Heavy metal levels in dune sands from Matanzas urban resorts and Varadero beach (Cuba): Assessment of contamination and ecological risks.
Concentrations of chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) in dune sands from six urban and suburban Matanzas (Cuba) resorts and Varadero beach were estimated by X-ray fluorescence analysis. Ranges of metal contents in dune sands show a strong variation across the studied locations (in mg/kg(-1)): 20-2964 for Cr, 17-183 for Ni, 17-51 for Cu, 18-88 for Zn and 5-29 for Pb. The values of contamination factors and contamination degrees how that two of the studied Matanzas's resorts (Judio and Chirry) are strongly polluted. The comparison with Sediment Quality Guidelines shows that dune sands from Judio resort represent a serious risk for humans, due to polluted Cr and Ni levels, while sands from the rest of the studied resorts, including Varadero beach, do not represent any risk for public use.
Instituto Superior de Tecnologías y Ciencias Aplicadas, Ave. Salvador Allende y Luaces, La Habana 10600, Cuba. Electronic address: odrizo@instec.cu.
Oscar
O
Díaz Rizo
Instituto Superior de Tecnologías y Ciencias Aplicadas, Ave. Salvador Allende y Luaces, La Habana 10600, Cuba.
Fran
F
Buzón González
Instituto Superior de Tecnologías y Ciencias Aplicadas, Ave. Salvador Allende y Luaces, La Habana 10600, Cuba.
Juana O
JO
Arado López
Universidad "Camilo Cienfuegos", Matanzas, Cuba.
Otoniel
O
Denis Alpízar
D001493:Bathing Beaches / Q000592:standards*; D003462:Cuba; D004463:Ecology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D006294:Health Resorts / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014507:Urbanization
D019216:Metals, Heavy
Cuba; Dune sand; Matanzas; Metal pollution; Sediment quality guidelines