title: Distribution and pollution assessment of trace elements in marine sediments in the Quintero Bay (Chile).
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the levels of heavy metal pollution in the clay/silt fraction (<63 μm fraction) of marine sediments from Quintero Bay, Chile. For this, sediment samples were collected from 14 sites from the bay and analyzed for major and minor element determination. The metal concentrations found suggest an anthropogenic origin related with Cu, Se, Mo, As, Sb and Pb. The mineralogical characteristics of the samples were determined by XRD and selected samples were examined by SEM to determine morphological differences. The results showed heavy metal-bearing particles such as Cu, Zn, As and Pb, which are most likely associated with by the copper smelter.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Química Analítica y Ambiental, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Avenida Brasil 2950, Valparaíso, Chile. Electronic address: sonnia.parra@ucv.cl.
authors.forename: Sonnia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parra
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Química Analítica y Ambiental, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Avenida Brasil 2950, Valparaíso, Chile.
authors.forename: Manuel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bravo
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Química Analítica y Ambiental, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Avenida Brasil 2950, Valparaíso, Chile.
authors.forename: Waldo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Quiroz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Studies ''IDAEA", CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Querol
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Andrés Bello, Sede Viña del Mar, Chile.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paipa
mesh_terms: D061006:Bays; D002677:Chile; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D008669:Metallurgy; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003300:Copper
keywords: Enrichment factor; Environmental assessment; Heavy metal; Quintero Bay; Sediments analysis