A multi-criteria approach for the dumping of dredged material in the Thermaikos Gulf, Northern Greece

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 91; no. 12; pp. 2455 - 2465
• Main Authors: Kapsimalis, Vasilios, Panagiotopoulos, Ioannis, Kanellopoulos, Theodore, Hatzianestis, Ioannis, Antoniou, Panayota, Anagnostou, Christos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2010; Elsevier; Academic Press Ltd
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Aquaculture; Aquatic Organisms; Biological and medical sciences; Chromium; Cluster Analysis; Coastal areas; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Decision Support Techniques; Dredged materials; Dredging; Dumping; Enrichment; Environment; Environmental science; Fishing; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Geochemistry; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Greece; Gulfs; Hazardous Substances - analysis; Human Activities; Humans; Hydrocarbons - analysis; Marine; Marine resources; Measurement; Mediterranean Sea; Oceanography; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Refuse Disposal; Sediment quality; Sediments; Similarity; Trace Elements - analysis; Waste disposal; Water pollution; Greece; Europe; Mediterranean Sea; Thermaikos Gulf; MED, Greece, Macedonia, Thermaikos Gulf, Former Yugoslav Republic, Former Yugoslav Replublic; MED, Greece; Cluster analysis; Dredging; Sediment quality; Dumping; Quality; Dredged materials; Sediments; Environmental management
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.06.029

A multi-criteria approach was applied for the disposal into the sea of ∼1 100 000 m 3 of sediment, dredged from a coastal area in the northeastern part of the Thermaikos Gulf. This sediment (classified as muddy) is distributed vertically into two distinct Layers (A and B) with the thickness of the surficial sedimentary unit ranging from 7 to 54 cm. Its geochemistry reveals increased Cr and Ni concentrations, which may be attributed to natural enrichment through the erosion of the adjacent igneous and metamorphic rocks. In addition, a low to moderate contamination from urban-originated heavy metals, like Cu, Pb and Zn as well as from aliphatic and polycyclic hydrocarbons was identified for the upper Layer A. However, the limited proportion (5.5%) of the polluted Layer A in the total volume of the dredged material could not affect the good quality (assessed by the Sediment Quality Guidelines) of the bulk sediment. The identification of the optimum marine dumping site was based on (a) the physicochemical similarity (detected by the application of a cluster analysis) of the dredged material with the surficial deposits of potential dumping sites in the Outer Thermaikos Gulf, and (b) the consideration, based on previous studies, of various criteria related to the disposal area such as deep-water circulation, influence on living resources, impact on economical (aquaculture, fishing, navigation), recreational (fishing) and military activities.