title: Fecal pollution in coastal marine sediments from a semi-enclosed deep embayment subjected to anthropogenic activities: an issue to be considered in environmental quality management frameworks development.
abstract: Sewage discharge is a major source of pollution in marine environments. Urban wastewaters can directly enter marine environments carrying pathogen organisms, organic loads, and nutrients. Because marine sediments can act as the ultimate fate of a wide range of pollutants, environmental quality assessment in this compartment can help to identify pollution problems in coastal areas. In the present study, characterization of surficial marine sediments allowed assessment of fecal pollution in a semi-enclosed deep embayment that is subjected to anthropogenic activities. Physicochemical parameters and fecal indicators presented a great spatial heterogeneity. Fecal coliform and Clostridium perfringens showed accumulation in an extensive area, not only in proximity to sewage discharge points, but also in sediments at 100 meters depth. Results included herein demonstrated that, in coastal areas, urban wastewater discharge can affect the whole ecosystem through accumulation of fecal matter in bottom sediments. Application of multivariate techniques provided useful information with applicability for management of coastal areas in such complex systems. Environmental implications of wastewater discharge in coastal areas indicate the need to implement and include sediment quality control strategies in legislative frameworks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Technologies, Centro Andaluz de Ciencia y Tecnología Marinas (CACYTMAR), Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, C.P.11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain. daniel.gonzalez@uca.es
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: González-Fernández
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Garrido-Pérez
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nebot-Sanz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sales-Márquez
mesh_terms: D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae; D004782:Environmental Health / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage