title: Assessment of sediment pollution by metals. A case study from Cienfuegos Bay, Cuba.
abstract: Sediments were grouped in three zones of the bay: two in the northern basin with higher metal contamination; and another in the southern basin, where lithogenic metals were predominant. Sediment pollution classification made using Index of geoaccumulation and Enrichment factor was consistent, indicating higher accumulation of Cd and Pb in the northern basin. The negative influence of activities linked to petrol was predicted by V/Ni and V/(Ni+V) ratios. Cd and Pb did not represent a potential risk; while Cu and Ni could be risky for biota in most sediment, according to Screening Quick Reference Tables (SQuiRTs). Comparison of bioavailable fraction of metals with references in SQuiRTs corroborated the low potential damage on the biota due to As, Cd, Pb, Cr, Zn; and a higher potential damage due to Cu; while an attenuation of the risk due to Ni predicted by SQuiRTs could be expected.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Material Science and Technology (IMRE), University of Havana, Zapata s/n CP: 10400, Cuba; Faculty of Marine Sciences and Environmental, University of Cádiz, República Saharaui CP: 11510, Spain.
authors.forename: Mirella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peña-Icart
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Marine Sciences and Environmental, University of Cádiz, República Saharaui CP: 11510, Spain.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mendiguchía
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Chemistry, University of Havana, Zapata s/n CP: 10400, Cuba.
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villanueva-Tagle
authors.affiliation: Cienfuegos City Environmental Study Center, St. Castillo de Jagua, Km 1 ½. A.P. 5, 59350 Cienfuegos City, Cuba.
authors.forename: Yoelvis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bolaños-Alvarez
authors.affiliation: Cienfuegos City Environmental Study Center, St. Castillo de Jagua, Km 1 ½. A.P. 5, 59350 Cienfuegos City, Cuba.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alonso-Hernandez
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Marine Sciences and Environmental, University of Cádiz, República Saharaui CP: 11510, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: Institute of Material Science and Technology (IMRE), University of Havana, Zapata s/n CP: 10400, Cuba. Electronic address: mpomares@imre.uh.cu.
authors.forename: Mario Simeón
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Pomares-Alfonso
mesh_terms: D061006:Bays; D003462:Cuba; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Bioavailable concentration; Cienfuegos Bay; Contamination indexes; Metal contamination; Quality sediment guidelines