Persistence and Environmental Impact of Enteric Bacteria in an Antarctic Marine Environment

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The influence of human activities on Antarctic ecosystems is an important issue in this pristine and fragile environment. In particular, the release of untreated sewage from McMurdo Station has drawn considerable attention from envirnomental groups. At the same time, very little is known about the persistence of enteric indicator and pathogenic bacteria in the Antarctic marine environment. McFeters proposes to address key questions that relate to the potential public health and environmental impact of releasing untreated sewage into Antarctic sea water. Moreover, it is hypothesized that the sewage plume does not extend to the area of the potable water intake for McMurdo Station. This hypothesis remains untested in view of the extended persistence of enteric bacteria and currents in McMurdo Sound. McFeters will describe the extent of the sewage plume under maximal occupancy circumstances at McMurdo Station and the potential health as well as environmental consequences of the present sewage disposal practices. Such information will be applicable to other polar regions where increasing human activity poses a threat to the local ecosystem.