Distribution and contamination assessment of heavy metals in soils and sediments from the Fildes Peninsula and Ardley Island in King George Island, Antarctica

Concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd and Cr) in surface soils and sediments collected in 2008 from 37 sampling sites in the Fildes Peninsula and Ardley Island were detected by atomic absorption spectrometry. The total contents of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd and Cr ranged, respectively, from 61.36 to 562.2 mg/kg, 0.52 to 1.95 mg/kg, 54.61 to 577.9 mg/kg, 0.04 to 3.76 mg/kg and 6.83 to 25.9 mg/kg in soils and from 58.55 to 498.3 mg/kg, 0.60 to 2.51 mg/kg, 56.22 to 345.9 mg/kg, 0.07 to 5.77 mg/kg and 7.76 to 39.5 mg/kg in sediments. The geo-accumulation index and the pollution load index were calculated to evaluate the environmental effects of heavy metal pollutants, Cu, Zn and Cd, in the study area. Soils and sediments from Ardley Island were found to be moderately polluted with the studied metals. Pearson’s correlation analysis and principal component analysis were applied to assess the distribution pattern and potential source of heavy metals. The results suggest that Cu, Zn and Cd in the study area originated from both the lithogenic sources and penguin guano, while Pb and Cr were probably derived from lithogenic sources.