Environmental Implications of Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments near Isla de Sacrificios, Mexico

Baseline for PAHs and metals in NW Gulf of Mexico related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

“…The Ni variation interval in the winter storm season fluctuated between 9.63 and 50.79 mg g À1 with a mean ± SD of 35.35 ± 9.16 mg g À1 , slightly higher than the concentrations of the onset of the summer season (July 2010); 22 and 42 mg g À1 with a mean ± SD of 31 ± 4.87 mg g À1 . Rosales-Hoz et al (2007) reported concentrations of 21e54.9 mg g À1 in sediments adjacent to the Sacrificios Island off the Port of Veracruz, which were similar to those reported in the present study. Ponce-V elez et al (2006) in their study of trace metals in sediments from the Tamaulipas' shelf in the NW GoM, reported Ni concentrations ranging from 1.9 to 76.1 mg g À1 and an average ± SD of 26.8 ± 16.7 mg g À1 .…”

“…Therefore, the variation interval in this study was lower than the one reported by Rosales-Hoz et al (2007) in the sediments adjacent to Sacrificios Island, Veracruz (99.9e257 mg g À1 ). According to the mean values of the Enrichment Factor (EF) estimated in the present study, it was confirmed that they originated from natural rather than anthropogenic sources.…”

Impact of anthropogenic disturbances on the diversity of shallow stony corals in the Veracruz Reef System National Park

“…The port of Veracruz concentrates up to 30% of the maritime commercial traffic of Mexico but, besides this intense marine traffic, several industries (textile, metallurgic and food) also dump their residues in the ocean, together with part of the city sewage. Furthermore, 3 main rivers (Papaloapan, La Antigua and Jamapa) discharge their waters in this area, contributing with sediments, heavy metals, agricultural and industrial contaminants and sewage loads from inland cities (Rosales-Hoz et al, 2007). Other impacts include ship groundings, oil spills and overfishing (Martínez-Caballero, 2007).…”

The Importance of Analytical Chemistry in Environmental Geochemistry Studies in Mexico

“…For example, Frías-Espiricueta et al [9] determined concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn) in surface sediments of the Huizache-Caimanero Lagoon of northwestern Mexico within the Gulf of California; the authors used analysis of variance to determine concentration differences among the sampling sites, and performed chemical analyses using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Rosales-Hoz et al [10] evaluated the spatial distribution and temporal variations of heavy metals in sediments collected from the Gulf of Mexico, surrounding the coral Isla de Sacrificios which is offshore of Veracruz City; the heavy metals' potential source and environmental risk were also asessed. Heavy metals were analyzed using flame and graphite furnace (GF) AAS and major elements were analyzed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF).…”