Sediment quality assessment in the Gulf of Gdańsk (Baltic Sea) using complementary lines of evidence.
Sediments from Polish coastal environments were classified by a quality assessment approach that took into account trace metal and organic micropollutant concentrations, grain-size distribution, and organic carbon content. Generally, no benthic organisms were found at sites where sediments were classified as heavily polluted. However, areas characterized by a moderate contamination showed a variable composition of the benthic community and changing bioaccumulation patterns; therefore, no single species found in the Gulf of Gdańsk could be considered representative of the whole benthic environment. Although sediment monitoring must be considered a suitable tool to detect hot-spot pollution areas in coastal and inland waters, it should be complemented by bioaccumulation measurements to evaluate the actual risk posed by contaminants to benthic organisms. This "biological information" allows a better appreciation of the real benthic infaunal community exposure to chemicals and can usefully complement the existing sediment quality guidelines.
Bettinetti
Roberta
R
Department of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, University of Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, Como, 22100, Italy. roberta.bettinetti@uninsubria.it
Galassi
Silvana
S
Falandysz
Jerzy
J
Camusso
Marina
M
Vignati
Davide A L
DA
D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis; D044822:Biodiversity; D033501:Crangonidae / Q000378:metabolism; D003634:DDT / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005432:Flounder / Q000378:metabolism; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D049878:Mytilus / Q000378:metabolism; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D009947:Organotin Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D011044:Poland; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D011157:Population Dynamics; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D009947:Organotin Compounds; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003634:DDT; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D001151:Arsenic