Levels of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in sediments from Lenga estuary, central Chile

Karla Pozo; Roberto Urrutia; Michela Mariottini; Anny Rudolph; Julieth Banguera; Katerine Pozo; Oscar Parra; Silvano Focardi

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.11.031

Levels of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in sediments from Lenga estuary, central Chile

Mar Pollut Bull. 2014 Feb 15;79(1-2):338-41. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.11.031. Epub 2013 Dec 25.

Authors

Karla Pozo¹, Roberto Urrutia², Michela Mariottini³, Anny Rudolph⁴, Julieth Banguera⁴, Katerine Pozo⁵, Oscar Parra², Silvano Focardi³

Affiliations

¹ RECETOX, Research Centre for Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 3/126, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Católica Santísima Concepción, Alonso de Ribera 2850, P.C. 407 01 29 Concepción, Chile; Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy. Electronic address: gallardokarla@gmail.com.
² Center for Environmental Sciences EULA-Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Barrio Universitario s/n, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile.
³ Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy.
⁴ Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Católica Santísima Concepción, Alonso de Ribera 2850, P.C. 407 01 29 Concepción, Chile.
⁵ Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Longitudinal Norte S/N, Temuco, Chile.

PMID: 24373669
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.11.031

Abstract

Superficial sediments from Lenga estuary in the VIII region of central Chile were analysed for Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Hexachlorobenzene (HCB). Organic carbon (OC) analysis was also performed and the statistical correlations (Pearson correlations) between compounds were also tested. Results showed the total PCB concentrations (ng g(-)(1)d.w.) fluctuated from ∼ 20 to 10,000. These levels are higher than those reported in other coastal sediments of the world. The PCB profile was dominated by middle to highly chlorinated congeners (6-Cl=40% and 7-Cl=30%). HCB concentrations (ng g(-)(1)d.w.), were lower than the PCBs and, fluctuated between 1 (at L1) and 870 (at L4). OC values ranged from 1% (L1) to 7% (L4) showing a significant positive correlations between OC% and PCBs (r=0.86; p<0.05) and for HCB (r=0.71). These results are an important contribution to knowledge of levels of POPs levels in coastal Chilean environments.

Keywords: Bio Bio basin in Chile; Lenga estuary; Sediments; Stockholm Convention on POPs.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Chile
Environmental Monitoring*
Estuaries*
Geologic Sediments / chemistry*
Hexachlorobenzene / analysis*
Polychlorinated Biphenyls / analysis*
Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*

Substances

Water Pollutants, Chemical
Hexachlorobenzene
Polychlorinated Biphenyls