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Use of sediment quality indicators for heavy metals contamination and ecological risk assessment in urbanized coastal zones

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Abstract

The urbanized coastal zones are frequently faced to various pollutant discharges mainly in the shoreline. The quantification of the pollution level was mainly based on sea-water analysis. However, in this environment, the sediment characterization, using quality indicators, may constitute an accurate approach. The latter can be particularly appropriate to define heavy metals pollution degree. Chemical analyses of Cd, Cu, Zn, and Fe were undertaken for a total of 45 surface marine sediment samples of Gabes city coast. There is a significant extension of pollution, strongly influenced by the dominant longshore current. The studied sediments were found usually enriched with Cu, Cd, and Zn. These anthropogenic heavy metals have identical behavior and similar distribution. These metals did not show any correlations with Fe chosen as natural tracer. The multi-element indices used permitted to conclude that 70% of sampling sites are highly affected by heavy metal contamination and associated with very high ecological risk. These indices use a simple contamination factor, which, however, would not take account of the sedimentary inputs and the complex sediment behavior. Consequently, modified indices, employing enrichment factor, were used and demonstrated better to assess pollution and ecological risk.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Unit: Applied Hydrosciences, Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, University of Sfax, Soukra Road Km 3.5, BP 1171, 3000, Sfax, Tunisia

    Dorra Gargouri

  2. Research Unit: Applied Hydrosciences, University of Gabes Higher Institute of Water Sciences and Techniques, Zrig, 6072, Gabès, Tunisia

    Maher Gzam, Adel Kharroubi & Younes Jedoui

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  1. Dorra Gargouri
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  2. Maher Gzam
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  3. Adel Kharroubi
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  4. Younes Jedoui
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Correspondence to Dorra Gargouri.

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Gargouri, D., Gzam, M., Kharroubi, A. et al. Use of sediment quality indicators for heavy metals contamination and ecological risk assessment in urbanized coastal zones. Environ Earth Sci 77, 381 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7567-3

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