Human activity is polluting Antarctica’s snow

Antarctica, long seen as one of the planet’s last pristine environments, is increasingly under pressure from human activity. A new study led by Raul Cordero, researcher at the University of Groningen’s Campus Fryslân, shows that the continent’s snow is already carrying the chemical fingerprints of pollution from tourism and scientific operations.

The research team analysed surface snow samples collected along a 2,000-kilometre transect stretching from the South Shetland Islands (62° S) to the Ellsworth Mountains (79° S). This extensive dataset allowed the scientists to map the geochemical signatures of aerosol deposition in Antarctica.

Their results revealed distinct spatial patterns shaped by natural sources — such as crustal material, marine influences, and biological activity — but also by human activity. Heavy metals, often associated with fuel combustion and industrial emissions, were detected in snow from the northern Antarctic Peninsula. This is precisely the region where both research stations and marine tourism are concentrated.

“Our findings demonstrate that local, energy-intensive activities in Antarctica are already leaving measurable imprints on the environment,” says Raul Cordero. “This underscores the need for enhanced environmental monitoring and more sustainable management of human presence in the region.”

The study highlights the growing tension between Antarctica’s role as a site for scientific exploration and its vulnerability as one of Earth’s most fragile ecosystems. As tourism continues to expand and research infrastructure grows, policymakers face increasing pressure to ensure that activity in Antarctica is both scientifically productive and environmentally responsible.

For more details on this study, you can find the link to the study below. The Newshour podcast by the BBC also did a report on it, which can be found here (item starts at 18:22).