Trace element concentrations in surface estuarine and marine sediments along the Mississippi Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina

Abstract

Hurricanes are relatively frequent ecological disturbances that may cause potentially long-term impacts to the coastal environment. Hurricane Katrina hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast in August 2005, and caused a storm surge with the potential to change the trace element content of coastal surface sediments. In this study, surface estuarine and marine sediments were collected monthly following the storm from ten sites along the Mississippi Gulf Coast (Mobile Bay, Grand Bay Bayous Heron and Cumbest, Pascagoula, Ocean Springs, Biloxi Gulf, Back Biloxi Bay, Gulfport Gulf, Gulfport Courthouse Rd, and Gulfport Marina). Concentrations of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry to evaluate their temporal and spatial variations in the year following Hurricane Katrina. Sediments were characterized by pH, particle size distribution and total carbon and nitrogen content. Trace element contents of the sediments were determined in both <2 mm and <63 μm grain size fractions. Results revealed no significant temporal and spatial variability in trace element concentrations, in either size fraction. Potential ecological risk of the sediments was assessed by using NOAA SQuiRTs' guideline values; most concentrations remained below probable adverse effects guidelines to marine organisms suggesting that trace elements redistributed by Hurricane Katrina would not cause an adverse impact on resident organisms. Instead, the concentrations of trace elements were site-dependent, with specific contaminants relating to the use of the area prior to Hurricane Katrina.

Trace metal variability controlled by hydrodynamic processes in a polluted inner shelf environment (Besòs prodelta, NW Mediterranean)

“…Nevertheless, there are few studies on temporal TM variability in polluted bottom sediments caused by the action of hydrodynamic processes. Some of them found no significant differences during the year related to rainfall events (Tan et al, 2016) or hurricanes (Warren et al, 2012), but pollution levels in these studies were lower than in our study area, so variability could be more difficult to detect. Other studies observed higher TM concentrations during the wet seasons than during the dry season (Najamuddin et al, 2016), or that sediment resuspension caused significant enrichments in TM in the water column (Bancon-Montigny et al, 2019), in agreement with our observations.…”

Environmental impacts of Hurricane Florence flooding in eastern North Carolina: temporal analysis of contaminant distribution and potential human health risks

“…A study monitoring unlined coal ash ponds in Southeastern United States has found coal ash residuals in nearby water sources even in absence of any major flooding events ( 48 ). However, studies following Hurricane Katrina ( 49 , 50 ) found insignificant spatial and temporal changes for both PAH and trace metal concentrations in sediments from the Mississippi Gulf Coast over a year-long study period. In our study, evidence of metal and PAH contaminant re-distribution associated with Hurricane Florence flooding was found at the location that was closest to a documented coal ash spill ( 35 ).…”

Crabs as Bioindicators of Trace Element Accumulation in Mediterranean Lagoon (Bizerte Lagoon, Tunisia) / Caranguejos Usados Como Bioindicadores De Acumulação De Metais Numa Laguna Mediterrânea (Laguna De Bizerte, Tunísia)

“…The crab species present in the Mediterranean basin have a diverse diet which permits the absorption of different chemical elements, at various concentrations, depending on the food source. Availability of trace elements in sediments is dependent and controlled by metal interaction with pH variation, cationic exchange capacity, nutrient status, carbonates and organic matter contents, redox potential and sediments texture, as well as the contamination nature in terms of origin and characteristics of deposition and composition (Rubio et al, 2000(Rubio et al, , 2010Liu et al, 2011;Warren et al, 2012;Kalantzi et al, 2013).…”