title: Impact of forest fires on the concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofurans in coastal waters of central Chile.
abstract: The relationship between the occurrence of forest fires in central Chile and the total concentration of dioxins and furans (PCDD/F) in nearby coastal waters was analyzed. The data for this analysis was obtained from a long-term environmental monitoring program (PROMNA) in the Bio-Bio Region. Quantification of PCDD/F was performed using HRGC/HRMS at the MSS laboratory in England. Between 2006 and 2014, peaks were observed in February 2007 and 2012. These concentration maxima coincided with major forest fires in the Bio-Bio Region and particularly with those in the Itata River Basin. The January 2012 fires generated an intense short-term response that was associated with atmospheric transport which increases medium toxicity furan-type congeners concentrations (TCDF, PCDF and HxCDF) and six months later a concentration increase of low toxicity dioxin-type congeners was observed (OCDD, HpCDD and HxCDD) coinciding with maximum winter river flow. These results suggest that forest fires near the coastal zone are responsible for increases in PCDD/F concentration observed in the study area.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chemical Oceanography (Laboratorio de Oceanografía Química-LOQ), University of Concepcion, Chile; Department of Oceanography, University of Concepcion, Casilla 160-C, Barrio Universitario s/n, Concepción, Chile; Marine Monitoring Program - Nueva Aldea (Programa de Monitoreo Marino Nueva Aldea-PROMNA), University of Concepcion, Chile. Electronic address: msalaman@udec.cl.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salamanca
authors.affiliation: Department of Oceanography, University of Concepcion, Casilla 160-C, Barrio Universitario s/n, Concepción, Chile; Marine Monitoring Program - Nueva Aldea (Programa de Monitoreo Marino Nueva Aldea-PROMNA), University of Concepcion, Chile. Electronic address: crchandi@udec.cl.
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chandía
authors.affiliation: Department of Oceanography, University of Concepcion, Casilla 160-C, Barrio Universitario s/n, Concepción, Chile; Renewable Aquatic Resources Management, University of Concepcion, Chile. Electronic address: aldohernandez@udec.cl.
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hernández
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D002677:Chile; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005390:Fires; D065928:Forests; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000032:analysis*; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Central Chile; Coastal water column; Dioxins/furans; Forest fire