Antarctica "still cleanest place’

Press, 4 February 1987, Page 12

Antarctica "still cleanest place’

By

JULIAN NIXON

NZPA correspondent PA Wellington Antarctica is still the cleanest place in the world, a Russian scientist said before he left Wellington on his fifth visit to the continent. “There are signs of pollution,” said Dr Valery Klokov, the chief scientist aboard the Mikhail Somov. “During my last trip I found metal poisoning in the blood of penguins.” The 14,000-ton Soviet research and supply ship had been at Wellington for four days, loading supplies. Dr Klokov said problems such as pollution were the responsibility of all countries. “Last year I met mem-

bers of Greenpeace to discuss such matters.” Plans of Russian research were given to the New Zealand Government, he said. Dr Klokov heads a team of 16 Soviet scientists and specialist technicians. Subjects for study will include geology, oceanography and meteorology. The Mikhail Somov, which was trapped in thick pack ice for five months almost i two years ago, will deliver food and supplies, including tractors, building materials and medical equipment to two Soviet bases in Antarctica. The Mikhail Somov is to call at Lyttelton in two months, before making the long voyage back to Leningrad.