Journal of the Chilean Chemical Society
versión On-line ISSN 0717-9707
HENRIQUEZ, MARTA; BECERRA, JOSÉ; BARRA, RICARDO y ROJAS, JORGE. HYDROCARBONS AND ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES IN SOILS OF THE URBAN ECOSYSTEM OF CHILLÁN AND CHILLÁN VIEJO, CHILE. J. Chil. Chem. Soc. [online]. 2006, vol.51, n.3, pp. 938-944. ISSN 0717-9707. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-97072006000300002.
Although traditional soil use in Chillán and Chillán Viejo is agricultural, both cities have seen their surrounding areas expand and change drastically. Economic activities have increased, including phytosanitary companies and petroleum derivatives used in agriculture and transport. This has had a large impact on the soil. The present work studies total hydrocarbon contamination (lineal and polycyclic aromatics) and chlorine pesticides (Aldrin, Dieldrin, DDT, and DDE) in surface soils near potential sources of pollution. The concentration of total hydrocarbons in the majority of the samples analyzed is between 0.1 and 70 mg/kg. Only 8.8 % exceed 70 mg/kg., indicating the need for recovery before use, according international regulations. The pesticide Aldrin was found in 41.2 % of the soil samples, DDT in 32.4 %, Dieldrin in 29.4%, and DDE in 2.9%. These levels exceed the maximum limits established for ecological improvement in Chile. Amongst themselves, total hydrocarbons correlated with total pesticides and with DDT, but not with Aldrin or Dieldrin. Correlations were also found for total pesticides with DDT and Aldrin, and strong correlations were observed for DDT with Aldrin, and Aldrin with Dieldrin
Palabras clave : hydrocarbons; pesticides; surface soil texture; mid-city.