Metals background and enrichment in the Chiloé Interior Sea sediments (Chile). Is there any segregation between fjords, channels and sounds?

The range and spatial distribution of metal concentrations in the Chiloé Interior Sea were investigated from 37 surface sediment samples collected during the ‘CIMAR 10 Fiordos’ cruise. Grain size distribution, total organic carbon and nitrogen, δ13C, major (Al, Fe, and biogenic opal) and trace (Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) elements were determined. Metal background concentrations of each metal in sediment were defined from linear regression equations of metal versus Al, as baseline information for future research on the status of sediment contamination in the Northern Patagonian marine area. Metal levels in Chiloé sediments were of the same order of magnitude as uncontaminated sediments around the world and contamination can be considered negligible-moderate (normalized enrichment factors lower than 3) in this Southern Pacific Region. The Chiloé Interior Sea can be segregated into two zones on the basis of metal content by applying a principal component analysis. The first pertains to inner fjords and it has terrestrial origin (associated to Co, Cu, Pb, Zn) and the second zone features channels and gulfs of a predominantly marine source (Cd, Cu). Nevertheless, only one background equation is needed to predict metal concentrations in the natural sediment of the Chiloé Interior Sea.