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Impacts of Geochemical and Environmental Factors on Seasonal Variation of Heavy Metals in a Coastal Lagoon Yucatan, Mexico

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Abstract

This study investigated the influence of geochemical and environmental factors on seasonal variation in metals in Yucatan’s Chelem lagoon. Anthropogenic activities discharge non-treated wastewater directly into it with detrimental environmental consequences. Accordingly, this study established the spatial and temporal patterns of fine grain sediments and concentrations of heavy metals. Multivariate analyses showed fine grain facies deposition, transition sites dominated by fine grain transport, and fine grain erosion sites. Spatial and temporal variations of heavy metals concentration were significant for Cd, Cu, Cr, and Pb. As, Cd, and Sn were as much as 12 times higher than SQuiRTs standards (Buchman 2008). The results indicate that aquifer water is bringing metals from relatively far inland and releasing them into the lagoon. Thus, it appears that the contamination of this lagoon is highly complex and must take into account systemic connections with inland anthropogenic activates and pollution, as well as local factors.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank CONACyT-SEP-CB (Project 101720) for funding this project. We also thank Korinthya López Aguiar and Fernando Mex Esquivel, for his help during the sampling campaign. The authors thank Dr. Lane F. Fargher, for his help with editing our English. The authors also thank the reviewers for their insightful remarks that significantly improve the quality of the article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unidad Sisal, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo, Sisal, 97355, Yucatán, Mexico

    F. Arcega-Cabrera, E. Noreña-Barroso & I. Oceguera-Vargas

  2. Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investigación, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo, Sisal, 97355, Yucatán, Mexico

    R. Garza-Pérez

Authors
  1. F. Arcega-Cabrera
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  2. R. Garza-Pérez
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  3. E. Noreña-Barroso
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  4. I. Oceguera-Vargas
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Correspondence to F. Arcega-Cabrera.

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Arcega-Cabrera, F., Garza-Pérez, R., Noreña-Barroso, E. et al. Impacts of Geochemical and Environmental Factors on Seasonal Variation of Heavy Metals in a Coastal Lagoon Yucatan, Mexico. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 94, 58–65 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-014-1416-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-014-1416-1

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