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The Zoning of Semi-Enclosed Bodies of Water According to the Sediment Pollution: The Bay of Algeciras as a Case Example

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Abstract

This paper reports a study of the occurrence and levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a bay characterised by a chronic persistent impact. A total of 55 sediment samples were taken at different depths up to 111 m in two sampling campaigns. Chemical analyses were carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The results indicate that: (1) significant spatial variations exist, (2) levels of PAHs are related more strongly to the spatial distribution of sediments than to mineralogy/granulometry, (3) the sediments are slightly-to-moderately contaminated by PAHs, and (4) these PAHs derive from pyrolytic and petrogenic sources. Through use of an innovative data classification system (proposed according to depth and spatial location of sampling points), and using factorial and cluster techniques, five zones have been differentiated depending on the contamination level and source.

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Acknowledgements

The work described was supported partly by the projects OT 2006/048 and P06-FQM-02075 financed by the Regional Government, Junta de Andalucia (Spain). E.R.-N. thanks the Obra Social la Caixa for funding her master’s grant, and she thanks the Ministry of Science and Innovation for funding her research fellowship (FPU). We are grateful for the collaboration of the doctors Giuseppe Cultrone and Daniel Gonzalez-Fernandez. We would like to thank the University Cadiz School of Modern Languages (CSLM) and Mrs Denise Hughes for English correction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Andalusian Centre of Marine Science and Technology (CACYTMAR), Department of Environmental Technologies, University of Cadiz, 11510, Puerto Real, Cadiz, Spain

    Elisa Rojo-Nieto, Carmen Garrido-Pérez & Jose Antonio Perales-Vargas-Machuca

  2. Department of Environmental Technologies, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cadiz, 11510, Puerto Real, Cadiz, Spain

    Diego Sales-Marquez

  3. Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cadiz, 11510, Puerto Real, Cadiz, Spain

    Giorgio Anfuso-Melfi & Francisco Lopez-Aguayo

Authors
  1. Elisa Rojo-Nieto
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  2. Carmen Garrido-Pérez
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  3. Giorgio Anfuso-Melfi
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  5. Diego Sales-Marquez
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  6. Jose Antonio Perales-Vargas-Machuca
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Correspondence to Elisa Rojo-Nieto.

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Rojo-Nieto, E., Garrido-Pérez, C., Anfuso-Melfi, G. et al. The Zoning of Semi-Enclosed Bodies of Water According to the Sediment Pollution: The Bay of Algeciras as a Case Example. Estuaries and Coasts 34, 1129–1139 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-011-9389-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-011-9389-3

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