Contributions of dioxins and furans to the urban sediment signature: The role of atmospheric particles.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-furans (PCDF) are widely distributed in the environment. The diverse production processes that form these compounds lead to a range of chemical signatures although weathering may cause changes to these signature over time and with increasing distance from their origin. Chemical signatures in sediments based on 17 PCDD/Fs were developed in Concepcion, a Chilean city in the middle of a complex hydrological system which contains several small urban freshwater bodies and the River Bio-Bio.

Source identification, apportionment and toxicity of indoor and outdoor PM2.5 airborne particulates in a region characterised by wood burning.

The occurrence of airborne particulate matter has been flagged as "of concern" in several megacities, especially in Asia. Selected Chilean regions have similar problems as wood burning is the major source of heating in homes. This concern has led to mitigation measures restricting the burning of wood at periods when the particulate matter smaller than 2.

Source apportionment in oil spill remediation.

A pipe rupture during unloading led to a spillage of 350-700 tonnes of Caño Limon, a light sweet crude oil, into San Vicente Bay in 2007. Initial clean-up methods removed the majority of the oil from the sandy beaches although some oil remained on the rocky shores. It was necessary for the responsible party to clean the spilled oil even though at this location there were already crude oil hydrocarbons from previous industrial activity.