ABSTRACT
The Antarctic continent is entirely surrounded by the Antarctic Ocean also named Southern Ocean, forming a barrier to the movement of organisms into and out of Antarctica. Therefore, the Antarctic Continent has unique characteristics because of its geographic isolation. The cryosphere components found in the Antarctic environment are largely responsible for most of the regional dynamics. The cryosphere, featured in some of the most up-to-date scientific investigations, is one component of the climate system that plays a major part on modulating the Southern Ocean dynamics and the Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC). High concentrations of nutrients and the abundance of pathogens, sewage effluent may contain high concentrations of other contaminants such as metals, hydrocarbons and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Hydrocarbons can be introduced to Antarctic environment recurrently or accidentally during scientific support activities, ship operations, incineration and tourism. Local data and laboratory experiments showed biological effects of anthropic hydrocarbons in marine Antarctic organisms.
