Ecotoxicological assessment of volcanic soils affected by wood preservatives in the south of Chile

Abstract

Ecotoxicity evaluations were conducted using ryegrass (Lollium perenne L.) as a bioindicator in two volcanic soils with a history of wood preservative use. The study sites were former sawmills in La Unión and Río Bueno (southern Chile, Los Ríos Region), active in the last decades of the 20th century. The results showed that the La Unión and Río Bueno sites have low concentrations of metals in the soil, which does not cause metal toxicity. The observed responses of the bioindicator species could not be explained solely by total or soluble metal content in the soil. Thus, this study demonstrated that potential ecotoxicological risks at wood preservation sites are highly variable and must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.