Quantification and modelling of Fluxes of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to Antarctic marine benthic organisms

Marine benthic ecosystems are considered to be the final sink of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Antarctica is a global net receptor of POPs, therefore, quantification of fluxes of POPs to and in the Antarctic benthic ecosystems, although practically difficult, is essential to understand the overall dynamics of these contaminants on a global scale.  In order to achieve that, Antarctic benthic ecosystems were studied as an integral part of the Antarctic environment as a whole. Furthermore, robust quality assurance and reporting practices are needed to establish comprehensive time trends of these pollutants, especially due to their expected relatively low concentrations.  Current thesis was one of the first attempts to assess fluxes of POPs to benthic Antarctic ecosystems. The major outcome of the study is the conformation of the hypothesis on potentially increasing concentrations of POPs in the benthic ecosystems. Simultaneously, the concentrations of POPs in the pelagic ecosystems may have also stopped decreasing, which was previously indicated. Nevertheless, the fluxes of POPs and, possibly, their toxicological effects on the Antarctic benthic animals will undergo considerable changes in the future due to global change, which must be researched further in detail