title: Levels of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in sediments from Lenga estuary, central Chile.
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.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pozo
authors.affiliation: Center for Environmental Sciences EULA-Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Barrio Universitario s/n, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Urrutia
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mariottini
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Católica Santísima Concepción, Alonso de Ribera 2850, P.C. 407 01 29 Concepción, Chile.
authors.forename: Anny
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rudolph
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Católica Santísima Concepción, Alonso de Ribera 2850, P.C. 407 01 29 Concepción, Chile.
authors.forename: Julieth
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Banguera
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Longitudinal Norte S/N, Temuco, Chile.
authors.forename: Katerine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pozo
authors.affiliation: Center for Environmental Sciences EULA-Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Barrio Universitario s/n, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Parra
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Focardi
mesh_terms: D002677:Chile; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D063366:Estuaries; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene / Q000032:analysis*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Bio Bio basin in Chile; Lenga estuary; Sediments; Stockholm Convention on POPs