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Assessing pollution in a Mediterranean lagoon using acid volatile sulfides and estimations of simultaneously extracted metals

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Abstract

Bizerte Lagoon is a southern Mediterranean semi-enclosed lagoon with a maximum depth of 12 m. After assessing sediment quality, the authors report on the physicochemical characteristics of the lagoon’s surface sediment using SEM (simultaneously extracted metals) and AVS (acid volatile sulfides) as proxies. Biogeochemical tools are used to investigate the environmental disturbance at the water–sediment interface by means of SEM and AVS to seek conclusions concerning the study area’s pollution status. Results confirm accumulation of trace elements in sediment. The use of the SEM-AVS model with organic matter in sediment (ƒOC) confirms possible bioavailability of accumulated trace elements, especially Zn, in the southern part of the lagoon, with organic matter playing an important role in SEM excess correction to affirm a nontoxic total metal sediment state. Individual trace element toxicity is dependent on the bioavailable fraction of SEMMetal on sediment, as is the influence of lagoon inflow from southern water sources on element bioavailability. Appropriate management strategies are highly recommended to mitigate any potential harmful effects on health from this heavy-metal-based pollution.

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Acknowledgments

This work is part of a collaborative project between the INSTM (Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer, Tunisia), the University of Franche-Comté (Chrono-Environnement, UMR CNRS 6249, Besançon, France), Aveiro University, Portugal, and Rio de Janeiro University, Brazil.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer, Tunis, Tunisie

    Noureddine Zaaboub, Rym Ennouri, Béchir Béjaoui & Monia El Bour

  2. Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisie

    Mohamed Amine Helali

  3. Faculdade de Geologia, Departamento de Estratigrafia e Paleontologia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Av. São Francisco Xavier, 524, sala 4037 F, Maracanã, 20550-013, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil

    Maria Virgínia Alves Martins

  4. Departamento de Geociências. GeoBioTec-Goebiociências, Geotecnologias e Geoengenharias, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    Eduardo Ferreira da Silva

  5. Laboratoire de Chrono-Environnement, UMR CNRS 6249, Besançon cedex, France

    Lotfi Aleya

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  1. Noureddine Zaaboub
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  2. Mohamed Amine Helali
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  3. Maria Virgínia Alves Martins
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  5. Béchir Béjaoui
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  6. Eduardo Ferreira da Silva
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  8. Lotfi Aleya
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Correspondence to Lotfi Aleya.

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Zaaboub, N., Helali, M.A., Martins, M.V.A. et al. Assessing pollution in a Mediterranean lagoon using acid volatile sulfides and estimations of simultaneously extracted metals. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 21908–21919 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7431-5

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