Investigation of Sediment Pollution in the Gulf of Elefsina Using Environmental Indicators

Abstract

In this paper, the sediment pollution in the Gulf of Elefsina, over the period 1986-2010, has been measured and presented. The pollution had been measured regarding heavy metals, like cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn). Initially, the measured area is presented, along with the sources of pollution in the historical background and the wider region. Three pollutant indicators had been calculated for the investigation of Sediment Pollution: The Pollution Load Index (PLI), the Enrichment Factor (EF) and the Geo-accumulation index (Igeo). The results of the Pollution Control and Environmental Quality Office measurements had been used for the calculation of these indicators, taken at six locations of the coast and three locations in the center of the Gulf of Elefsina. The study of these indicators reveals that there is heavy metal pollution at all sampling locations, while the most heavily affected areas of the Gulf are these near Skaramangas Shipyards and Elefsis Shipyards. More intense pollution is recorded for Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn. More specifically, high values of Cd had been measured at all sampling points, while for Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn high values had been measured in areas that are active in shipbuilding-repair and dismantling units. In contrast, there is no pollution for Mn.