Valdes J. auteur aut IRD Ortlieb Luc auteur aut IRD Sifeddine Abdelfettah auteur aut IRD Castillo A. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access Environmental assessment in marine systems is difficult because most of the time their preindustrial charac-teristics are not available. Four sediment cores taken in Mejillones bay (northern Chile) were used to establish preindustrial metals concentrations, and to assess the environmental status of this industrialized zone. According to historical documents, the beginning of the industrial era start in 1850 CE. Considering this, the preindustrial concentration of some metals was established, by mean of a statistical approach. Most of the metals increase their concentration from the preindustrial to the industrial period. Environmental assessment showed an enrichment of Zr and Cr, a moderately polluted condition, and a low probability of toxic effect on the biological communities. The preindustrial values derived from sediment cores are a good tool to evaluate the environmental condition of Mejillones bay. However new information (backgrounds with a higher spatial representativity, toxicological threshold, and others) it is necessary to improve the environmental assessment of this environment. specialized Metals in marine sediments Sediment cores Preindustrial metal concentrations Chile CHILI PACIFIQUE 038 064 036 189 [13 ] 2023 0025-326X https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010087505 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114723 0025-326X [F B010087505] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010087505 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2023-05/010087505.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2023-05-12 2026-06-12 fdi:010087505 fre