TY - JOUR
T1 - Metals and their ecological impact on beach sediments near the marine protected sites of Sodwana Bay and St. Lucia, South Africa
AU - Vetrimurugan, E.
AU - Shruti, V. C.
AU - Jonathan, M. P.
AU - Roy, Priyadarsi D.
AU - Rawlins, B. K.
AU - Rivera-Rivera, D. M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2018/2
Y1 - 2018/2
N2 - A baseline study on metal concentrations in sediments was initiated from the Sodwana Bay and St. Lucia, adjacent to marine protected areas (MPAs) of South Africa. They were analysed to identify the acid leachable metal (ALM) (Fe, Mg, Mn, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Co, Pb, Cd, Zn and Hg) concentration pattern. Metal distribution in 65 sediment samples exhibits higher abundances of Cr, Mo, Cd and Hg compared to the Upper Continental Crust. We relate the enrichment of these metals to beach placer deposits and activities related to former gold mining. Geochemical indices affirmed that Cr and Hg caused contamination, and Hg posed ~ 90% harmful effect on the biological community. These beach sediments, however, host lower metal concentrations compared to many worldwide beaches and other beaches in South Africa. This study suggests that it is largely unaffected by human activities, however, the overabundance of Hg demands regular monitoring.
AB - A baseline study on metal concentrations in sediments was initiated from the Sodwana Bay and St. Lucia, adjacent to marine protected areas (MPAs) of South Africa. They were analysed to identify the acid leachable metal (ALM) (Fe, Mg, Mn, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Co, Pb, Cd, Zn and Hg) concentration pattern. Metal distribution in 65 sediment samples exhibits higher abundances of Cr, Mo, Cd and Hg compared to the Upper Continental Crust. We relate the enrichment of these metals to beach placer deposits and activities related to former gold mining. Geochemical indices affirmed that Cr and Hg caused contamination, and Hg posed ~ 90% harmful effect on the biological community. These beach sediments, however, host lower metal concentrations compared to many worldwide beaches and other beaches in South Africa. This study suggests that it is largely unaffected by human activities, however, the overabundance of Hg demands regular monitoring.
KW - Acid leachable metal
KW - Beach sediment
KW - Geochemical index
KW - Potential ecological risk
KW - Sodwana Bay and St. Lucia
KW - South Africa
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85038943988&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.12.044
DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.12.044
M3 - Artículo
C2 - 29475699
SN - 0025-326X
VL - 127
SP - 568
EP - 575
JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin
JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin
ER -
