Sediment-bound trace metals in Golfe-Juan Bay, northwestern Mediterranean: Distribution, availability and toxicity.
The concentration, potential mobility, cation exchange capacity and toxicity of eight sediment-bound metals in Golfe-Juan Bay, France were examined. Results revealed significant spatial gradient of metal contamination along Golfe-Juan coast. The distribution and concentration of the metals appear to be influenced by the geochemical properties of the sediment, proximity to anthropogenic sources and general water circulation in the bay. The portion of trace metals found in the exchangeable, carbonate, oxidizable and reducible fractions of the sediment constitute 31%-58% of the total sediment-bound trace metal content, suggesting significant potential for remobilization of metals into the water column. Pb and Ni content of the sediment exceed the limits of the French marine sediment quality. Whole sediment extracts showed acute toxicity to marine rotifers. This study concludes that monitoring and management of sediment-bound trace metals in Golfe-Juan Bay are important so as not to underestimate their availability and risk to the marine ecosystems.
Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, ECOMERS, France. Electronic address: tiquio@unice.fr.
Ma Gregoria Joanne
MGJ
Tiquio
Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, ECOMERS, France.
Charlotte
C
Hurel
Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, ECOMERS, France.
Nicolas
N
Marmier
Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, ECOMERS, France.
Mehwish
M
Taneez
IFREMER, Laboratoire Provence Azur Corse, BP 330, 83507 La Seyne sur Mer Cedex, France.
Bruno
B
Andral
Institute of Resource Ecology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstr. 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany.
Norbert
N
Jordan
Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, ECOMERS, France.
Patrice
P
Francour
D000818:Animals; D061006:Bays; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005602:France; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D012403:Rotifera / Q000187:drug effects; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
D008670:Metals; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Mussels; Remobilization; Sediment; Trace metals