Hazardous heavy metals in the pristine lacustrine systems of Antarctica: Insights from PMF model and ERA techniques

A comprehensive study was presented on the ecological risk, distribution, and quantitative source apportionment of heavy metals in the selected lacustrine systems of Schirmacher Hills using various environmental indices and methods. A total of 25 sediment samples from 16 lakes were collected around scientific research stations and analyzed for metals. Geochemical approaches and ecological risk assessment methods were implemented to characterize and evaluate the contamination level and associated risk in the lacustrine systems. Moreover, statistical techniques and a positive matrix factorization (PMF) model were indorsed to understand metals' association and apportion their probable sources. Results revealed that most of the heavy metals (mean concentration in ppm) such as Al (77,504.09), Cd (1.36), Co (29.52), Cr (102.75), Cu (65.19), Fe (57,632.87), Mn (679.05), Ni (49.13), Pb (10.11), and Zn (253.78) are originated from natural weathering of source rocks (78.53%) followed by human-induced actions/ station activities coupled with atmospheric deposition (21.47%). Environmental risk assessment (ERA) techniques suggest that the lakes in the study area are under minimal to moderate enrichment/ contamination category and experienced minimal to adverse biological effects where metal toxicity risk is minimal.