title: Integrated hazard, risk and impact assessment of tropical marine sediments from Tema Harbour (Ghana).
abstract: The potential ecological hazard, risk and impact of tropical marine sediments from the Tema Harbour (Greater Accra, Ghana) was investigated by integrating Corophium volutator and Hediste diversicolor whole-sediment toxicity bioassays with data on the metals (Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and As) concentrations of the sediments. The whole-sediment toxicity bioassay results showed that sediments of the Tema Harbour are potentially hazardous to marine benthic invertebrates. C. volutator exhibited a higher vulnerability to the sediment toxicity than H. diversicolor, although the latter showed higher biota-sediment accumulation factors for the investigated metals. Statistically significant correlations were observed between C. volutator mortality and sediment Cd concentration (r = 0.84, p < 0.05; n = 6) and between H. diversicolor mortality and sediment Cu concentration (r = 0.94, p < 0.05; n = 5). Comparison of metal concentrations with international action levels for contaminated sediment disposal indicates that the Tema Harbour sediments contain potentially hazardous concentrations of Cu and Zn. This study shows that sediments from the Tema Harbour are not suitable for disposal at sea without remediation. There is, therefore, a need to improve environmental management and regulate the disposal of dredged material originating from the Tema Harbour.
authors.affiliation: UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, 2601 DA Delft, The Netherlands; University of Ghana, Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, PO Box LG 99, Legon, Accra, Ghana. Electronic address: boseibotwe@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Benjamin O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Botwe
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Biology, Ecosystem Management Research Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: De Schamphelaere
authors.affiliation: Deltares, PO Box 177, 2600 MH Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cor A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Schipper
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Teuchies
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ronny
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blust
authors.affiliation: University of Ghana, Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, PO Box LG 99, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Elvis
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nyarko
authors.affiliation: UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, 2601 DA Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Piet N L
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Lens
mesh_terms: D033304:Amphipoda; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D004463:Ecology; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D005869:Ghana; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D011077:Polychaeta; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Bioaccumulation; Corophium volutator; Hediste diversicolor; Impact assessment; Metals; Whole-sediment bioassay