Preliminary data on environmental distribution of mercury in northern Victoria Land, Antarctica

Concentrations of mercury were measured in soil and two species of epilithic macrolichens (Umbilicaria decussata and Usnea antarctica) collected along of the coast of northern Victoria Land coast. Most of the soil samples had a very low mercury content, whereas lichens had levels higher than in other remote areas. Although a possible contamination of samples cannot be completely excluded, the relevance to bioaccumulation of the very slow growth rate of lichens and of volcanic activity are discussed.