Environmental issues
Cleaning clothing & equipment
Environmental protection of Antarctica begins before you leave home.Do not use any of your AAD-issued clothing prior to going to Antarctica unless you are involved in pre-departure training. Your clothing should remain completely clean so that seeds and insects can't hitch a ride.
If you do have some personal clothing to use in the field, then ideally it should be new. A favourite beanie used to travel around the world in all weathers may have exotic fungus growth - use AAD issue beanie.
If you do decide to take old clothing, then it should be scrupulously cleaned - washed, scrubbed, vacuumed and picked free from seeds- in particular inside pockets and velcro strips.
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Boots, shoes, camera bags, backpacks and tripods, walking sticks
Ensure these items are scrupulously clean prior to getting on the ship.
Scrub the outside with diluted bleach (soak in 5-10% bleach solution for one hour before washing) and ensure any interiors and linings have been vacuumed and picked clean of seeds. Old joggers and other cloth shoes require the most effort to get clean and if possible should be replaced with new shoes. Pay particular attention to shoe laces.
Field Equipment including scientific equipment, hiking and camping equipment, recreational equipment
Talk with the Clothing and Equipment Officer at the AAD Field Centre about the equipment that you intend to use in the field and quarantine issues associated with it. Think about:
- where you have used the equipment before
- quarantine issues associated with it
- how to mitigate any quarantine issues
Examples:
- A survey tripod or walking poles used in phytophora infected forests of Australia will need to be soaked and cleaned with bleach solution
- A tent used in the Arctic Circle may be full of exotic moss spores undesirable to take and the Field Centre may issue you with an alternative
- A backpack used in Tasmania may have a leftover forgotten rotten apple infested with fruit flies
