title: Assessing pollution in a Mediterranean lagoon using acid volatile sulfides and estimations of simultaneously extracted metals.
abstract: Bizerte Lagoon is a southern Mediterranean semi-enclosed lagoon with a maximum depth of 12 m. After assessing sediment quality, the authors report on the physicochemical characteristics of the lagoon's surface sediment using SEM (simultaneously extracted metals) and AVS (acid volatile sulfides) as proxies. Biogeochemical tools are used to investigate the environmental disturbance at the water-sediment interface by means of SEM and AVS to seek conclusions concerning the study area's pollution status. Results confirm accumulation of trace elements in sediment. The use of the SEM-AVS model with organic matter in sediment (ƒOC) confirms possible bioavailability of accumulated trace elements, especially Zn, in the southern part of the lagoon, with organic matter playing an important role in SEM excess correction to affirm a nontoxic total metal sediment state. Individual trace element toxicity is dependent on the bioavailable fraction of SEMMetalon sediment, as is the influence of lagoon inflow from southern water sources on element bioavailability. Appropriate management strategies are highly recommended to mitigate any potential harmful effects on health from this heavy-metal-based pollution.
authors.affiliation: Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer, Tunis, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Noureddine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zaaboub
authors.affiliation: Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Mohamed Amine
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Helali
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Geologia, Departamento de Estratigrafia e Paleontologia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Av. São Francisco Xavier, 524, sala 4037 F, Maracanã, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Maria Virgínia Alves
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer, Tunis, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Rym
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ennouri
authors.affiliation: Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer, Tunis, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Béchir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Béjaoui
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Geociências. GeoBioTec-Goebiociências, Geotecnologias e Geoengenharias, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Eduardo Ferreira
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer, Tunis, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Monia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Bour
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Chrono-Environnement, UMR CNRS 6249, Besançon cedex, France. lotfi.aleya@univ-fcomte.fr.
authors.forename: Lotfi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aleya
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry*; D013440:Sulfides / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000143:Acids; D008670:Metals; D013440:Sulfides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Lagoon; Metal analysis; SEM, AVS; Sediment–water interface