Source Evaluation and Trace Metal Contamination in Benthic Sediments from Equatorial Ecosystems Using Multivariate Statistical Techniques

race metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb) concentrations in benthic sediments were analyzed through multi-step fractionation scheme to assess the levels and sources of contamination in estuarine, riverine and freshwater ecosystems in Niger Delta (Nigeria). The degree of contamination was assessed using the individual contamination factors (ICF) and global contamination factor (GCF). Multivariate statistical approaches including principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis and correlation test were employed to evaluate the interrelationships and associated sources of contamination. The spatial distribution of metal concentrations followed the pattern Pb>Cu>Cr>Cd>Ni. Ecological risk index by ICF showed significant potential mobility and bioavailability for Cu, Cu and Ni. The ICF contamination trend in the benthic sediments at all studied sites was Cu>Cr>Ni>Cd>Pb. The principal component and agglomerative clustering analyses indicate that trace metals contamination in the ecosystems was influenced by multiple pollution sources

USING GIS AND PHOTOGRAMMETRY FOR ASSESSING SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC POTENTIAL ON FLAT ROOFS IN URBAN AREA CASE OF THE CITY OF BEN GUERIR / MOROCCO

Renewable energy sources are at the forefront of political discussions around the world because of the scarcity of fossil fuels and climate change caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases. By 2030, Morocco will cover 52% of these energy needs through renewable energies, in order to preserve the environment (COP 22). This paper aims to estimate the potential of photovoltaic solar energy from flat roofs in the city of Ben Guerir, Morocco using remote sensing and GIS data. To achieve this goal, vector orthophoto resulting from the photogrammetric restitution acquired in 2015 were used to generate a 3D model (DSM). The annual solar irradiation is calculated by the analyser of the solar tool. Each roof is calculated based on algorithms for the most common solar panel technologies (mono-si and poly-si). The applicability of this methodology has been demonstrated in the urban area of Benguerir, Morocco, and can be widespread in any other region of the world. The results obtained for a total roofing surface of 135 Ha, i.e. more than 345 Gwh of electricity annually generate. For an average roof of 60 m2 that could supply 5 to 6 households; A planned investment between 118,218 and 167,296 DH, and an annual maintenance charge of 2%. This study may be an initial assessment of solar potential in the city, which can be used to support the management decision regarding investment in the urban solar system

Effects of anthropogenic activities on the heavy metal levels in the clams and sediments in a tropical river

The present study aimed to assess the effects of anthropogenic activities on the heavy metal levels in the Langat River by transplantation of Corbicula javanica. In addition, potential ecological risk indexes (PERI) of heavy metals in the surface sediments of the river were also investigated. The correlation analysis revealed that eight metals (As, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in total soft tissue (TST) while five metals (As, Cd, Cr, Fe and Mn) in shell have positively and significantly correlation with respective metal concentration in sediment, indicating the clams is a good biomonitor of the metal levels. Based on clustering patterns, the discharge of dam impoundment, agricultural activities and urban domestic waste were identified as three major contributors of the metals in Pangsun, Semenyih and Dusun Tua, and Kajang, respectively. Various geochemical indexes for a single metal pollutant (geoaccumulation index (I geo), enrichment factors (EF), contamination factor (C f) and ecological risk (Er)) all agreed that Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn are not likely to cause adverse effect to the river ecosystem, but As and Pb could pose a potential ecological risk to the river ecosystem. All indexes (degree of contamination (C d), combined pollution index (CPI) and PERI) showed that overall metal concentrations in the tropical river are still within safe limit. River metal pollution was investigated. Anthropogenic activities were contributors of the metal pollution. Geochemical indexes showed that metals are within the safe limit

A long-term record of land use change impacts on sediments in Oualidia lagoon, Morocco

International audienceAn integrated approach, involving land use patterns and heavy metal contents of the surficial and cored sediment,was proposed to detect the characteristic spatial and temporal scale of point and non-point source humandisturbances on the Oualidia lagoon in Morocco. Identification and description of the temporal and spatialdistributions of the main contamination sources of heavy metals are analyzed using statistics and GIS methods.The results show that surficial sediments are highly enriched in heavy metals compared to their preindustrialbackground levels. Land-use types affected lagoon sediment pollution in different ways: 1) agricultural areas hadthe highest potential for sediment contamination by heavy metals, particularly Pb, Cu and Hg, 2) Ni and Cr are themain pollutants originating from urban sewage and 3) oyster farming and traditional land uses such as salt flats,pastures showed low levels of others metals. The enrichment factors (normalized by Al) obtained from thesediment cores indicated that the lagoon is (strongly/moderately) polluted by all metals which were attributed toagricultural activities and wastewater discharges from urbanized areas

Sedimentary records of anthropogenic contribution to heavy metal content in Oum Er Bia estuary (Morocco)

