Research funded by the National Antarctic Research Programme (PNRA)
Although Antarctica is the most remote and least accessible continent on the planet, it is increasingly subject to human impact. In recent years, it has been affected by one of the most pervasive environmental threats of the Anthropocene: plastic pollution. While plastic pollution has been widely documented in the oceans, including the Southern Ocean, Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems—which make up only 0.4% of the continent’s surface—are still understudied. Yet, it’s precisely in these small, ice-free oases that human activities, such as scientific bases, tourist expeditions, and logistical facilities, are concentrated. It is therefore possible that significant local plastic contamination stems directly from this human presence.
For the past 15 years, the University of Siena Ecotoxicology and Biomonitoring Lab, led by Professor Ilaria Corsi of the Department of Physical, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, has been dedicated to studying the presence and impact of plastic on Antarctic marine and terrestrial communities.
“The two latest projects, funded in 2025 as part of the PNRA on foreign bases – Ilaria Corsi explains – involve collaboration with international partners from the British, German, Chilean, New Zealand, Korean, and Australian Antarctic programs. The projects also include partnerships with the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, the Institute of Polar Sciences of the National Research Council, and Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste. They focus on the impact of plastic in the microfauna of Antarctic soils, with a specific focus on microplastics (<5 mm) and nanoplastics (<1 µm) (EXPLORA – Explore Plastic Pollution in Terrestrial Antarctica, PNRA 2019). The research also investigates the impact of textile microfibers, both global and local, released from wastewater treatment plants at bases and from plastic logistics materials (flags and tents) on coastal-marine communities (TIPTOE-Tracking Microfiber Pollution and Impact on Antarctic Coastal Waters, PNRA2022)”.
The projects will be conducted in two distinct Antarctic areas: King George Island, which experiences more human activity, and Victoria Land, a more remote area adjacent to the planet’s largest marine protected area, the Ross Sea.
“EXPLORA’s expected results – Corsi continues – include a first detailed mapping of plastic contamination in Antarctic soils, new knowledge on the ecotoxicological impacts on soil communities and an initial microbiological assessment of plastic as a potential vector for pathogens. TIPTOE’s expected results are a mapping of the release and distribution of microfibers from Antarctic bases, data on the ecotoxicological effects of microfibers and their associated contaminants on key species within the Antarctic ecosystem and informations on the role of microfibers as vectors for bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes. The project also aims to define guidelines and strategies for managing and treating wastewater from scientific bases and ships to minimize the impact of human activities in polar regions”.
Antarctica is protected by strict international agreements, but human presence, even if limited, can have significant effects on the resilience of this ecosystem. Professor Patrizia Vigni, from the Department of Business and Legal Studies, is participating in the TIPTOE project as an international expert on the Antarctic Treaty, having served as a legal consultant for the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the negotiations related to the Treaty.
“Projects like EXPLORA and TIPTOE – Ilaria Corsi underlines – are crucial for producing solid scientific data that can inform policy decisions and mitigation, protection, and conservation measures for Antarctic terrestrial and marine resources aligned with the most recent Resolution 5 of the Antarctic Treaty (ATCM 47) “Towards ending plastic pollution in the Antarctic Treaty area” adopted last July”.
Emma Ferrari, a research fellow in the EXPLORA project att he Department of Physical, Earth, and Environmental Sciences and a participant in the Antarctic expedition in question, answered some of our questions about research work in Antarctica.
Has the project’s work already started?
“Yes, the activities for the EXPLORA and TIPTOE projects began with the first Antarctic expedition of 2024-25, which took place in February at the Chilean scientific base “Julio Escudero” on King George Island in the Antarctic Peninsula. During my time in Antarctica, I was able to carry out both field sampling near the scientific station and at other points on the island, collecting samples,making environmental observations, and performing preliminary analyses at the Chilean base’s laboratories”.
Who participated in the expeditions and when?
“I personally participated in the expedition as a research fellow from the University of Siena. My participation was made possible by the two-decade-long collaboration between our research group, the Ecotoxicology and Biomonitoring Lab at DSFTA, and the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH) in Punta Arenas, with Professor Marcelo Gonzales Aravena and Dr. Rodolfo Rondon. Thanks to this collaboration, I was hosted for 30 days at the INACH scientific base, where I not only received room and board but also the necessary logistical support for sampling activities at sea and on land”.
What data was collected?
“During the expedition, I sampled coastal marine waters and benthic invertebrates for the TIPTOE project to assess the presence of microplastics and microfibers. We focused particularly on those potentially dispersed from the scientific bases and generated from washing technical fabrics with special textile fibers designed to maintain temperature in these extreme conditions. Additionally, in the base’s laboratories, I began filtering the collected water and performing an initial visual classification of the microplastics, dividing them by type, color, and size. This preliminary data has already been valuable for understanding the characteristics of the collected material and guiding the more advanced analyses that will follow. During the same scientific expedition, I also initiated sampling for the EXPLORA project, which aims to study the impact of plastic fragments—from macro to nanoplastics—on Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems. I collected fragments of expanded polystyrene found along the island’s coasts and inland areas, which were often colonized by mosses and soil microinvertebrates. In addition, I took samples of mosses, lichens, and soil to evaluate any transfer of microplastics to the terrestrial microfauna. This is in line with evidence already produced in previous studies conducted by Professor Elisa Bergami from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and Professor Ilaria Corsi as part of past PNRA projects”.
How will the research activities continue?
“Currently, thanks to the collaboration with the Elettra synchrotrone in Trieste and under the supervision of Dr. Lisa Vaccari and Dr. Giovanni Birarda, we are proceeding with more in-depth analyses to chemically characterize the microfibers isolated from the base’s wastewater using micro-FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, also in collaboration with the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia with Professor Elisa Bergami. The data obtained will then be compared with analyses performed on clothing and equipment samples from the base’s personnel, as well as with fiber residues from the washing machines and dryers used at the station. In parallel, microbiological analyses will be performed on the isolated microfibers to understand the interactions between plastic contaminants and local microbial communities. These steps will allow us to more fully assess the impact of human activities on Antarctic coastal ecosystems and provide useful data for mitigation strategies. In the EXPLORA project, we will analyze the microinvertebrate specimens found in the expanded polystyrene fragments to check for any transfer following ingestion. At the same time, we will conduct microbiological analyses on both the polystyrene fragments and the mosses collected nearby to better understand the interactions between plastic, microorganisms, and Antarctic soil fauna”.
Will you participate in other expeditions to Antarctica, or will the activities continue in the laboratories?
“The next expedition is already scheduled for February 2026, again at the “Julio Escudero” Chilean base, in collaboration with INACH. Dr. Silvia Simonetti, a research fellow for the TIPTOE project, will take part in the mission and will continue the activities already started and develop new ones, broadening the scope of the investigations. In the meantime, a large part of the work will continue in our EcoBiomLab laboratories at the University of Siena, where we will analyze the data and samples collected, develop new protocols for monitoring microplastics and microfibers in polar areas, and prepare logistically and scientifically for future campaigns. This combination of field work and laboratory analysis is essential for building a clear and scientifically solid view of the impact of plastics in an environment as remote and fragile as Antarctica”.
