State of the marine environment in Antarctica

This report assesses the state of the Antarctic marine environment using published scientific literature, grey literature, and data from research and monitoring programmes. It examines ocean circulation, sources and pathways of pollutants, and observed levels of hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, heavy metals, radionuclides, and human-derived debris in water, sediments, and biota. The document describes the relative isolation of the Southern Ocean, the dominance of natural over contaminant sources, and the generally low concentrations of pollutants compared with other regions. It also reviews atmospheric transport mechanisms, local human activities, and potential risks from future exploitation of non-living marine resources, providing a regional scientific baseline for environmental assessment.