Metals in the particulate matter from surf zone waters of a Southwestern Atlantic sandy beach (Monte Hermoso, Argentina)

MELISA, FERNÁNDEZ SEVERINI; CLARA, MENÉNDEZ MARÍA; SOL, BUZZI NATALIA; LAURA, DELGADO ANA; CINTIA, PICCOLO MARÍA; EDUARDO, MARCOVECCHIO JORGE

Regional Studies in Marine Science

Elsevier

Año: 2019

2352-4855

Cd, Cr, Cu and Pb were analyzed for the first time in the suspended particulate matter (SPM) insurf zone waters of a sandy beach located in the Southwestern Atlantic. The study area corresponds to arecreational sandy seashore beach (Monte Hermoso) where particulate metal levels showed large andirregular fluctuations throughout the study period. The study area is strongly influenced by a humanimpacted estuary located nearby and it is believed that the levels of metals found in the particulate fractionare linked to this human impacted estuary. In particular Cd was found in high concentrations (2.63 µg g1dry weight) and therefore it was possible to characterize the SPM with some degree of Cd pollution through EF and Igeo index. In addition, sediments were the main component of the SPM during most of theperiod of study. Finally, the present study provides new insights into the behavior of metals in the SPM in the surf zone, characterized as one of the most productive transitional areas between the continent and the sea, and poorly known from a pollution perspective