Abstract
Distribution patterns of selected heavy metals content in sediments from the Bay of Quiberon and Gulf of Morbihan were studied to understand the current heavy metals contamination due to urbanization and mariculture activities in the coastal area. Therefore, a survey was conducted and 196 sediments collected were characterized for heavy metals content using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) after mix acid digestion process. The distribution maps of the concentrations of the heavy metals studied were produced as an isopleth map based on data interpolation by the ArcGIS software application. The association with the adverse effects on aquatic organisms was determined by the classification of the sediment according to the sediment quality guidelines. Therefore, two approaches were employed namely: direct comparison with Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs) by USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) and comparison with other numerical SQGs, threshold effect level/probable effect level, and effect range low/effect range medium. In order to estimate the effect of multiple contaminations of heavy metals, the mean-ERM-quotient was calculated at each sampling point.
Highlights
Human pressures on the ocean are thought to be rising globally in diverse and profound ways [1] [2]
In order to establish such a knowledge, the present study investigates the spatial distribution of four heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn) at 196 sampling points in the Bay of Quiberon and Gulf of Morbihan surficial sediments
Tomlison et al [41] elaborated that the application of the pollution load index (PLI) provides a simple way to assess the quality of estuarine and coastal sediment
Summary
Human pressures on the ocean are thought to be rising globally in diverse and profound ways [1] [2]. Estuary and coastal environments are contaminated through activities such as tourism, and areas such as harbors and industrials sites These release elevated concentrations of heavy metals, nutrients, organic pollutants, and radionuclides into the marine environment [5]. PLI values of the analyzed surficial sediments were visualized by ArcGIS software and shown, which confirms that either Bay of Quiberon or Gulf of Morbihan is not seriously polluted with the heavy metals studied. The first approach was to compare the concentrations of heavy metals to the Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs) promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) which were reviewed by Giesy et al [47] This approach was used only to screen contaminants of concern in aquatic ecosystems. The second approach was to apply two sets of SQGs developed for marine and estuarine ecosystems [48] to the assessment the ecotoxicology of the concentration of heavy metals in sediments, namely, 1) the effect range low (ERL)/effect range median (ERM) and 2) the threshold effect level (TEL)/probable effect level (PEL)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
