Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls in coastal environments of Valdivia and Valparaiso, Chile

PAHs and PCBs were measured in the mussel Perumytilus purpuratus (Lamarck) collected from three different sites along the coast of Valdivia and Valparaiso, South-Central and Central Chile, respectively. Pollution at these sites is considered low with PAHs originating mainly from pyrolytic sources according to the Phenanthrene/Anthracene and Fluoranthene/Pyrene ratios. Temporal variation of PAHs was observed in Valdivia, while site variation was observed along the Valparaiso area. Total PAH concentrations in Valdivia ranged from 29.2 ng/g to 89.5 ng/g in 2001 and from 31.0 ng/g to 48.6 ng/g in 2002 while in Valparaiso samples the total PAHs ranged from 27.3 ng/g to 253.1 ng/g and from 12.1 ng/g to 26.3 ng/g in 2001 and 2002, respectively. Polychlorinated biphenyls were not found in mussels from Valdivia; however five non-planar congeners were detected in samples from Valparaiso with total concentrations between 1.0 ng/g and 16.6 ng/g in 2001 and between 3.4 ng/g and 29.0 ng/g in 2002. The pesticide heptachlor epoxide was detected in all sampling sites of Valdivia during the years 2001-2002 at concentrations ranging between 1 and 3.5 ng/g.