Spatial distribution and consequences of contaminants in harbour sediments - A case study from Richards Bay Harbour, South Africa.
Mar Pollut Bull
; 172: 112764, 2021 Nov.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34425363
ABSTRACT
Richards Bay Harbour (RBH) is situated in the industrialized area on the northeast coast of South Africa. To decipher recent human activities and accompanying environmental degradation, surface sediment was collected across RBH and analysed for granulometric and elemental composition, microfaunal assemblages, and microplastics. Microplastics occur most abundantly near recreational areas, whereas metal contamination relates to activities at bulk goods terminals from which they are imported or exported. In particular, Cr and Cu concentrations in surface sediment near bulk goods terminals exceed South African sediment quality guidelines. In metal contaminated sediment, bioindicators reflected stress and were noticeably impacted. A transect of short sediment cores reflects spatial and historical metal contamination and allows quantification of the load of metals within the sediment column. The volume of metal (Cr) contaminated sediment was estimated at almost 2 million m3.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Poluentes Químicos da Água
/
Metais Pesados
Limite:
Humans
País/Região como assunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Mar Pollut Bull
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article