However, the integration of chemical assessment (environmental burden), ecological data (effects in the biota) and ecotoxicological evidences (cause-effect relationships) is still scarce. This project intends to apply a structured Environmental Risk Assessment framework collecting data from and integrating these three lines of evidence to the Fildes Peninsula, which has been highlighted as a hotspot of trace-element (TE) contamination. Soil, freshwater and coastal sediments will be assessed for their TE burden, for biodiversity and functions they can support, and for their toxic effects in indicator species. An effective contribution to environmental protection/management actions in the Antarctica is envisioned through the final delivery of GIS-based risk maps, which will allow a robust support to further decision making in this context.