Integrated Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Sediments from a Coastal Industrial Basin, NE China

The purpose of this study is to investigate the current status of metal pollution of the sediments from urban-stream, estuary and Jinzhou Bay of the coastal industrial city, NE China. Forty surface sediment samples from river, estuary and bay and one sediment core from Jinzhou bay were collected and analyzed for heavy metal concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni and Mn. The data reveals that there was a remarkable change in the contents of heavy metals among the sampling sediments, and all the mean values of heavy metal concentration were higher than the national guideline values of marine sediment quality of China (GB 18668-2002). This is one of the most polluted of the world’s impacted coastal systems. Both the correlation analyses and geostatistical analyses showed that Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd have a very similar spatial pattern and come from the industrial activities, and the concentration of Mn mainly caused by natural factors. The estuary is the most polluted area with extremely high potential ecological risk; however the contamination decreased with distance seaward of the river estuary. This study clearly highlights the urgent need to make great efforts to control the industrial emission and the exceptionally severe heavy metal pollution in the coastal area, and the immediate measures should be carried out to minimize the rate of contamination, and extent of future pollution problems

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: HI" lang="EN-GB">Impact of environmental conditions on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Posidonia oceanica</i> meadows in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea</span>

770-778<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-bidi-font-family:="" mangal;mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:="" hi"="" lang="EN-GB">In the meadow closer to the fish cages, total inorganic nitrogen, ammonium, chlorophyll-a concentrations and organic matter content in sediment were determined. It is relatively higher than those recorded at the control meadow. In order to test significant differences among stations, sampling periods and depths, environmental variables together with morphological characters of the both sites were analyzed by Canoco. Shoot density, adult leaf length, adult leaf surface area, and leaf area index (LAI) showed significant spatial and temporal changes. Additionally, except shoot density, the values obtained other morphological characters showed increasing trend towards deeper stations and further meadow from the cage activities. A coefficient values were relatively higher in the near cages and decreased related with depth.</span

The response of benthic foraminifera and ostracoda to heavy metal pollution in Gulf of Izmir (Eastern Aegean Sea)

Benthic foraminifera can be used as environmental bioindicators, especially in polluted environments where their sensitivity to pollutants may be expressed by a modification in the assemblage. Nineteen sediment samples were collected in November 2002 from surficial sediments of the Gulf of Izmir (Turkey). The Gulf of Izmir is located in Western Turkey and surrounded by a densely populated community. The gulf has been contaminated by numerous heavy metals, but geochemical analyses have shown that metals are significant pollutants only in the inner part of the gulf. Outer and Middle Sections showed low levels of heavy metals, except the estuary of Gediz River. Eight heavy metals have been analyzed in all the sampling points. Sixty-seven foraminifer and 22 ostracod species were identified in 16 sediment samples. Statistical analysis shows that there is a significant correlation between foraminifera species and heavy metals. The most polluted Inner Sections are dominated by the tolerant species Ammonia tepida that may be used as pollution indicator. The gradient observed in heavy metal concentrations between the Outer and Inner Sections has a prevalent influence on the foraminiferal distribution. There is a gradient of the number of species, increasing from the Inner Section toward the Outer Section. The occurrence of test abnormalities among foraminifera may represent a useful biomarker for evaluating long-term environmental impacts in a coastal region. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The response of benthic foraminifera and ostracoda to heavy metal pollution in Gulf of Izmir (Eastern Aegean Sea)

Benthic foraminifera can be used as environmental bioindicators, especially in polluted environments where their sensitivity to pollutants may be expressed by a modification in the assemblage. Nineteen sediment samples were collected in November 2002 from surficial sediments of the Gulf of Izmir (Turkey). The Gulf of Izmir is located in Western Turkey and surrounded by a densely populated community. The gulf has been contaminated by numerous heavy metals, but geochemical analyses have shown that metals are significant pollutants only in the inner part of the gulf. Outer and Middle Sections showed low levels of heavy metals, except the estuary of Gediz River. Eight heavy metals have been analyzed in all the sampling points. Sixty-seven foraminifer and 22 ostracod species were identified in 16 sediment samples. Statistical analysis shows that there is a significant correlation between foraminifera. species and heavy metals. The most polluted Inner Sections are dominated by the tolerant species Ammonia tepida that may be used as pollution indicator. The gradient observed in heavy metal concentrations between the Outer and Inner Sections has a prevalent influence on the foraminiferal distribution. There is a gradient of the number of species, increasing from the Inner Section toward the Outer Section. The occurrence of test abnormalities among foraminifera. may represent a useful biomarker for evaluating long-term environmental impacts in a coastal region. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The response of benthic foraminifera and ostracoda to heavy metal pollution in Gulf of Izmir (Eastern Aegean Sea)

Benthic foraminifera can be used as environmental bioindicators, especially in polluted environments where their sensitivity to pollutants may be expressed by a modification in the assemblage. Nineteen sediment samples were collected in November 2002 from surficial sediments of the Gulf of Izmir (Turkey). The Gulf of Izmir is located in Western Turkey and surrounded by a densely populated community. The gulf has been contaminated by numerous heavy metals, but geochemical analyses have shown that metals are significant pollutants only in the inner part of the gulf. Outer and Middle Sections showed low levels of heavy metals, except the estuary of Gediz River. Eight heavy metals have been analyzed in all the sampling points. Sixty-seven foraminifer and 22 ostracod species were identified in 16 sediment samples. Statistical analysis shows that there is a significant correlation between foraminifera. species and heavy metals. The most polluted Inner Sections are dominated by the tolerant species Ammonia tepida that may be used as pollution indicator. The gradient observed in heavy metal concentrations between the Outer and Inner Sections has a prevalent influence on the foraminiferal distribution. There is a gradient of the number of species, increasing from the Inner Section toward the Outer Section. The occurrence of test abnormalities among foraminifera. may represent a useful biomarker for evaluating long-term environmental impacts in a coastal region. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved