INVESTIGADORES
BOTTE Sandra Elizabeth
artículos
Título:
Distribution of several heavy metals in tidal flats sediments within Bahía Blanca Estuary (Argentina)
Autor/es:
BOTTÉ, S.E.; FREIJE, R.H.; MARCOVECCHIO, J.E.
Revista:
WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
Editorial:
SPRINGER
Referencias:
Lugar: Ontario; Año: 2010 vol. 210 p. 371 - 388
ISSN:
0049-6979
Resumen:
Sediment pollution by metals is of concern because can direct or indirectly affect the marine life. The estuaries quality may be reflected by environmental intertidal zone condition. Sub-surface sediments collected at the tidal flats in the Bahía Blanca Estuary (BBE), were analyzed for total metals concentrations, geochemical partitioning, and distribution within nude intertidal areas under different degrees of human impact. The distribution of Hg, Cd and Pb demonstrated a typical diffusion pattern from the land to the direction of the sea. In the case of Cr this was not observed, its levels were higher within flats. Cd and Pb contents were slightly lesser in the intertidal zones than in the adjacent zone on the Principal Channel. The hotspot of trace metal contamination was located in two specific areas, near industrial nucleus and in the surrounding area of mean freshwater input. The chemical partitioning in the fine fractions of the intertidal sediments offered strong evidence that the extensive tidal flats were an important source of metals to the adjacent coastal area. Lower FI, FII, FIII and FIV Cr-contents may indicate different sources of this metal. Lower Cd-FV and Pb-FV suggest not only industrial and harbour activities sources but also inputs from Bahía Blanca city and other parts of the region.