Trace metal distribution in sediments and benthic fauna of Haifa Bay, Israel

Abstract

Haifa Bay, although adjacent to major chemical and other industries, showed no significant contamination of Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn in the sediments or benthic biota except for one station opposite the polluted Kishon river estuary. There was moderate to low Hg contamination throughout the bay, derived from the outfall of a chlor-alkali plant. The levels of Hg in the surficial sediment and biota have not changed significantly over the last 7 years, a period when effluent treatment was operating at the chlor-alkali plant. Using pollutant laden particles from recognized point sources as tracers for sediment transport, it was concluded that the southern part of Haifa Bay is an area of net sedimentation. No sediment from this area was detected further north in the bay. Sediments introduced at the north of the bay spread both north and south. Within most of the bay there has been no major sediment accumulation or erosion over the past 7 years.