Abstract
22 surface sediment samples were collected in August 2018 from the Romanian inner shelf (Nord-Western Black Sea). Concentrations of some metals (Al, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, As, Pb, and Hg), TOC content, and grain size of sediment samples were determined by specific techniques. The order of accumulation of heavy metals was Zn]Cr]Ni]Cu]Pb]As]Hg. Multivariate analysis indicated that As, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Hg concentrations had similar behavior and they were positively correlated with the clay content, whereas Al and Cr concentrations presented close patterns and they were negatively correlated with the water depth. Sediment pollution assessment indices (enrichment factor, contamination factor, and geo-accumulation index) suggested no/low pollution for most of the metals analyzed, excepting for Pb and Hg (moderate pollution). Values of pollution indices highlighted a higher sediment pollution with Pb and Hg along the Danube�s plume direction, in the oil platform area (eastern edge of the Portita Bay), and partially in the Constanta and Mangalia area, suggesting the influence of port activities, tourism, urban wastewater discharges, oil and gas extraction.
Highlights
Heavy metals are natural components of the Earth's crust, but in the last few decades they are released in the marine environment through sea port activities, oil and gas extraction, urbanization, industry, etc
Spatial distributions of some trace elements (As, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Hg) and Al in the surface sediments collected from NW Black Sea were determined
The elements considered in this study showed relatively large spatial variability with higher concentrations in front of the Danube’s mouths and at eastern edge of the Portita Bay
Summary
Heavy metals are natural components of the Earth's crust, but in the last few decades they are released in the marine environment through sea port activities (e.g., harbors, antifouling paints), oil and gas extraction, urbanization, industry, etc. North-Western (NW) Black Sea has faced to significant anthropogenic pressures since the 1970s, most of them linked to the Danube’s discharges, which heavily impacted the Romanian shelf. The strong development of the industry, agriculture, and urbanization in the Danube’s catchment area, along with the sea-based activities, during the last decades of the 20th century, led to a considerable increase in the heavy metals pollution level [2]. The heavy metal pollution still remains a major concern considering their accumulative behavior, which depends on various factors, including sediment type, total organic carbon (TOC) content, water depth [3,4,5,6,7]
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