INVESTIGADORES
ARIAS Andres Hugo
capítulos de libros
Título:
POLLUTION PROCESSES IN BAH´IA BLANCA ESTUARINE ENVIRONMENT
Autor/es:
J. MARCOVECCHIO; S. BOTTE; F. DELUCCHI; A. ARIAS; M. F. SEVERINI; S. DE MARCO; N. TOMBESI; S.,ANDRADE; L.FERRER; L.H.FREIJE
Libro:
Perspectives on Integrated Coastal Zona Management in South America
Editorial:
IST Press
Referencias:
Lugar: Lisboa; Año: 2008; p. 303 - 316
Resumen:
Natural systems dynamics, relationships and equilibrium can be significantly affected due to
human interventions which alter (either eventually or structurally) their activities imbalance.
Each environment has its own characteristics which determine the response against these
changes. Main human processes generating the strongest effects on coastal marine systems
are: non adequate use of soils (including unplanned urbanization), untreated domestic or
industrial sewage discharge, harbour activities, and incorrect solid waste disposal. Simultaneous
occurrence of these processes can generate different kind of impacts on natural systems,
and their magnitudes will depend not only on phenomena intensity but also response ability of
the considered environment.
Bah´ýa Blanca estuary, at the southern Buenos Aires Province Atlantic littoral, is an excellent
study case, because it is a large transitional environment with a great Human activity within
its inner area, including most of the above mentioned processes. This environment has been
particularly studied since ´70s decade, including its water physico-chemical parameters, associated
biological processes and pollutants occurrence. These studies allow to characterize
the potential effects on the system, as well as to recognize its response ability. The present
chapter includes a brief overview on the occurrence, levels and distribution trends of the main
pollutants determined within Bah´ýa Blanca estuary (i.e. heavy metals, hydrocarbons) in both
the abiotic and the biological compartments. The identified trends are analyzed within an historical
viewpoint, which allows pointing out evolutive processes on the estuarine environmental
quality. This information is largely useful to make concrete monitoring and management programs
within the estuary.