Organic pollutants and their correlation with stable isotopes in vegetation from King George Island, Antarctica

Vegetation samples from King George Island, Antarctica (62°05′S, 058°23′W) were collected in the austral summer of 2004-2005. Lichens (Usnea aurantiaco-atra and Usnea antarctica), mosses (Sanionia uncinata, Syntrichia princeps and Brachytecium sp.), and one angiosperm (Colobanthus quitensis) species were analyzed for persistent organic pollutants as well as δ13C and δ15N stable isotopes. The following contaminants were found above the method detection limit (MDL): HCB (0.141-1.06 ng g−1 dry weight), HCHs (

► Lichens and mosses exhibited clearly distinct carbon isotopic fractionation. ► Correlation analyses showed significant results for historically linked pollutants. ► Results show the influence of both N and POPs origin, notably for secondary sources.