Source characterization and spatio–temporal evolution of the metal pollution in the sediments of the Basque estuaries (Bay of Biscay)

A study was conducted to assess the level of Cr, Pb, Cd, Ni, Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn contamination in the sediment samples of the Buriganga river, at the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. Total 14 sediment samples were collected from different areas of upstream of the Buriganga river. The mean concentrations of total Cr, Pb, Cd, Ni, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn in the sediment samples were 173.4, 31.4, 1.5, 153.3, 481.8, 344.2, 12989 and 4036 µg g -1 , respectively. The range of pH and EC of sediment were 5.87-8.21 and 230-707 µS cm -1 , respectively. The mean value of organic matter in sediment samples was 13.4%. Heavy metal concentrations in sediment were compared with geochemical background and standard values, previous report on the Buriganga river and other rivers in Bangladesh. The average concentration of Cr, Pb and Ni in sediments of the Buriganga river is almost twice of the geochemical background i.e. average worldwide shale standard and continental upper crust value, Cd and Zn is about five times and Cu content is about ten times higher than the geochemical background values. Average concentration of Cr, Cu and Ni exceeded the severe effect level (SEL) values, where as Pb, Cd and Zn exceeded toxicity reference values (TRV). However, the concentration of heavy metal in the sediment samples of the Buriganga river for the year 2009 of the same river reported by corresponding author was relatively higher than this study average. The average Enrichment factors (EFc) for Zn, Cu, Mn and Cd reflects extremely contaminated pollution level which implies that these metals originated from point source of pollution and very severely enriched in river sediments. The pollution load index (PLI) of sediments of the studied region varied from 1.61-7.51. The geoaccumulation index (I geo ) for Cu of five locations was greater than 3.0, which exhibited strongly polluted sediment quality. The I geo for Mn in 11 locations and Zn in 12 sites were greater than 1.0, indicated moderately polluted sediment quality. Heavy metal pollution intensity in the Buriganga river water and sediments signaled alarming condition for city dwellers and aquatic ecosystem of the river. Sustainable steps and continuous monitoring on pollution prevention and cleanup operation is suggested to minimize pollution.

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“…Based on EF and I geo , sediments can be categorized into seven classes (Table 2) (Legorburu et al 2013).…”

Section: Index Of Geoaccumulation (I Geo )mentioning

confidence: 99%

Heavy metal pollution load in sediment samples of the Buriganga river in Bangladesh

Mohiuddin

Alam

Ahmed

et al. 2016

J Bangladesh Agric Univ

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“…The enrichment of a given element in sediments relative to a background-reference site is an indication of contribution from anthropogenic sources. The EF concept was developed by Chester and Stoner (1973) and has subsequently been applied by numerous authors to soils (Hernandez et al, 2003), river sediments (Tam and Yao, 1998;N'guessan et al, 2009) and estuary or coastal sediments (Violintzis et al, 2009;Legorburu et al, 2013 Fig. 1).…”

Section: Ef Icf and Gcf Calculationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The estuary of the Deba River and its impact on the Bay of Biscay have been investigated for nutrients (Borja et al, 2006), sedimentassociated metals (Legorburu et al, 2013) and dissolved metals in marine waters (Tueros et al, 2008); however, no study has addressed the occurrence and distribution of metals in the bottom surface sediments of the Deba River catchment, which is one of the most polluted rivers in the province of Gipuzkoa (Basque Country). This is affected by various factors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of anthropogenic inputs and a high-magnitude flood event on metal contamination pattern in surface bottom sediments from the Deba River urban catchment

Martínez‐Santos

Probst

García-García

et al. 2015

Science of The Total Environment

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The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of anthropogenic factors (infrastructure construction and industrial and wastewater inputs) and hydrological factors (high-magnitude flood events) on metal and organic contamination and on the source variability of sediments taken from the Deba River and its tributaries. The pollution status was evaluated using a sequential extraction procedure (BCR 701), enrichment factor, individual and global contamination factors and a number of statistical analysis methods. Zn, Cu and Cr were found to have significant input from anthropogenic sources, with moderately severe enrichment, together with an extremely high potential risk of contamination. The principal scavenger of Cu and Cr was organic matter, whereas Zn was uniformly distributed among all non-residual fractions. For Fe, the anthropogenic contribution was more obviously detected in bulk sediments (<2 mm) than in fine fractions (<63 μm). Finally, the recent construction of a rail tunnel traversing Wealden Facies evaporites, together with intense rainfalls, was the main reason for the change in the source variability of bottom sediments and metal distribution in headwaters. The occurrence of a high-magnitude flood event resulted in a washout of the river bed and led to a general decrease in fine-grained sediment and metal concentrations in labile fractions of channel-bottom sediments, and a consequent downstream transfer of the pollution.

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“…[ and changing practices of the heaviest industrial activities, added to the development of water treatment schemes, have led to an overall improvement in the quality of these systems. [19] Riverine suspended inputs, dredged sediment disposal activities and submarine outfalls are considered the main ways contaminants enter the continental shelf. [16,17] …”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[19,28]). The partialling out procedure of the variance performed by means of pRDA has given a better viewpoint of the key factors influencing the variation of the dependent variables and a more detailed causal interpretation.…”

Section: Pah Spatial Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sources and spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coastal sediments of the Basque Country (Bay of Biscay)

Legorburu

Rodríguez

Valencia

et al. 2014

Chemistry and Ecology

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This contribution characterises the sources and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments of the Basque coast (Bay of Biscay). Different source characterisation approaches (i.e. GIS assisted-chemometrics, PAH diagnostic ratios and analyses of composition profiles) were used in combination to successfully identify the factors determining the origin and distribution of PAHs. Urban/industrial combustion processes were identified as the main PAH source. However, the analysis of PAH composition patterns and diagnostic ratios identified secondary natural and petrogenic PAH sources on small spatial scales. The median 18PAH concentration ranged from 66 μg kg −1 (d.w.) to 7021 μg kg −1 (d.w.). The Ibaizabal estuary, which supports most of the anthropogenic pressure in the region (i.e. urban development, industrialisation, commercial and recreational harbours), also showed the highest PAH concentrations. On the shelf, human activities, hydrodynamic conditions and geomorphological features led to spatial differences in the PAH concentrations among sectors: the offshore and west sectors were characterised by higher concentrations, while the lowest values were found in the mid and east sectors. The results enhance the knowledge on PAH-related contamination processes and could be used to support the environmental assessment process required under current European marine legislation.

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Source characterization and spatio–temporal evolution of the metal pollution in the sediments of the Basque estuaries (Bay of Biscay)

Cited by 42 publications

References 69 publications

Heavy metal pollution load in sediment samples of the Buriganga river in Bangladesh

Heavy metal pollution load in sediment samples of the Buriganga river in Bangladesh

Influence of anthropogenic inputs and a high-magnitude flood event on metal contamination pattern in surface bottom sediments from the Deba River urban catchment

Sources and spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coastal sediments of the Basque Country (Bay of Biscay)

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