Benthic foraminiferal assemblages as pollution proxies in the northern coast of Gabes Gulf, Tunisia

Aloulou, Fatma; Elleuch, Boubaker; Kallel, Monem

doi:10.1007/s10661-011-2001-2

Cited by 44 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(47 reference statements)

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“…The occurrence frequency of these two stations is characterized by maximum values of the different analyzed heavy metals (about 80%). These stations were also sampled in 2011, showing that Zn, Pb, and Ni were the most common metals, representing 21.79±2.96, 2.39±0.92, and 2.25±0.82 mg l -1 , respectively [91]. It seemed that the pollution level in SC has risen between 2011 and 2013 by the increasing heavy metals pollution discharge into seawater.…”

Section: Origin Of Trace Element Loading In Surface Waters In Three Gmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Distribution and Source Identification of Heavy Metals in Surface Waters of Three Coastal Areas of Tunisia

Drira¹,

Sahnoun²,

Ayadi³

2017

Pol. J. Environ. Stud.

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The concentrations of selected dissolved trace elements (Ni 446-919 µg L -1 , Pb 383-1015, Fe 195-739, Cu 217-318, Cr 156-336, Zn 9-236, Mn 0-187, Co 0-310, and Cd 26-77) were assessed in the surface water of 30 stations belonging to three coastal areas along the Gulf of Gabes, i.e., the southern (stations 1-10) and northern (stations 11-20) coastal areas of Sfax and the Ghannouch area (stations 21-30) during October and November 2014. Results showed that dissolved metals in surface waters, which were analyzed by means of flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry, followed the concentration levels (Pb>Ni>Fe>Cu>Cr>Co>Mn>Cd>Zn) on the southern and (Ni>Pb>Fe>Cu>Cr>Zn>Mn>Co>Cd) on the northern coasts of Sfax, and (Ni> Fe>Pb>Cu>Cr>Zn>Co>Cd>Mn) in the Ghannouch area. In the southern and the northern coasts of Sfax, all analyzed metals were detected in 100% of sampled stations except Co, which was revealed in 90 and 80% of stations, respectively. However, in the Ghannouch area all analyzed metals were detected in 100% of sampled stations except Mn, which was revealed in 70% of stations. These trace elements, except for Fe and Mn, exceeded the safety limit of the USEPA water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic fauna and flora survival and their uses. The Sfax and Ghannouch coastal areas should be considered relatively polluted with metals (Zn, Ni, Pb, Co, Cr, Cd, and Cu). The elevated metal contents were attributed to anthropogenic waste inputs around the study area. The main sources of Ni and Co loading in the seawater were the SIAPE phosphoric acid and fertilizer plant and a waste water treatment plant located close to station 1. Whereas the fishing harbor of Sfax, which is situated on the southern coast (station 9), is the second source of high amounts of Cd, Mn, Cr, and Pb. This situation has led to serious human health risks and chronic toxicity caused by their potential bioaccumulation in some aquatic fauna such as shrimp, fish, crab, shellfish, mollusk, and cephalopoda.

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Section: Origin Of Trace Element Loading In Surface Waters In Three Gmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Distribution and Source Identification of Heavy Metals in Surface Waters of Three Coastal Areas of Tunisia

Drira¹,

Sahnoun²,

Ayadi³

2017

Pol. J. Environ. Stud.

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“…Sfax is a heavily industrialized city. Since the 1950s, the growing manufacturing industries, the population expansion, and the rapid urban development have resulted in industrial and municipal wastewater and heavy metal pollution that have seriously contaminated much of Sfax's marine sediments (Aloulou et al, 2012;Gargouri et al, 2011;Gargouri-Ben Ayed et al, 2007). The majority of these studies were focused in open sea areas downstream anthropogenic effluents.…”

Section: Doi:102175/106143014x13975035525546mentioning

confidence: 99%

Sediment Quality and Potential Toxicity Assessment in Two Open/Semiclosed Mediterranean Sea Areas: A Case Study of Sfax Coast (Tunisia)

