title: Assessing trace metal pollution through high spatial resolution of surface sediments along the Tunis Gulf coast (southwestern Mediterranean).
abstract: Tunis Gulf (northern Tunisia, Mediterranean Sea) is of great economic importance due to its abundant fish resources. Rising urbanization and industrial development in the surrounding area have resulted in an increase in untreated effluents and domestic waste discharged into the gulf via its tributary streams. Metal (Cd, Pb, Hg, Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn) and major element (Mg, Ca, Na, and K) concentrations were measured in the grain fine fraction <63 μm by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results showed varying spatial distribution patterns for metals, indicating complex origins and controlling factors such as anthropogenic activities. Sediment metal concentrations are ranked as follows: Fe > Mg > Zn > Mn > Pb > Cu > Cd > Hg. Metals tend to be concentrated in proximity to source points, suggesting that the mineral enrichment elements come from sewage of coastal towns and pollution from industrial dumps and located along local rivers, lagoons, and on the gulf shore itself. This study showed that trace metal and major element concentrations in surface sediments along the Tunis Gulf shores were lower than those found in other coastal areas of the Mediterranean Sea.
authors.affiliation: Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Laboratoire de Chrono-Environnement, UMR CNRS 6249, Besançon, France.|Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (INSTM), Laboratoire Milieu Marin, Centre la Goulette, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Rym
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ennouri
authors.affiliation: Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (INSTM), Laboratoire Milieu Marin, Centre la Goulette, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Noureddine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zaaboub
authors.affiliation: Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Laboratoire de Chrono-Environnement, UMR CNRS 6249, Besançon, France.|Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (INSTM), Laboratoire Milieu Marin, Centre la Goulette, Tunisie.|Institut Supérieur de Pêche et d'Aquaculture de Bizerte, Unité de recherche: Exploitation des Milieux Aquatiques, Tunisie et Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Errimel, B.P.15, 7080, Bizerte, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Mouna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fertouna-Bellakhal
authors.affiliation: Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (INSTM), Laboratoire Milieu Marin, Centre la Goulette, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Lassad
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chouba
authors.affiliation: Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Laboratoire de Chrono-Environnement, UMR CNRS 6249, Besançon, France. lotfi.aleya@univ-fcomte.fr.
authors.forename: Lotfi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aleya
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D014416:Tunisia; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: AQUARISK model; Metal contamination; Surface sediments; Tunis Gulf