Environmental quality in sediments of Cadiz and Algeciras Bays based on a weight of evidence approach (southern Spanish coast)

This research applies an integrated sediment quality assessment method using a weight of evidence approach to Cadiz and Algeciras Bays (southern Spain). The method is composed of several analyses (particle size profile, aqua regia extractable metals, acid labile metals, total organic carbon, toxicit...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Usero, José Antonio, Rosado Alcarria, Daniel, Usero García, José, Morillo Aguado, José
Format: article
Status:Versión aceptada para publicación
Publication Date:2016
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repository:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/163233
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/163233
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.06.078
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Sediment quality
Ecological risk assessment
Trace metals
Sediment toxicity
Benthic macroinvertebrates
Cadiz Algeciras Bays
Description
Summary:This research applies an integrated sediment quality assessment method using a weight of evidence approach to Cadiz and Algeciras Bays (southern Spain). The method is composed of several analyses (particle size profile, aqua regia extractable metals, acid labile metals, total organic carbon, toxicity bioassay with Photobacterium phosphoreum and macrobenthic community alteration). The proposed method provides a single result, the environmental degradation index (EDI). EDI defined samples as low degraded (outer areas of both bays) and moderately degraded (Inner Bay of Cadiz Bay, the surroundings of Algeciras port and the northern part of Algeciras Bay). These samples showed the highest concentration of aqua regia extractable metals, which exceeded effects range-low (ERL) for Zn (51–176 mg/l), Cu (11–54 mg/l), As (4.3–9.5 mg/l), Hg (0.17–0.28 mg/l), Ni (23–82 mg/l), and. Cr (37–134 mg/l). They also exceeded some quality criteria for total organic carbon (4.0–6.5%) and toxicity (120–240 TU/g) and showed poor results for macrobenthic community.