Monitoring of the Environmental Effects of Pulp Mill Discharges in Chilean Rivers: Lessons Learned and Challenges

Abstract

Environmental monitoring activities in Chile are relatively new and have traditionally relied on physicochemical measurements. The pulp mill industry in Chile is highly competitive in the global market and several new large mills have recently opened. Early studies on fish in the receiving environments revealed lower species richness and an increase in the abundance of introduced species relative to native ones near pulp mill discharges. Even though changes were observed, their relationship with the discharges was unclear. Several difficulties related to small body sizes and the unavailability of basic biological data for native Chilean fish species were found during initial field studies. One of the main challenges is the standardization of monitoring methods (including fish species selection, sampling sizes, indicators, reference sites, etc.) and consensus about the responses that should be considered in a river monitoring program in the Chilean context. This paper summarizes major findings from a series of studies looking at impacts on fish at different levels of biological organization and the current approach used in Chile for monitoring impacts of pulp mill effluents on wild fish populations.

The effects of tissue fixation on sequencing and transcript abundance of nucleic acids from microdissected liver samples of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu)

“…The amount of DNA recovered was less than RNA, with all mean concentrations of LCM samples below 3 μg/mm 3 . Samples fixed in ETOH had more than 120 times greater concentrations of DNA than samples fixed for LCM with a mean concentration of 287.15 ± 23.76 ng/ mm 3 . The concentration of DNA was significantly greater in ETOH samples than in PG at 24 hr (P-value = 0.001), NBF (P-value = 0.014) and PG (P-value = 0.008) at 48 hr, NBF (Pvalue = 0.016) and PG (P-value = 0.006) at seven days, and NBF (P-value = 0.026) and PG (Pvalue = 0.003) at 14 days.…”

“…Globally, environmental monitoring programs are increasingly used to identify adverse effects of human activities on aquatic resources [1][2][3][4]. The recognition that there are numerous chemical contaminants, environmental stressors, as well as new and emerging pathogens/parasites co-occurring has led to an emphasis on biological environmental effects-based assessments utilizing resident indicator fish species or caged model species [5][6][7].…”

Principles and Challenges for Multi-Stakeholder Development of Focused, Tiered, and Triggered, Adaptive Monitoring Programs for Aquatic Environments

“…The Canadian metal mining EEM program [3] was developed through a multi-stakeholder committee process which took a number of years. The issues creating tension and conflict occurred during discussions involved in adjusting the monitoring approach in multi-stakeholder discussions in Chile [4] and Brazil [5], as well as the evolution of the regional oil sands monitoring program in Canada [6]. Examples of points of conflict include whether the regulated industry can sit at the table as part of the discussions surrounding development, and whether the monitoring should focus on stressors, effects, or values.…”

Steroidal Metabolites in Chilean River Sediments Influenced by Pulp Mill Effluents

“…1 The generation of effluents from the production of cellulose, affects mainly to the Central Southern zone, in the Biobío basin region and have identified as a potential source of endocrinal activity in the receiving water bodies [2][3][4] due to the presence, among others, of wood extractives such as fatty acids, sterols, phenolic compounds and terpenes (di and triterpenes are emphasized). 5,6 Investigations carried out intended to recognize its real dimension are scarce but in constant development.…”

“…5,6 Investigations carried out intended to recognize its real dimension are scarce but in constant development. 2,7 This kind of compounds can cause physiological abnormalities 1,5,8 or even morphological. 3 Orrego et al 7,9 stated an increased size and precocious gonad maturity in females as well as an increase in the plasmatic vitelogenine in juvenile males of Oncorhynchus mykiss exposed to sediments influenced by effluents derived from the cellulose production in the Biobío River.…”