Hazardous metal pollution in a protected coastal area from Northern Patagonia (Argentina)

CARMEN MARINHO; ERICA GIARRATANO; JOSE LUIS ESTEVES; MAITE NARVARTE; MÓNICA GIL

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

Lugar: HEIDELBERG; Año: 2017

0944-1344

The San Antonio Bay is a protected natural coastal area of Argentina that has beenexposed to mining wastes over the last three decades. Iron and trace metals ofpotential concern to biota and human health (Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn) were investigated inthe sediments from the bay and in the soils of the Pile (mining wastes). Concentrations of Cd (45 mg kg-1), Pb (42853 mg kg-1), Cu (24505 mg kg-1) and Zn (28686 mg kg-1) in the soils Pile exceeded guidelines for agricultural, residential and industrial land uses. Risk assessment due to exposure to contaminated soils (Pile) was performed. Hazard quotients were superior to non-risk (HQ>1) for all trace metals, while accumulative hazard quotient index indicated a high risk for children (HI=93) and moderate for adults (HI=9).In the bay, sediments closest to the Pile (mudflat and saltmarsh) exceeded sediment quality guidelines for protection of biota. Results of different acid extraction methods suggest that most of the pseudototal content was potentially mobile. Principal component analysis indicated that the sites near the Pile (Encerrado channel) were more polluted than the distal ones. Tissues of Spartina spp. located within Encerrado channel showed the highest metal levels among all studied sites. These results show that the problem still persist and the mining wastes are the sources of the pollution. Furthermore, the Encerrado channel is a highly impacted area, as it is shown by their metal enriched sediments.