First long-term assessment of metals and associated ecological risk in subtidal sediments of a human-impacted SW Atlantic estuary

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 174; p. 113235
• Main Authors: Truchet, D.M., Buzzi, N.S., Negrin, V.L., Botté, S.E., Marcovecchio, J.E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Anthropogenic Effects; Background levels; Baseline studies; Biological effects; Biota; Cadmium; Chemical elements; Copper; Ecological risk; Ecological risk assessment; Elements; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental risk; Estuaries; Estuarine dynamics; Geologic Sediments; Human influences; Marine organisms; Metals; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Physicochemical processes; Pollution levels; Pollution sources; Risk Assessment; Sediment samplers; Sediment samples; Sediments; Sewage; Sewage waters; Subtidal; Water circulation; Water column; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Ecological risk; Sewage waters; Subtidal; Sediments; Metals
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113235

The main objective of this article was to profile the metal accumulation, sources, pollution levels and trends during 6 years in a SW Atlantic coastal system (Bahía Blanca estuary). Subtidal sediment samples were taken from six stations with different human impacts, and chemical element analyses were performed using ICP-OES. As a result, metals tended to increase in time and differences were observed between a site profoundly impacted by sewage waters and the rest of the sampling stations. Values range from background levels to those considered toxic for the marine biota, as in the case of Cd and Cu. Besides, the geochemical analyses exhibited low to moderate pollution with probable adverse biological effects. Finally, the physicochemical parameters of the water column like pH and DO significantly decreased in time in all stations and temperature correlated with some metals, indicating a potential interaction. •Long-term metal concentrations in subtidal sediments were analyzed.•Metal concentrations tended to increase over time.•Water temperature might play a role in metals' dynamics.•Ecological risk due to metal pollution was evaluated.•Untreated sewage discharges were a significant contribution of metals.