Antarctica is the geographic location of the South Pole. Almost all of them are in the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean. It has an area of approximately 14 million square kilometers. It is the fifth largest continent in the world and is a place where the world has united to preserve its status of being “The cleanest place in the world” which is defined as a place free from the effects of human activities such as shipping and crude oil spills or the combustion of fossil fuels which all cause toxic contamination in the environment. However, the only activity supported in Antarctica is research. A research station has been set up for humans to use as living quarters and conducting various research.

          As someone who has studied and researched about toxins and carcinogens for a long time, Prof Dr. Siwatt Pongpiachan, Director of NIDA Center for Research & Development of Disaster Prevention & Management was, therefore, interested in studying the soil of Antarctica which has the least toxic contamination from human activities. The information obtained will be background information indicating how many substances are present in nature free from human activity, to be used as a basis for setting standards for contamination of various toxic substances in the environment. 

Location of 42 Antarctic sediment samples collected from various locations.

         Prof Dr. Siwatt Pongpiachan collected the soil samples from King George Island in Antarctica and brought them to Synchrotron Light Research Institute (SLRI) to analyze in collaboration with Dr. Kanjana Thumanu, beamline scientist of SLRI with the technique of Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy using synchrotron light (SR-FTIR Micropectroscopy).

SR-FTIR spectrum of Antarctic sediment samples.

Samples were collected from the airport source.

Results of analysis of main components of the mid-infrared absorption surface area of organic functional groups in soil samples from King George Island using the SR-ATR-FTIR technique.

           “The highlight of the SR-FTIR technique is its potential to classify organic substances, inorganic substances and chemical bonds or functional groups of organic compounds in soil samples which can be analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. It is also a technique that does not destroy the sample. This allows researchers to take valuable Antarctic soil samples and further analyze them chemically using other techniques. It is also convenient, not complicated, takes a short time to measure and has high safety. It can measure samples in both solid and liquid form,” said Prof. Dr. Siwatt Pongpiachan.

           The analysis found that Antarctic soil samples contained organic compounds originating from various human activities in Antarctica. These activities include the use of fossil fuels in generators at research stations on King George Island, such as exhaust from vehicles and fuel used for warmth, with proportions as high as 44 percent. The closer to the airport or the research station at the South Pole, the distribution of such organic compounds was found to be higher than in other areas. Penguin droppings, including substances resulting from the decomposition of the remains of lichens, ferns, and mosses also cause organic compounds accounting for 25 percent.

 

            The soil samples used for this analysis were collected by Thai scientists in the 34th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE 34) operated by the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration (CAA) under The Maritime Safety Administration of the People's Republic of China. Scientists collected sediment samples from five different areas of King George Island, totaling 42 samples.

            Before that, in 2016, Prof. Dr. Siwatt Pongpiachan traveled with the 32^nd Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE32) to conduct research on the impact of climate change. He was selected from the Royal Initiative Polar Research Project, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) in cooperation with the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration in sending Thai scientists to accompany the Chinese CHINARE team that travels to Antarctica every year.

Research station of the People's Republic of China in Antarctica

            This research on Antarctic soil analysis was published under the title “Applying Synchrotron Radiation-based Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared to Chemically Characterize Organic Functional Groups in Terrestrial Soils of King George Island, Antarctica” which was published in Elsevier's Heliyon journal (Scimago Q1). The results of this research will lead to preventive measure to control fossil fuel use activities on King George Island because it directly causes contamination. And it will lead to further accumulation of organic compounds in Antarctic soil samples.

 

Article by: Prof Dr. Siwatt Pongpiachan, Director of NIDA Center for Research & Development of Disaster Prevention & Management

Dr. Kanjana Thumanu and Chunmanus Uthaisar, Beamline Scientists from SLRI

Complier: Corporate Communications Section, SLRI

Translation: International Relations Officer, User Service Section, SLRI