Long-term monitoring of heavy metals in Chilean coastal sediments in the eastern South Pacific Ocean

Abstract

Concentrations of seven metals (Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, Zn) were determined in 256 surface sediment samples, collected between May 2006 and November 2009, from 15 stations at the mouth of the Itata River and its adjacent marine zone (central-southern Chile) as part of an environmental monitoring program. The objectives of the work were to: (i) establish baseline metal concentrations in the sediments of the area and (ii) identify tendencies in the spatial and temporal distribution of the metals in these marine sediments. Concentrations were highest in the north zone of the Itata River mouth (stations E2C, E13C) for all the metals and at the stations farthest offshore from the mouth (E4, E6) for Cu, Fe, Pb, and Ni. The ranges in those concentrations were lower than those reported in other studies performed along the Chilean coast and lower than those observed in most other coastal systems around the world. Based on results of the indices used (geoaccumulation index, enrichment factor), the coastal sediments were not measurably elevated above natural levels.