TY - JOUR
T1 - Occurrences and ecotoxicological risks of trace metals in the San Benito Archipelago, Eastern Pacific Ocean, Mexico
AU - Sujitha, S. B.
AU - Jonathan, M. P.
AU - Villegas, Lorena Elizabeth Campos
AU - Hernández-Camacho, Claudia J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2020/2/1
Y1 - 2020/2/1
N2 - Trace metal concentrations (Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, Zn, Cd, As, Hg) were determined in water, sediment and biota samples collected from the San Benito Islands off the Pacific Coast of Baja California, Mexico for a geochemical forensic study. Due to the proximity to the continental – oceanic crust interface and high biological endemism, the islands demanded a profound geochemical survey for evaluating the presence and provenance of trace metals. Results suggested that the metals in the region are mainly originated from the geogenic sources (Fe, Mn, Ni, Cr, Cu, Co), deep water circulation (Cd), atmospheric deposition (Pb) and hydrothermal processes (As). Dissolved phase is the major metal carrier of Pb with an average value of 0.182 mg L−1, while Fe (1.60%), Mn (335.42 mg kg−1), Ni (61.77 mg kg−1), Zn (32.36 mg kg−1) and Cr (28.7 mg kg−1) are mainly present in the particulate phase. High values of Pb, As, Cd and Hg in biota with no biological functions are highly toxic and are especially critical to those predators (Sea lions) in the region due to the process of biomagnification. For a qualitative exposure assessment of trace metals, several indices namely Heavy metal Evaluation Index (HEI), Nemerow Pollution Index (NPI), Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) and Biota Sediment Accumulation Factor (BSAF) were calculated. The indices revealed that the overall pollution status of the region is “moderate”. This study advocates a preliminary environmental surveillance in trace metal concentrations for implementing better conservation strategies in maintaining and promoting the ecological richness and endemism of the islands.
AB - Trace metal concentrations (Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, Zn, Cd, As, Hg) were determined in water, sediment and biota samples collected from the San Benito Islands off the Pacific Coast of Baja California, Mexico for a geochemical forensic study. Due to the proximity to the continental – oceanic crust interface and high biological endemism, the islands demanded a profound geochemical survey for evaluating the presence and provenance of trace metals. Results suggested that the metals in the region are mainly originated from the geogenic sources (Fe, Mn, Ni, Cr, Cu, Co), deep water circulation (Cd), atmospheric deposition (Pb) and hydrothermal processes (As). Dissolved phase is the major metal carrier of Pb with an average value of 0.182 mg L−1, while Fe (1.60%), Mn (335.42 mg kg−1), Ni (61.77 mg kg−1), Zn (32.36 mg kg−1) and Cr (28.7 mg kg−1) are mainly present in the particulate phase. High values of Pb, As, Cd and Hg in biota with no biological functions are highly toxic and are especially critical to those predators (Sea lions) in the region due to the process of biomagnification. For a qualitative exposure assessment of trace metals, several indices namely Heavy metal Evaluation Index (HEI), Nemerow Pollution Index (NPI), Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) and Biota Sediment Accumulation Factor (BSAF) were calculated. The indices revealed that the overall pollution status of the region is “moderate”. This study advocates a preliminary environmental surveillance in trace metal concentrations for implementing better conservation strategies in maintaining and promoting the ecological richness and endemism of the islands.
KW - Archipelago islands
KW - Bioaccumulation
KW - Metals
KW - Mexico
KW - San Benito
KW - Toxicity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85073028294&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2019.105003
DO - 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2019.105003
M3 - Artículo
AN - SCOPUS:85073028294
SN - 0964-5691
VL - 184
JO - Ocean and Coastal Management
JF - Ocean and Coastal Management
M1 - 105003
ER -