title: Trace metal variability in coastal waters of San Jorge Bay, Antofagasta, Chile: An environmental evaluation and statistical approach to propose local background levels.
abstract: Between 2008 and 2011, twelve metals from 384 coastal waters samples from San Jorge Bay (Antofagasta, northern Chile) were collected and analyzed. The goal was to evaluate the quality of the bay's water bodies according to the current Chilean Quality Guideline and to establish background levels for these metals. The result suggests that the coastal waters of San Jorge Bay are of very good quality suitable for recreational activities involving human body contact. The natural background thresholds established for this bay were significantly lower than primary and secondary water quality guidelines. The distribution of Cu, Zn and Pb, along the bay's coastline provides evidence of the effects of industrial activity. Both situations suggest that the threshold indicated in the environmental guidelines of the Chilean legislation may be overestimated and do not represent pollution-free environments.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Sedimentología y Paleoambientes, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales A. v. Humboldt, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y de Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Casilla 170, Antofagasta, Chile. Electronic address: jvaldes@uantof.cl.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valdés
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Química Bio-Inorgánica y Analítica Ambiental, Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Román
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Sedimentología y Paleoambientes, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales A. v. Humboldt, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y de Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Casilla 170, Antofagasta, Chile.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guiñez
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Química Bio-Inorgánica y Analítica Ambiental, Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Química Bio-Inorgánica y Analítica Ambiental, Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ávila
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Química Bio-Inorgánica y Analítica Ambiental, Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cortés
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Sedimentología y Paleoambientes, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales A. v. Humboldt, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y de Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Casilla 170, Antofagasta, Chile.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castillo
mesh_terms: D001493:Bathing Beaches; D061006:Bays; D002677:Chile; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D060753:Water Quality
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Background levels; Chile; Marine waters; Trace metals