Gargouri¹,

Moez²,

Azri³

2015

Water Environment Research

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The Gulf of Gabes (southeastern Tunisia), character ized by the abundance of halieutic resources, is nowadays facing strong anthropogenic pressures. This paper aims to assess and compare metallic pollution in two open/semiclosed areas bordering the coastline of Sfax (a part of the Gulf). The first area covers the outlet zone of many anthropogenic effluents of urban Sfax, whereas the second area, located at a distance of 15 km from the first one, was selected as being representative of numerous semiclosed areas bordering the Gulf that have served for harvesting clams. Spatial distribution of selected heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, and Fe) coupled with chemometric approaches (enrichment factor, contamination degree, mean-ERM-quotients, and cluster analysis) were used as tools for the assessment of metallic pollution. The obtained results showed that metallic pollution is higher in the semiclosed area despite the absence of neighboring anthropogenic sources, probably because of the relative importance of both autochthonous organic matter and biota. The computed potential ecotoxicity demonstrated moderately high values in this area, testifying to a menaced biota that is prone to more affecting hazards if significant active measures are not taken. Water Environ. Res., 87, 470 (2015). KEYW ORD S: Sfax coast, marine sedim ents, heavy metals, chemometric approaches, potential toxicity. 470W a te r E n v iro n m e n t R e s e a rc h , Volume 87, Number 5 G argouri et al.

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“…At the beginning of the 20th century, the majority of the seafloor of the Gulf of Gabes was covered by seagrass (Zaouali, 1993). Posidonia oceanica was the dominant seagrass species in the Gulf of Gabes and provided an ideal reproduction habitat for many species, including fishes and invertebrates (Aloulou et al, 2012). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies (Aloulou et al, 2012; Ayadi et al, 2014; Chouba and Mzoughi-Aguir, 2006; Darmoul et al, 1980; El Lakhrach et al, 2012; El Zrelli et al, 2015; Hamza and Bradai, 1994; Kharroubi et al, 2012; Rabaoui et al, 2014; Zairi and Rouis, 1999; Zaouali, 1993) show an impact of the phosphate industries on the marine environment: e.g., eutrophication of the basin, decreasing of the biodiversity, siltation of the seafloor, traces of heavy metals in the sediments and the tissues of some macrofauna (e.g., bivalves) and increasing of turbidity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlation between pollution and decline of Scleractinian Cladocora caespitosa (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Gulf of Gabes

Kateb

Stalder

Neururer

et al. 2016

Heliyon

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During an expedition in 2014 in the Gulf of Gabes that aimed to evaluate the impact of the pollution of the phosphate industry on the marine environment, numerous dead coral fragments were retrieved from several stations along a 18 km long transect in front of the industry complex of Gabes. Detailed taxonomy of these coral fragments shows clearly that all fragments belong to the species Cladocora caespitosa (Linnaeus, 1758). Quantitative analysis of the coral fragments indicates a positive correlation with stations characterized by positive bathymetric anomalies. We suggest the presence of probable small-scaled (up to 4 m high) biogenic (palaeo-) build-ups composed mainly of coral colonies and bryozoans. Radiocarbon dating of three coral fragments show ages as old as 1897, 1985 and 1986 AD and suggests the presence of living C. caespitosa as close as 6 km to the phosphate treatment industry of Gabes at least until 1986 AD. This latter age coincides with the construction of the ammonium phosphate production plant, in 1979, in the Gulf of Gabes with an increase of the natural phosphate production. The higher impact of pollution on the marine environment in the inner part of the Gulf of Gabes likely induced the decline of C. caespitosa. This is well in agreement with enhanced siltation processes suggested by the sedimentary facies and grain-size analyses presently characterizing the Gulf of Gabes nowadays.

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Benthic foraminiferal assemblages as pollution proxies in the northern coast of Gabes Gulf, Tunisia

Cited by 44 publications

References 36 publications

Spatial Distribution and Source Identification of Heavy Metals in Surface Waters of Three Coastal Areas of Tunisia

Spatial Distribution and Source Identification of Heavy Metals in Surface Waters of Three Coastal Areas of Tunisia

Sediment Quality and Potential Toxicity Assessment in Two Open/Semiclosed Mediterranean Sea Areas: A Case Study of Sfax Coast (Tunisia)

Correlation between pollution and decline of Scleractinian Cladocora caespitosa (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Gulf of Gabes

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