International audienceLevels of heavy metals (Cd, Hg, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn), organic carbon content and textural characteristics in the superficial and cored sediments of Oum Er Bia estuary have been studied. The anthropogenic fluxes of heavy metals were determined in two sediment cores collected in the estuary, facing urban sewages. A dated estuarine core from the inter-tidal area was assessed using 210Pb and 137Cs data. These data indicate that the mean sedimentation rates are 0.38–68 cm year-1. The analytical results and the radio-dating of sediment cores show extremely high concentrations of Zn, Pb and Cu in the sediments that can be ascribed mostly to the discharge of the liquid effluent from the sewage since the late 1960s, decreasing towards the present day. The pollution intensity of the estuary is determined by the enrichment factors, which show that the Oum Er Bia estuary is moderately polluted to polluted

Biomonitoring environmental status in semi-enclosed coastal ecosystems using Zostera noltei meadows

Semi enclosed waters, such as estuaries and lagoons, are vulnerable ecosystems that are experiencing persistent trace element (TE) contamination. Seagrasses have been reported worldwide as valuable bioindicator species for coastal contamination monitoring purpose. This is, to our knowledge, the first time the TE contamination of semi-enclosed ecosystems has been monitored along the full latitudinal gradient of the Moroccan Atlantic coast. In these ecosystems, the dominant seagrass species is Zostera noltei. 23 TEs (Fe, Al, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, V, Cu, Zn, Sr, Li, As, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Mo, Ba, Ti, Pb, U, Bi and Hg) and four major elements (Na, Mg, K, Ca) were measured in sediments and seagrass leaf samples were collected upstream and downstream of five semi-enclosed areas. They contrasted in both climatic conditions and levels of environmental contamination. The Trace Element Pollution Index (TEPI) and the Trace Element Spatial Variation Index (TESVI) were calculated from chemical element concentrations in the samples. Of the five semi-enclosed areas, Sidi Moussa lagoon's sediments were the most contaminated (TEPI = 1.18). The TESVI differed highly between chemical elements among the five water bodies for sediments and seagrass leaves, the highest spatial variability being for Ag (TESVI = 72.01 and 21.05 respectively). For Z. noltei leaves, a latitudinal gradient of TE accumulation was recorded. A high bioconcentration factor (BCF > 1) for Cd, Mo, Sb, Ag, Zn and U indicated that the sediments were efficiently uptaken by the seagrass. Significant correlations (p < 0.05) between levels of Cd, Ag, Fe, Al, Ba, Hg, Mn and Zn in sediments and in Z. noltei leaves indicated similar contamination occurrences in both environmental matrices and their bioavailability for seagrasses. Overall, leaf TE bioconcentration among and within the study sites resulted from differences in element bioavailability and environmental conditions (climatic context, hydrological conditions and human impact). Ultimately, Z. noltei is a useful bioindicator of Cd, Mo, Sb, Ag, Zn, U, Al, Fe, Mn, Ba and Hg contamination in sediments. © 2019 Elsevier Lt

STUDY OF MORPHODYNAMIC AND SEDIMENTOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE OUALIDIA LAGOON (MOROCCO) USING BATHYMETRIC DATA: FIRST INVESTIGATIONS AFTER THE SEDIMENT TRAP DREDGING

Abstract. Coastal lagoons are highly dynamic and physically complicated systems. They are environmentally productive and socio-economically valuable. Contemporary global development and management pressures require a better understanding of their dynamics and sustainability. The present study focuses on the problem of water confinement in the Oualidia lagoon (Atlantic coast of Morocco). This lagoon is characterized by an asymmetric tidal propagation, with a shorter duration of the flood (rising tide) than the ebb (falling tide). In the long term, this contributes to the reduction of depths and the confinement of water upstream. After extensive studies, a sediment trap was created in 2011 to trap the finest sediment in the upstream part of the lagoon. This study aims to analyze the morphodynamical and sedimentological changes in the lagoon of Oualidia, after the sediment trap dredging. For this purpose, bathymetric surveys covering 6 years between 2006 and 2012 were analyzed, providing sufficient data to identify the morphological changes that the lagoon has undergone during this period. The data analysis was followed by a study of the lagoon bed dynamics using profile lines extracted from the bathymetric data in a GIS environment. As a result, the findings partly show that over 6 years, an average height of +0.65 m was gained by the lagoon, while the average change in the eroded areas was estimated to be −0.42 m. In addition, the eroded area in the lagoon was estimated to be about 1,513,800 m2 with an erosion volume of 633,383 m3, while the accumulated area found was about 2,699,396 m2 with an accumulation volume of 1,765,866 m3. These changes can be related to the large input of marine sediment, mainly caused by tidal currents and waves, but also to the creation of a sediment trap in the upstream area of the lagoon. </jats:p