OBSERVATIONS ON AN ACCIDENTAL CASE OF RAW SEWAGE POLLUTION IN ANTARCTICA

The effects of an accidental exposure to saltwater polluted by human w astes on aquarium populations of a variety of Antarctic organisms are described. Only the giant Antarctic slater Glyptonotus antarcticus sur vived the exposure to the contaminated water unharmed. A comparative a nalysis of water qualities revealed that total nitrogen and phosphorus levels of the contaminated sample were 15 and 19.5 times higher than those of the control and that the contaminated sample contained high a mounts of coliform bacteria, whereas the latter were not identified in the control. Considering the widespread practice in Antarctica of dis posing of raw sewage into the sea, the dearth of knowledge concerning the biological impact of such behaviour is seen as worrysome.