Plastic debris, persistent organic pollutants and their toxicity impacts in coastal areas in Central Chile

Mar Pollut Bull. 2023 Sep;194(Pt B):115361. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115361. Epub 2023 Aug 12.

Abstract

The chemical components of plastic wastes have made their disposal a major economic, social, and environmental problem worldwide. This study evaluated the acute toxicity and genotoxicity of marine plastic debris on the beaches of Concepción Bay, Central Chile, taken during three periods (spring, summer, and winter). An integrated approach was used, including chemical and toxicological data, using the Microtox® test with Vibrio fischeri and SOS chromotest with Escherichia coli and concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The results presented here exclusively include the novel data obtained from the winter campaign, revealing high concentrations of PBDEs (238 ± 521 ng g-1). In addition, the genotoxicity and acute toxicity tests were sensitive for most of the samples studied. This investigation is the first attempt to analyse the toxicity of plastic debris in coastal areas along the Chilean coast.

Keywords: Chile; Coastal areas; Marine plastic debris; Microtox®; POPs; SOS chromotest.

MeSH terms

  • Chile
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods
  • Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / analysis
  • Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / toxicity
  • Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated* / analysis
  • Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated* / toxicity
  • Persistent Organic Pollutants
  • Pesticides* / analysis
  • Pesticides* / toxicity
  • Plastics / toxicity
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls* / analysis
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls* / toxicity
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical* / toxicity

Substances

  • Plastics
  • Persistent Organic Pollutants
  • Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls
  • Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated
  • Pesticides
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical