Tovar-Salvador M Luz, Pintado-Herrera Marina G, Lara-Martín Pablo A, Bonnail Estefanía
Physical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cadiz, International Campus of Excellence of the Sea, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
Physical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cadiz, International Campus of Excellence of the Sea, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
Sci Total Environ. 2023 Nov 20;900:165871. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165871. Epub 2023 Jul 28.
Nowadays, there is still a scientific knowledge gap regarding occurrence and distribution of organic contaminants in remote areas. In this study, we have monitored for the first time the presence of a wide range of persistent and emerging organic pollutants in the Atacama Desert coastal region (Chile), a key area in the Humboldt Current System. Nonylphenols (NPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides, UV filters, synthetic fragrances, and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) were determined in sediments along the >500 km length Atacama coastline. NPs, well-known endocrine disruptors, were the predominant pollutants in the area (up to 333.5 ng g dw). We identified inputs of different classes of contaminants from anthropogenic activities such as mining, agriculture, direct effluent discharges, harbors, energy plants, recreational activities, and tourism occurring along the coastline. Environmental risk assessment through calculation of hazard quotients (HQs) showed a high ecological risk level for NPs in the three provinces of Atacama (HQ >1). In the case of PAHs, (pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, chrysene, acenaphthene, naphthalene and benzo(a)pyrene) HQ >1 was showed in Copiapó province. Furthermore, estradiol equivalent concentrations (EEQ) were determined to estimate estrogenicity of the environmental sediment samples. The maximum EEQ value was for NPs in H1 (Carrizal Bajo wetland), province of Huasco, where the highest concentration of NPs was found. The sampling point H1 is a particular location because it is the exit of a wetland and a tourist point used as a beach. The potential risks of anthropogenic chemical substances impacting remote regions such as the one studied here highlight the need of expand monitoring efforts worldwide for a better assessment of the global pollution status.
如今，关于偏远地区有机污染物的发生和分布仍存在科学知识空白。在本研究中，我们首次监测了阿塔卡马沙漠沿海地区（智利）——洪堡洋流系统中的一个关键区域——多种持久性和新兴有机污染物的存在情况。沿着阿塔卡马海岸线长达500多公里的沉积物中测定了壬基酚（NPs）、多环芳烃（PAHs）、农药、紫外线过滤剂、合成香料和有机磷酸酯阻燃剂（OPFRs）。壬基酚是著名的内分泌干扰物，是该地区的主要污染物（高达333.5 ng g干重）。我们确定了来自人为活动的不同类别污染物的输入，这些活动包括沿着海岸线进行的采矿、农业、直接废水排放、港口、能源工厂、娱乐活动和旅游业。通过计算危害商数（HQs）进行的环境风险评估表明，阿塔卡马三省的壬基酚具有较高的生态风险水平（HQ>1）。对于多环芳烃（芘、苯并(a)蒽、屈、苊、萘和苯并(a)芘），科皮亚波省的HQ>1。此外，还测定了雌二醇当量浓度（EEQ）以估计环境沉积物样品的雌激素活性。最高EEQ值出现在瓦斯克省H1（卡里扎尔巴霍湿地）的壬基酚中，该湿地发现了最高浓度的壬基酚。采样点H1是一个特殊位置，因为它是一个湿地的出口，也是一个用作海滩的旅游景点。人为化学物质对偏远地区（如此处研究的地区）产生影响的潜在风险凸显了在全球范围内扩大监测力度以更好地评估全球污染状况的必要性。
