engleski

Ecotoxicological analysis of Rječina river and Bakar bay sediment

The ecotoxicological analysis is an important issue for the risk assessment of chemical contamination and its potential impact on water quality and biota of receiving marine ecosystems. Marine sediments are often a final sink for numerous anthropogenic contaminants and may impose serious effects on benthic organisms and ecosystem. This study tried to evaluate the environmental quality of the sediments at six sampling sites within the Rječina River and 10 sampling sites within Bakar Bay. Total PAHs content ranged from 28 μg kg-1 to 9000 μg kg-1 DW, metal pollution index for 10 metals ranged from 12 to 67, and PCB content was up to 48 μg kg-1 DW. Sediments from selected sites displayed different dynamics of chemical compounds and potential toxicity. Integrated analysis of investigated parameters showed a significant difference between non-urban, urban (traffic, wastewater outlets), and industrial zones (ex-coke plant, harbor). The sampling sites could be divided into three groups: i) sediments with high pollutant load and low potential toxicity, ii)sediments with the highest potential toxicity and intermediate concentration of pollutants, and iii) the rest of the sampling sites characterized by very low to intermediate pollutant load and site-specific pollutant content and potential toxicity. Sampling sites in groups i) and ii), three sites in Bakar Bay and one site in Rječina estuary, were considered for further pollutant characterization, biological impact investigation, and corresponding remediation activities.

ecotoxicology ; marine sediments ; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ; polychlorinated biphenyls

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