First long-term record of halogenated organic compounds (AOX, EOX, and PCDD/F) and trace elements (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, Ni, and Zn) in marine biota of the coastal zone of southcentral Chile

Abstract

This paper reports long-term concentration records of metals and organic halogenated compounds in tissues of 49 species of marine organisms from Eastern South Pacific coast, Biobio region, Chile during a marine monitoring program developed between 2006 and 2015. Principal component (PCA) and generalized linear model (GLM) analyses indicated significant differences in the concentrations of metals and organic halogenated compounds among taxonomic and functional groups. The strongest relationships exist between species that share similar feeding habits rather than between species of the same taxonomic group or habitat. The significant differences between these groups were maintained over time; thus concentrations detected are, in general, within the ranges reported at genus level for Chile and the rest of the world. Since there is no evidence of any pollution process in the area, this information can be used as an environmental reference to establish natural concentrations for the parameters and organisms analyzed.

Keywords: Central Chile; Marine biota; Organic halogen compounds; Trace metals.