title: Assessment of anthropogenic inputs in the surface waters of the southern coastal area of Sfax during spring (Tunisia, Southern Mediterranean Sea).
abstract: The coastal marine area of Sfax (Tunisia), which is well-known for its high productivity and fisheries, is also subjected to anthropogenic inputs from diverse industrial, urban and agriculture activities. We investigated the spatial distribution of physical, chemical and biogeochemical parameters in the surface waters of the southern coastal area of Sfax. Pertinent tracers of anthropogenic inputs were identified. Twenty stations were sampled during March 2013 in the vicinity of the coastal areas reserved for waste discharge. Phosphogypsum wastes dumped close to the beaches were the main source of PO4(3-), Cl(-) and SO4(2-) in seawater. The high content in total polyphenolic compounds was due to the olive oil treatment waste water released from margins. These inorganic and organic inputs in the surface waters were associated with elevated COD. The BOD5/COD (<0.5) and COD/BOD5 (>3) ratios highlighted a chemical pollution with organic load of a low biodegradability.
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity and Aquatic Ecosystems UR/11ES72 Research Unit, Department of Life Sciences, Sfax Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, Soukra Road Km 3.5. BP 1171, PO Box 3000, Sfax, Tunisia. Electronic address: zaherdrira@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Zaher
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Drira
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity and Aquatic Ecosystems UR/11ES72 Research Unit, Department of Life Sciences, Sfax Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, Soukra Road Km 3.5. BP 1171, PO Box 3000, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Salma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kmiha-Megdiche
authors.affiliation: Coastal and Urban Environment Unit, IPEIS, 3000 Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Houda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sahnoun
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Materials Science and environment (MESLab), University of Sfax, Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, P.B. "1171", 3000 Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hammami
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chemistry of Natural Substances, University of Sfax, Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, P.B. "1171", 3000 Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Noureddine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Allouche
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille University, CNRS/INSU, University of Toulon, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tedetti
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity and Aquatic Ecosystems UR/11ES72 Research Unit, Department of Life Sciences, Sfax Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, Soukra Road Km 3.5. BP 1171, PO Box 3000, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ayadi
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D012621:Seasons; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014416:Tunisia; D014867:Water; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014873:Water Pollutants; D014867:Water
keywords: Anthropogenic inputs; BOD(5); COD; Major ions; Polyphenolic compounds; Southern coast of Sfax