Environmental risk of trace metals and metalloids in estuarine sediments: An example from Southampton Water, U.K.
Environmental risk of trace metals and metalloids in estuarine sediments: An example from Southampton Water, U.K.
Industrial and commercial port activities are widely recognized worldwide as an important source of pollution to proximal estuaries. In this study, we analysed geochemical and sedimentological parameters including major and trace elements, organic matter and sediment texture in surface sediments from the estuarine environment of Southampton Water, U.K. Using these data, and multivariate statistical tools [correlation, factor and cluster analysis and pollution indices such as Enrichment Factor (EF), Pollution Load Index (PLI) and the Adverse Effect Index (AEI)], we examine sedimentary trace metal and metalloid contamination, contamination sources, and potential biological impacts of the contamination present. The geochemical data, multivariate statistical analysis and pollution indices indicate that the spatial distribution of trace metals and metalloids is influenced by both sediment composition (and mixing) and anthropogenic activities. Most trace metal and metalloid concentrations are close to local geological background levels, except for Cu, Zn and Pb. The spatial distribution of these elements indicates that the Exxon oil refinery, Southampton port, local marinas and runoff from domestic and industrial activities act effectively as point sources of these elements. Pollution indices calculations highlight a degraded environment as a result of these pollutants, and further work is needed to assess the current impact of trace metals and metalloids on local ecology.
Estuaries, Oil industry, Port activities, Sediment, Southampton Water, Trace elements
113580
Celis-hernandez, Omar
4f213650-9ea6-420b-82bf-14200795d767
Cundy, Andrew B.
994fdc96-2dce-40f4-b74b-dc638286eb08
Croudace, Ian W.
24deb068-d096-485e-8a23-a32b7a68afaf
Ward, Raymond D.
e5178c4b-a07b-4df7-89fd-3312426a37d1
1 May 2022
Celis-hernandez, Omar
4f213650-9ea6-420b-82bf-14200795d767
Cundy, Andrew B.
994fdc96-2dce-40f4-b74b-dc638286eb08
Croudace, Ian W.
24deb068-d096-485e-8a23-a32b7a68afaf
Ward, Raymond D.
e5178c4b-a07b-4df7-89fd-3312426a37d1
Celis-hernandez, Omar, Cundy, Andrew B., Croudace, Ian W. and Ward, Raymond D.
(2022)
Environmental risk of trace metals and metalloids in estuarine sediments: An example from Southampton Water, U.K.
Marine Pollution Bulletin, 178, , [113580].
(doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113580).
Abstract
Industrial and commercial port activities are widely recognized worldwide as an important source of pollution to proximal estuaries. In this study, we analysed geochemical and sedimentological parameters including major and trace elements, organic matter and sediment texture in surface sediments from the estuarine environment of Southampton Water, U.K. Using these data, and multivariate statistical tools [correlation, factor and cluster analysis and pollution indices such as Enrichment Factor (EF), Pollution Load Index (PLI) and the Adverse Effect Index (AEI)], we examine sedimentary trace metal and metalloid contamination, contamination sources, and potential biological impacts of the contamination present. The geochemical data, multivariate statistical analysis and pollution indices indicate that the spatial distribution of trace metals and metalloids is influenced by both sediment composition (and mixing) and anthropogenic activities. Most trace metal and metalloid concentrations are close to local geological background levels, except for Cu, Zn and Pb. The spatial distribution of these elements indicates that the Exxon oil refinery, Southampton port, local marinas and runoff from domestic and industrial activities act effectively as point sources of these elements. Pollution indices calculations highlight a degraded environment as a result of these pollutants, and further work is needed to assess the current impact of trace metals and metalloids on local ecology.
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Celis Hernandez et al 2022 Accepted MS
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Accepted/In Press date: 16 March 2022
e-pub ahead of print date: 1 May 2022
Published date: 1 May 2022
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
OCH is grateful to the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT), Mexico for funding through their scholarship program (No. 209683 ). This research was supported by internal resources of the Universities of Brighton and Southampton, U.K. Thanks are due to the crew of RV Callista. We are grateful to L.G. Peter Lyons and Dr. Magda Grove for their technical assistance with the sampling. AC also acknowledges support from the Hong Kong Branch of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou) in his contribution to this paper.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd
Keywords:
Estuaries, Oil industry, Port activities, Sediment, Southampton Water, Trace elements
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 468618
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/468618
ISSN: 0025-326X
PURE UUID: b7bff266-b0ee-457c-9134-a2bc0ee12b48
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Date deposited: 18 Aug 2022 17:09
Last modified: 10 Apr 2024 04:01
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Author:
Omar Celis-hernandez
Author:
Raymond D. Ward
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