Simulation of CO₂ leakages during injection and storage in sub-seabed geological formations: metal mobilization and biota effects.
To assess the potential effects on metal mobilization due to leakages of CO2 during its injection and storage in marine systems, an experimental set-up was devised and operated, using the polychaete Hediste diversicolor as the model organism. The objective was to study the effects of such leakage in the expected scenarios of pH values between 8.0 and 6.0. Polychaetes were exposed for 10 days to seawater with sediment samples collected in two different coastal areas, one with relatively uncontaminated sediment as reference (RSP) and the other with known contaminated sediment (ML), under pre-determined pH conditions. Survival and metal accumulation (Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, As and Hg) in the whole body of H. diversicolor were employed as endpoints. Mortality was significant at the lowest pH level in the sediment with highest metal concentrations. In general, metal concentrations in tissues of individuals exposed to the contaminated sediment were influenced by pH. These results indicate that ocean acidification due to CO2 leakages would provoke increased metal mobilization, causing adverse side effects in sediment toxicity.
Departamento de Ecología y Gestión Costera, Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucía (CSIC), Avda. República Saharaui, 2, Campus Río San Pedro, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain. Electronic address: araceli.rodriguezromero@icman.csic.es.
Araceli
A
Rodríguez-Romero
Cátedra UNESCO/UNITWIN/WiCop, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Polígono Río San Pedro s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
M Dolores
MD
Basallote
Cátedra UNESCO/UNITWIN/WiCop, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Polígono Río San Pedro s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
Manoela R
MR
De Orte
Cátedra UNESCO/UNITWIN/WiCop, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Polígono Río San Pedro s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
T Ángel
TÁ
DelValls
Cátedra UNESCO/UNITWIN/WiCop, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Polígono Río San Pedro s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
Inmaculada
I
Riba
Departamento de Ecología y Gestión Costera, Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucía (CSIC), Avda. República Saharaui, 2, Campus Río San Pedro, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
Julián
J
Blasco
D000818:Animals; D058448:Biota; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011077:Polychaeta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D015996:Survival Rate; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002245:Carbon Dioxide
CO(2) leakage; Hediste diversicolor; Metal mobility bioaccumulation; Mortality; Sediment toxicity