Abstract
The present report describes some effects of industrial and municipal effluents on the waters of San Vicente Bay. Analyses ofthe main substances contained in the fishing industry effluentsuggest rating criteria based on the oxygen saturation of thewater as an assessment of organic pollution. Six cruises were carried out throughout the Bay, from June to December 1996. Watersamples were analyzed for dissolved oxygen, oil and grease content, and sediment samples for organic matter content. Waterparameters (salinity, temperature) were used to characterize theBay's hydrography, and to calculate values for oxygen saturation. The measurements demonstrated a local broad range of oxygen deficit, with a maximum of 45% in the winter to 95% in the spring. In November more than 65% of the Bay's area showed oxygendeficits greater than 40%. Organic matter was unusually high insediments along the northern sector of the Bay. The results suggest that the oxygen depletion was a representative parameterfor establishing a relative scale of water quality in this Bay.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahumada, R., Pinto, L. and Camus, P.: 2000, 'The Chilean Coast', in C. R. C. Sheppard (ed.), Seas at the Millennium: An Environmental Evaluation, Regional Chapter: Europe, the Americas and West Africa, Pergamon, Elsevier Science, pp. 699–717.
Ahumada, R., Rudolph, A., Madariaga, S. and Carrasco, F.: 1989, 'Description of oceanographic features of San Vicente bay and actual record about the pollution effects', Biología Pesquera 18, 37–52.
Ahumada, R., Rudolph, A. and Martínez, V.: 1983, 'Circulation and fertility of waters in Conceptión Bay', Estuarine, Coast. Shelf Sci. 16, 95–105.
Ahumada, R. and Rudolph, A.: 1989, 'Residuos líquidos de la industria pesquera: Alteraciones ambientales y estrategias de eliminación', Ambiente y desarrollo 5(1), 147–161.
Ahumada, R.: 1992, 'Patrones de distribución de metales traza (Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu, Cd y Pb) en sedimentos superficiales de Bahía San Vicente', Revista de Biología Marina, Valparaíso 27(2), 265–282.
APFA-AWWA-WPCF: 1985, Standard Methods for Examination of water and Wastewater, 16th ed., American Public Health Association, Washington, D.C. 1268 pp.
Arcos, D., Furet, L., Carrasco, F., Nuñez, S. and Vargas, F.: 1993, 'Eutroficación en al ambiente marino de Chile central: Efectos inducidos por la evacuación de residuos industriales liquídos', Inves. Mar, Valparaíso 21, 51–74.
Bascom, W.: 1978, 'Life in the Bottom', in W. Bascom (ed.), Coastal Water Research Project. Scale California, Annual Report for the Year, pp. 57–80.
Braga, E., Bonetti, C., Burone, L. and Bonetti, J.: 2000, 'Eutrophication and bacterial pollution caused by industrial and domestic wastes at the Baixada Santista Estuarine System - Brasil', Mar. Pollut. Bull. 40(2), 165–173.
Byers, S., Mills, C. E. L. and Steward, L.: 1978, 'A comparison of methods of determining organic carbon in marine sediments with suggestions for a standard method', Hydrobiol. 58(1), 43–47.
Carrasco, F.: 1996, 'The benthic macroinfauna of Concepción bay, Chile: High ecological dominance at the shallow sublittoral off Lirquen', Gayana Oceanol. 4(1), 1–12.
Carro, M. and Mennickent, H.: 1992, 'Numerical Modelling of the Hydrodynamic Circulation in the San Vicente Bay', in H. Alder, J. C. Heinrich, S. Lavanchy, E. Oñate and B. Suáres (eds), Numerical Methods in Engineering and Applied Science CIMNE, Barcelona, pp. 832–840.
George-Nascimento, M., Khan, R. A., Garcias, F., Lobos, V., Muñoz, G. and Valdevenito V.: 2000, 'Impaired health in flounder, Paralichthys spp. inhabiting coastal Chile. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxic. 64, 184–190.
Hernández, C., Contreras, S., Gallardo, J. and Cancino, J.: 1998, 'Estructura comunitaria de la macroinfauna a lo largo de una playa arenosa de Chile Central: Lenga Bahía San Vicente', Revista de Historia Natural 71, 303–311.
Leonardi, M. and Tarifeño, E.: 1996, 'Efecto de la descarga de aguas servidas por un emisario submarino en los lenguados, Paralichthys microps (Gunter, 1881) y Paralichthys adspersus (Steindachner, 1867) en la Bahía Concepción, Chile: evidencias experimentales', Revista de Biología Marina, Valparaíso 31(1), 23–44.
Mudge, S. and Seguel, C.: 1999, 'Organic contamination of San Vicente Bay, Chile', Marine Pollut. Bull. 11(38), 1011–1021.
Piñeira, J.: 2000, 'Diagnóstico de las condiciones ambientales de la Pozas de Abrigo del Puerto de Talcahuano', Thesis, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, 52 pp.
PNUMA/CPPS/ECO-CEPIS: 1986, 'Evaluación rápida de fuentes de contaminación de aire, agua y suelos', Comisión Permanente del Pacífico Sur, 122 pp.
SERNAPERSCA: 1996, Anuario Estadístico, 33 pp.
Strickland, J. D. H. and Parsons, T.: 1972, 'A Practical Handbook of Sea Water Analysis', Bulletin 167, Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Otawa, 311 pp.
Viarengo, A., Mancinelli, G., Martino, G., Perina, M., Canesi, L. and Mazzucotelli, A.: 1998, 'Integrated cellular stress indice in trace metal contamination: Critical evaluation in a field study', Marine Ecol. Progr. Ser. 46, 65–70.
Weiss, R.: 1970, 'The solubility of nitrogen, oxygen and argon in water and seawater', Research 16, 721–735.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rudolph, A., Ahumada, R. & Pérez, C. Dissolved Oxygen Content as an Index of Water Quality in San Vicente Bay, Chile (36°′S). Environ Monit Assess 78, 89–100 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016140819487
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016140819487