title: The presence of cadmium in the intertidal environments of a moderately impacted coastal lagoon in western Portugal (Óbidos Lagoon)--spatial and seasonal evaluations.
abstract: A seasonal environmental monitoring program was carried out (winter 2009 to summer 2010) to evaluate the spatial and seasonal cadmium concentrations in the intertidal environments of the Óbidos Lagoon (Portugal). Also, some environmental parameters were monitored at each sampling station. Both the water and the sediment samples were contaminated, although to different degrees. In general, cadmium contamination appears to be mostly focused on the inner areas of the lagoon, namely, in Barrosa's arm, which receives a small tributary contaminated by agro-industrial activities. Only cadmium concentration in sediment showed to be significantly influenced by seasons. Some environmental parameters presented spatial and temporal heterogeneity which influenced, to some extent, cadmium bioavailability. The results of this study allow a better understanding of the environmental quality of this ecosystem regarding cadmium contamination and may assist in the definition of future coastal management measures specifically targeted to trace metal contamination and pollution monitoring.
authors.affiliation: MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, 2520-641, Peniche, Portugal.
authors.forename: Carmen A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pedro
authors.affiliation: MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, 2520-641, Peniche, Portugal.
authors.forename: Márcia S S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, 2520-641, Peniche, Portugal.|CFE - Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Apartado 3046, 3001-401, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Susana M F
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, 2520-641, Peniche, Portugal. scgoncalves@ipleiria.pt.|MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517, Coimbra, Portugal. scgoncalves@ipleiria.pt.
authors.forename: Sílvia C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
mesh_terms: D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D011174:Portugal; D012621:Seasons; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium
keywords: Cadmium; Coastal management; Environmental parameters; Pollution; Trace metals