctic ecosystems. The analysis and interpretation of the results was the basis for the assessment of the environmental fate of the determined pollutants, taking into account the human impact in the studied area. The collected data may be the basis for the conclusion that the pollution present in this area may contribute to the gradual degradation of the Antarctic ecosystem. In addition, they are the basis for a discussion on the tightening of legal regulations regarding the protection of the Antarctic environment.

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