Investigation of levels of endocrine disrupting compounds in the Antarctic environment and food chain

The study aims to quantify selected emerging Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs) in sewage, and waters from Antarctica, and to study levels of EDCs in the food chain, including invertebrates, fish, penguins and seals. The aim is to determine whether EDCs are present at biologically active levels in Antarctic ecosystems, and then to model the potential effects upon key members of the ecosystem. Samples collected include; two jars of Adelie penguin guano, five jars of discarded Adelie penguin feathers and one zip lock bag of discarded Skua feathers from the Cape Royds penguin colony, a Weddell seal blood sample (afterbirth found on the ice) from Cape Armitage, 14 Weddell seal urine samples and 21 faeces samples collected from around Cape Armitage and Razorback Island, 7 fish (Trematomus bernacchii) collected at Cape Evans, 14 clams (Laternula elliptica), 10 sea urchins (Sterechinus neumayeri) collected by SCUBA divers in Winter Quarters Bay, sewage effluent samples (one composite sample from McMurdo Station and one composite and one grab sample from Scott Base) and 15 ocean water samples collected from Cape Armitage, Winter Quarters Bay, Scott Base, and Cape Evans. Samples were returned to New Zealand to elicit the fate and behaviour of emerging contamination in the Antarctic environment.