Although Antarctica is considered one of the most pristine areas on Earth, an accelerating human presence in this remote continent, such as scientific operations and functioning of numerous scientific stations, logistics, and tourism activities, has increased the risks of environmental impacts in recent decades. During the 63rd Russian Antarctic expedition, 42 samples from topsoil horizons were collected from Larsemann Hills, Mirny station, and Fulmar Island, Eastern Antarctica. The purpose of this work was to analyze the accumulation levels 8 trace elements and to assess possible environmental risks associated with contamination of Antarctic soils. Various human activities have been found to be responsible for increase of metal levels in studied Antarctic environments. Our study also revealed a specific role of ornithogenic factor and moss cover in distribution of contaminants in severe conditions of Eastern Antarctica soils. Ornithogenic soils were characterized by higher rates of accumulation of some trace metals and metalloids (especially zinc and copper) compared with other investigated “pristine” sites without significantly visible traces of guano inputs. In general term, obtained geoaccumulation index for trace elements in all samples were under or slightly above the 0 level, indicating low to moderate pollution of the studied soils. Results of principal component analysis revealed the necessity for further detailed research on interactions of trace metals with soil organic matter for better understanding of their biogeochemistry in the Antarctic environment. Although most of contaminated sites were found in anthropogenically affected areas, accumulation of some elements in guano-derived and moss materials were associated with higher values for soil pollution indices in natural soils, as well.

尽管南极洲被认为是地球上最原始的地区之一，但近几十年来，人类在这个偏远大陆上的存在加速发展，例如科学运作和众多科学站，物流和旅游活动的功能，都增加了环境影响的风险。在第63届俄罗斯南极考察中，从Mirny站的Larsemann Hills和南极东部的Fulmar岛收集了来自表土层的42个样本。这项工作的目的是分析8种微量元素的积累水平，并评估与南极土壤污染有关的可能的环境风险。已经发现，在研究的南极环境中，各种人类活动是导致金属含量增加的原因。我们的研究还揭示了鸟类成因因子和苔藓覆盖物在南极东部土壤严重条件下的污染物分布中的特定作用。与其他没有明显观察到鸟粪输入痕迹的“原始”地点相比，鸟类成土的特征是某些痕量金属和准金属（特别是锌和铜）的积累速率更高。总体而言，所有样品中痕量元素的地质累积指数均低于或略高于0，表明受研究土壤的污染程度为中低。主成分分析的结果表明，有必要进一步详细研究痕量金属与土壤有机质的相互作用，以更好地了解其在南极环境中的生物地球化学。