title: Evaluation of heavy metals and arsenic speciation discharged by the industrial activity on the Tinto-Odiel estuary, SW Spain.
abstract: This study reports the annual amount of heavy metals discharged by industrial activity into the estuary of the Ría of Huelva (SW Spain). The findings showed that the discharged metals found in highest amounts were Fe (11 t y⁻¹), Zn (3.4 t y⁻¹) and Mo (0.88 t y⁻¹). There were other metals with high pollutant charge, such as Ti (232 kg y⁻¹), As (228 kg y⁻¹), Ni (195 kg y⁻¹), Pb (100 kg y⁻¹), Cr (39 kg y⁻¹) and Cd (33 kg y⁻¹). These results were compared with pollutants transported via the Tinto and Odiel rivers from abandoned mining activities in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB), and it was deduced that the amounts spilled exclusively by industries were less than 1% in relation to the total discharge. Hence, the treatment of residues from the IPB should be the priority goal to improve water quality in the estuary.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain. rafael.perez@dgeo.uhu.es
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pérez-López
authors.forename: José Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nieto
authors.forename: M José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: López-Cascajosa
authors.forename: M Jesús
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Díaz-Blanco
authors.forename: Aguasanta M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sarmiento
authors.forename: Vanesa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Rodas
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D007221:Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D013030:Spain; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic