[Reading Science] 'Rampant Sexual Violence' at Antarctic Base... Severe Environmental Pollution Too

Environmental Survey Results Around Casey Research Institute in Australia
Severe Heavy Metal and Hydrocarbon Pollution Around Old Bases

Research stations established by countries around the world for Antarctic exploration and nature conservation are actually polluting the environment and destroying ecosystems, according to an analysis. This revelation comes on the heels of recent reports of rampant sexual violence at Antarctic bases, exposing yet another dark side.

The Australian Antarctic Division under the Australian Department of Climate Change published these findings on the 8th in the international academic journal PLOS One. While Antarctica is commonly thought to be the cleanest place on Earth due to the absence of permanent human residents, the study found it to be as polluted as the seabed of the port of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The researchers also suggested that other long-established research stations in Antarctica are likely experiencing similar conditions.

The research team analyzed marine pollution data monitored from 1997 to 2015 in the waters off the Casey Research Station on Windmill Island in East Antarctica, established by the Australian Antarctic Division. They discovered high concentrations of hydrocarbons, the main component of fuel, in large quantities in the waters near the Casey Station. Elevated levels of heavy metals such as lead, copper, and zinc were also detected. Additionally, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), carcinogenic chemicals commonly used before being banned by an international agreement in 2001, were found in most samples.

What shocked the researchers most was the comparison of these measurements with pollution levels from major ports worldwide over the past 20 years. In some samples, heavy metal concentrations like lead, copper, and zinc were comparable to those found in heavily polluted ports such as Sydney and Rio de Janeiro.

Even more concerning is that this pollution is not limited to the area around Casey Station. New Zealand, during redevelopment of the Scott Base located in Christchurch, identified large-scale contamination of soil and seabed caused by previously leaked fuel and waste. Recently, as Antarctic temperatures rise, melting glaciers and permafrost are exposing these pollutants, which then disperse into the atmosphere or seep into the ocean and underground, exacerbating the situation.

This pollution was once considered inevitable. The common practice was to simply discard waste near the stations. It was only in 1991 that the severity of pollution was recognized, leading to the adoption of environmental protection provisions (the Madrid Protocol) under the Antarctic Treaty. The protocol aimed to protect Antarctica’s nature and ensure its peaceful and scientific use. It also mandated that countries establishing bases in Antarctica must consider environmental impacts. However, most (two-thirds) of the Antarctic research facilities currently in place were established before this treaty was signed and lack adequate pollution prevention facilities and equipment.

Moreover, the recent increase in human-occupied research stations and national facilities in Antarctica is worsening environmental destruction. Most of these buildings are constructed on land rather than ice, which means wildlife is losing stable habitats to humans and being displaced. Although land accounts for less than 1% of Antarctica’s total area, it serves as a refuge for diverse flora and fauna, including penguins and seals.