Bioremediation of fuel contaminants across Antarctica. Key findings from field based studies at Argentinian and Australian stations

HINCE G; MARTINEZ ALVAREZ L; WILKINS D; SPEEDING T; MCWATTERS R; RUBERTO L; MAC CORMACK W.P

On-line

Conferencia; SCAR OPEN SCIENCE CONFERENCE 2020; 2020

Scientic Commitee for Antarctic Research

In response to the Madrid Protocol (1991), joint signatory nations, Australia and Argentina, have actively researched and implemented strategies for managing and remediating environmental impacts from human activities in Antarctica. Both nations have ongoing research programs into the effects of contaminants on the Antarctic environment, including the application of bioremediation techniques for hydrocarbon contaminated soils. Assessing human health and environmental risks and implementing effective bioremediation strategies for hydrocarbon fuels vary depending on a range of contaminant and site-specific factors. The chemical composition of the fuel and it?s amenability to biodegradation as well as physicochemical and biological characteristics of Antarctic soils influence the assessment of risk and the selection of optimum bioremediation strategies. Through examination of field-scale case studies, we present jointly on the similarities and differences in bioremediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soil in Antarctica, including fuel type and composition (fuels used by Australia and Argentina), environmental conditions (particularly differences between Carlini Station and Casey Station, at opposite sides of Antarctica), soil types, microbial responses, nutrient amendment, and measurement and assessment techniques.Our research demonstrates the Antarctic-wide benefits of international collaboration through development of effective remediation strategies for Antarctica. These findings directly inform the guide for best practice environmental assessment and remediation in Antarctica, the Antarctic Clean-up Manual, developed by the Committee for Environmental Protection to provide scientifically proven guidance that can be applied to the clean-up of a range of impacted sites in Antarctica.