TEMPORAL VARIATION OF PAHS IN SOILS FROM THE BIOBIO REGION: CENTRAL SOUTHERN CHILE

In this short communication we describe the temporal variation of PAHs fingerprints and burden in surface soils from coastal and central valley sites in South Central Chile, with different anthropogenic influence. PAHs were extracted with accelerated solvent extraction and measured by HPLC with fluorescence detection. Levels of Sigma 15 PAHs were relatively low in both sites ranging between 190 to 3396 ng g(-1) TOC of soil, However, the fingerprints were different in both sites an increment in the total concentrations was observed (p < 0.001) in summer compared to winter periods (May 2001 and January 2002). These results suggest a temporal change in the total burden of PAHs and that the sources are related to biomass and coal combustion.