Accumulation of oil products and heavy metals in bottom sediments at Temryuk harbor (the Sea of Azov, 2006-2020)

Abstract

The paper presents the results attained on the rate of accumulation as well as seasonal and inter-annual time profiles of oil products and some heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Fe) in the bottom sediments within the Temryuk harbor area (Gazovikov Bay) in the period from 2006 to 2020 when concentrations of oil products (OP) were recorded to vary from 88 to 413, copper – 13.6-116.0, zinc – 58.2-415.0, lead – 14.0-55.3 and iron – 8.4-41.0 g/kg, with median values of 211, 39, 122, 20 mg/kg and 30 g/kg, respectively. There is a trend for a higher rate of accumulation of oil products and lead. The paper specifies some geochemical features of bottom sediments at the seaport of Temryuk against the sediments in the Azov Sea. It delineates statistically significant relationships between levels of the pollutants under consideration, which decrease (as the correlation coefficient decreases) in the following sequence Cu-Zn> Cu-Pb> Zn-Pb >> Cu-Fe> Zn-OP> Zn-Fe, Cu-OP.