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Distribution of Several Heavy Metals in Tidal Flats Sediments within Bahía Blanca Estuary (Argentina)

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Abstract

Sediment pollution by metals is of high interest considering that it can affect marine life. The estuaries' quality may be reflected by the environmental intertidal zone condition. Subsurface sediments collected at the nude tidal flats from three sampling stations in the Bahía Blanca Estuary were analyzed for total metals concentrations (Hg, Cd, Pb, and Cr), distribution, and geochemical partitioning. Most of the elements (Hg, Cd, and Cr) have shown highest concentration values in the industrial-influenced area. Maximum value of Pb was obtained where the main freshwater input discharges. Intertidal sediments have presented higher values of Cr than the subtidal ones. Cd and Pb contents near the industrial area were strongly higher in the subtidal zones. The distribution of Cd and Pb demonstrated the occurrence of a diffusion pattern from the land toward the sea, showing a dependence on both the metal itself and/or the source. Not all studied metals have shown the highest content in the fine fraction. The chemical partitioning in the fine fractions offered evidence that the tidal flats were an important source as well as sink of metals to the adjacent coastal area. The studies of intertidal sediments provide an integrative knowledge on the potential effects of different trace metals in the environment and they must be used in the contamination studies within coastal areas.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are greatly indebted to Lic. Federico Delucchi (IADO) for his help in samples processing and chemical analysis; Dr. Laura E. Grecco and Dr. Angel O. Marcos (UNS) for their assistance with the geochemical partitioning analysis. Thanks to Raul Asteasuain and M. Nedda Chiarello (IADO) for their assistance during sampling and laboratory work. Mrs. Mariela Gherbi has kindly reviewed the English version of this manuscript. Thanks also to the anonymous referee who greatly contributed with a critical reading and valuable corrections to the improvement of the original manuscript. This research was funded through grants by ANPCyT (PICT No. 07-11636/02 and PICT 0945/06) from Argentina.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Área de Oceanografía Química, Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO), CONICET CCT-BB, CC: 804, Florida 7000, B8000FWB, Bahía Blanca, Argentina

    Sandra Elizabeth Botté & Jorge Eduardo Marcovecchio

  2. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Juan 670, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina

    Sandra Elizabeth Botté

  3. Química Ambiental, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Av. Alem 1251, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina

    Ruben Hugo Freije

  4. Facultad Regional Bahía Blanca (UTN-FRBB), Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, 11 de Abril 461, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina

    Jorge Eduardo Marcovecchio

  5. Universidad FASTA, Gascón 3149, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina

    Jorge Eduardo Marcovecchio

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  1. Sandra Elizabeth Botté
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  2. Ruben Hugo Freije
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  3. Jorge Eduardo Marcovecchio
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Correspondence to Sandra Elizabeth Botté.

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Botté, S.E., Freije, R.H. & Marcovecchio, J.E. Distribution of Several Heavy Metals in Tidal Flats Sediments within Bahía Blanca Estuary (Argentina). Water Air Soil Pollut 210, 371–388 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-009-0260-0

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