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Physicochemical and ecotoxicological evaluation of estuarine water quality during a dredging operation

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Abstract

Purpose

Most of the information concerning the effects of contaminated sediments on estuarine organisms deals with the impacts of bed forming sediments. The ecotoxicological potential at the time of a dredging operation is more difficult to assess, and few studies have dealt specifically with resuspended contaminated sediments. The aim of this study was to determine whether release of contaminants through sediment resuspension during a dredging operation in the Itajaí-açu estuary (Brazil) changed the water quality classification and had an ecotoxicological impact on the near-field water column during the critical moment of this operation.

Materials and methods

Waters from two sites (control and dredged sites) were analyzed for physicochemical parameters before, during, and after a dredging operation. In parallel, a short-term, sensitive battery of biotests (bacteria, algae, and daphnids) was performed with water samples before and during this operation according to the ISO bioassay protocols.

Results and discussion

No short-term toxicity was observed with waters collected before or during the dredging operation. The results showed that desorption of contaminants from suspended particles of sediments with a low level of contamination during a dredging operation lowered the water quality in the near-field water column but that this did not promote significant acute toxicity effects on the organisms tested.

Conclusions

More detailed studies are needed (e.g., the question of the reliability of biotests under turbulent, particle-rich conditions) to fully understand this complex issue regarding water column ecotoxicity during the whole dredging operation and to support decisions on the management of dredging activities.

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Acknowledgments

The authors greatly acknowledge the fellowship support of CNPq—Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (grants 300898/2007-0 for CM Radetski and 306217/2007-4 for CAF Schettini).

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Author notes

  1. Carlos A. F. Schettini

    Present address: Instituto de Ciências do Mar–LABOMAR, Universidade Federal do Ceará–UFC, Fotaleza, Ceará, Brazil

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Ciências Tecnológicas da Terra e do Mar, Universidade do Vale do Itajaí, Rua Uruguai, 458, Itajaí, Santa Catarina, 88302-202, Brazil

    Sandro R. Urban, Albertina X. R. Corrêa, Carlos A. F. Schettini, Paulo R. Schwingel, Rafael M. Sperb & Claudemir M. Radetski

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  1. Sandro R. Urban
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  2. Albertina X. R. Corrêa
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  3. Carlos A. F. Schettini
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  4. Paulo R. Schwingel
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  6. Claudemir M. Radetski
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Correspondence to Claudemir M. Radetski.

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Responsible editor: Susanne Heise.

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Urban, S.R., Corrêa, A.X.R., Schettini, C.A.F. et al. Physicochemical and ecotoxicological evaluation of estuarine water quality during a dredging operation. J Soils Sediments 10, 65–76 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-009-0156-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-009-0156-z

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