Category / publication
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Continuous bioreactors enable high-level bioremediation of diesel-contaminated seawater at low and mesophilic temperatures using Antarctic bacterial consortia: Pollutant analysis and microbial community composition
In 2020, more than 21,000 tons of diesel oil were released accidently into the environment with most of it contaminating water bodies. There is an urgent need for sustainable technologies to clean up rivers and oceans to protect wildlife and human health. One solution is harnessing the power of bacterial consortia; however isolated microbes from different environments…
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Marine debris and associated organic pollutants in surface waters of Chiloé in the Northern Chilean Patagonia (42°–44°S)
We report the occurrence of plastics and associated persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in surface waters from Northern Chilean Patagonia. A total of 200 particles were found during the conducted survey. The highest number of particles found was 0.6 item m−3. We found that 53 % of the collected particles corresponded to plastic, with an average of 0.19 ± 0.18 item m−3. Microplastics (68 %) were the dominant…
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Trends in the monitoring of legacy and emerging organic pollutants in protected areas
Protected Areas (PAs) are locations for conservation, internationally recognized for their natural, ecological, and/or cultural values. Human presence in PAs is generally limited to minimal or banned exploitation of natural resources. However, different threats to PAs are evident as a result of short and long-range transport of organic pollutants of legacy and emerging concern. There has been…
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Multicompartmental analysis of POPs and PAHs in Concepciόn Bay, central Chile: Part II – Air-sea exchange during Austral summer
Air-sea exchange of POPs and PAHs was assessed in Concepción Bay during January, summer 2015. Results showed low levels, in air and water, for POPs (1–20 pg m−3, and 6–50 pg L−1, respectively) and for ΣPAHs (1–2 ng m−3 and 1–2 ng L−1, respectively). The highest levels were found for PBDEs (200–20,000 pg L−1) in the water samples (3-fold times higher than PCBs and OCP) and PBDE209 accounted for 90%…
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Occurrence and air-water diffusive exchange legacy persistent organic pollutants in an oligotrophic north Patagonian lake
In this study, the occurrence and diffusive air-water exchange of POPs in Panguipulli Lake (39°42′S-72°13′W), an oligotrophic lake located in northern Patagonia (Chile), were determined. Air and water samples were collected between March and August 2017 (autumn-winter) and analyzed for concentrations of OCPs (α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH and HCB) and PCBs (PCB-28,-52,-101,-118,-153,-158,-180) using gas chromatography coupled with an electron capture detector. The…
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Pharmaceutical pollution of the world’s rivers
Significance Despite growing evidence of the deleterious effects on ecological and human health, little is known regarding the global occurrence of pharmaceuticals in rivers. Studies assessing their occurrence are available for 75 of 196 countries, with most research conducted in North America and Western Europe. This leaves large geographical regions relatively unstudied. Here, we present…
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A decade later, reviewing floating marine debris in Northern Chilean Patagonia
Floating marine debris (FMD) were abundantly reported in the Northern Chilean Patagonia in 2009 where sea-based activities (mussel and salmon aquaculture) are responsible for most of them. Identifying the sources of FMD is important to take the necessary actions to diminish their abundance. In 2019 eleven transects were opportunistically conducted to evaluate the abundance, spatial…
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Towards understanding the effects of oceanic plastic pollution on population growth for a South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis australis) colony in Chile
Entanglement of pinnipeds with plastic debris is an emerging conservation and animal welfare issue worldwide. However, the origins and long-term population level consequences of these entanglements are usually unknown. Plastic entanglement could produce a combination of wounds, asphyxiation, or inability to feed that results in the death of a certain percentage of individuals from the…
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Legacy and novel flame retardants from indoor dust in Antarctica: Sources and human exposure
The air humidity in Antarctica is very low and this peculiar weather parameter make the use of flame retardants in research facilities highly needed for safety reasons, as fires are a major risk. Legacy and novel flame retardants (nFRs) including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE), Dechlorane Plus (DP), and other nFRs were measured in indoor dust samples collected at…
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A country’s response to tackling plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems: The Chilean way
Marine plastic pollution is worse than expected, and we are starting to realize its full extent and severity. Solving the plastic pollution problem is not easy, as it requires the action and commitment of all sectors of our society. With a coastline extending over 4,000 km (from 18°S to 56°S), Chile is a maritime country,…