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Integrative sediment assessment at Atlantic Spanish harbours by means of chemical and ecotoxicological tools

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Abstract

This study refers to the integrative assessment of sediment quality in three harbour areas at the Spanish Atlantic Coast: Vigo (Northwestern Spain), Bilbao and Pasajes (Northern Spain). At each site, two lines of evidence have been considered: chemical analyses (metal, PAH and PCB concentrations in sediments and ammonia concentration in bioassays) and toxicity tests (Microtox®, Corophium sp. marine amphipod and Paracentrotus lividus sea urchin larvae). Chemical and ecotoxicological results have been integrated by means of a tabular matrix and a multivariate factorial analysis (FA). Highly toxic samples have been characterised in Vigo and Pasajes harbours while Bilbao samples present toxicity levels ranging from non-toxic to moderately toxic. High toxicity is associated with high levels of contaminants whereas confounding factors (ammonia, organic matter and mud) have been identified to be the main cause of low to moderate toxicity. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that deriving potential toxicity of sediments based on comparison with Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs) is in agreement to toxicity results in areas presenting high levels of contaminants. However, at lower levels of toxicity (low to moderate), the mismatch between the potential toxicity (SQG approach) and the toxicity measured by bioassays is greater, as the former only accounts for chemical concentrations, without considering the interaction between contaminants and the effect of confounding factors. Contrarily, the multivariate analysis seems to be a robust tool for the integration and interpretation of different lines of evidence in areas affected by different sources of contamination.

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Acknowledgements

The present study was supported by Sediport project CTM2006-13880-C03-03/MAR funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. We are very grateful to an anonymous reviewer for some very constructive comments. Natalia Montero and Iratxe Menchaca were supported by a Ph.D. fellowship from Fundación Centros Tecnológicos-Iñaki Goenaga. This paper is contribution number 572 from AZTI-Tecnalia (Marine Research Division).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Research Division, AZTI-Tecnalia, Herrera Kaia, Portualdea z/g, 20110, Pasaia, Spain

    N. Montero, M. J. Belzunce-Segarra, I. Menchaca, J. M. Garmendia & J. Franco

  2. Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Vigo, Vigo, 36310, Spain

    O. Nieto

  3. Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, EHU/UPV, Bilbao, P.O. 644, 48080, Spain

    N. Etxebarria

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  1. N. Montero
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  2. M. J. Belzunce-Segarra
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  3. I. Menchaca
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  4. J. M. Garmendia
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  5. J. Franco
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Correspondence to M. J. Belzunce-Segarra.

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Montero, N., Belzunce-Segarra, M.J., Menchaca, I. et al. Integrative sediment assessment at Atlantic Spanish harbours by means of chemical and ecotoxicological tools. Environ Monit Assess 185, 1305–1318 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-012-2633-x

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