1
|
Birch GF, Lee JH, Tanner E, Fortune J, Munksgaard N, Whitehead J, Coughanowr C, Agius J, Chrispijn J, Taylor U, Wells F, Bellas J, Besada V, Viñas L, Soares-Gomes A, Cordeiro RC, Machado W, Santelli RE, Vaughan M, Cameron M, Brooks P, Crowe T, Ponti M, Airoldi L, Guerra R, Puente A, Gómez AG, Zhou GJ, Leung KMY, Steinberg P. Sediment metal enrichment and ecological risk assessment of ten ports and estuaries in the World Harbours Project. Mar Pollut Bull 2020; 155:111129. [PMID: 32469765 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Ten global harbours were assessed for sediment quality by quantifying the magnitude of anthropogenic change and ecological risk. Anthropogenic change (enrichment) was high for Derwent River and Sydney estuary, moderate for Santander Harbour, Rio de Janeiro and Dublin Port, slight for Hong Kong, minimal for Darwin. All 10 enrichment indices used showed similar results. Derwent River sediment was rated at high ecological risk, followed by Sydney and Santander estuaries with moderate risk. Auckland and Darwin sediments exhibited minimal ecological risk and sediment in the remaining harbours (Dublin, Hong Kong, Ravenna, Ria de Vigo and Rio de Janeiro) were assessed at slight ecological risk. The extraordinary variety of environments and types/quantities/qualities of data investigated resulted in as much a critique and development of methodology, as an assessment of human impact, including unique techniques for elemental normalisation and contaminant classification. Recommendations for an improved technical framework for sediment quality assessment are provided.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G F Birch
- School of Geosciences, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - J-H Lee
- School of Geosciences, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; Lotsearch, 3/68 Alfred Street, Milsons Point, NSW, 2061, Australia
| | - E Tanner
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, NSW, Australia
| | - J Fortune
- Aquatic Health Unit, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - N Munksgaard
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods (RIEL), Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - J Whitehead
- Derwent River Program, DPIPWE, Tasmania, Australia
| | - C Coughanowr
- Derwent River Program, DPIPWE, Tasmania, Australia
| | - J Agius
- Derwent River Program, DPIPWE, Tasmania, Australia
| | - J Chrispijn
- Derwent River Program, DPIPWE, Tasmania, Australia
| | - U Taylor
- Derwent River Program, DPIPWE, Tasmania, Australia
| | - F Wells
- Derwent River Program, DPIPWE, Tasmania, Australia
| | - J Bellas
- Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, 36390, Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
| | - V Besada
- Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, 36390, Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
| | - L Viñas
- Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, 36390, Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
| | - A Soares-Gomes
- Federal Fluminense University, Marine Biology Department, Valonguinho Campus, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - R C Cordeiro
- Federal Fluminense University, Geochemistry Department, Valonguinho Campus, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - W Machado
- Federal Fluminense University, Geochemistry Department, Valonguinho Campus, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - R E Santelli
- Rio de Janeiro Federal University, Chemistry Institute, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - M Vaughan
- Research and evaluation unit, Auckland Council, New Zealand
| | - M Cameron
- Research and evaluation unit, Auckland Council, New Zealand
| | - P Brooks
- UCD Earth Institute and School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - T Crowe
- UCD Earth Institute and School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - M Ponti
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences and Interdepartmental Research Centre for Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, 48123 Ravenna, Italy
| | - L Airoldi
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences and Interdepartmental Research Centre for Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, 48123 Ravenna, Italy
| | - R Guerra
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and Interdepartmental Research Centre of Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, 48123 Ravenna, Italy
| | - A Puente
- IHCantabria - Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria Avda. Isabel Torres, 15, 39011, Santander, Spain
| | - A G Gómez
- IHCantabria - Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria Avda. Isabel Torres, 15, 39011, Santander, Spain
| | - G J Zhou
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - K M Y Leung
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - P Steinberg
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Frostick A, Bollhöfer A, Parry D, Munksgaard N, Evans K. Radioactive and radiogenic isotopes in sediments from Cooper Creek, Western Arnhem Land. J Environ Radioact 2008; 99:468-482. [PMID: 17942200 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2007.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2006] [Revised: 07/17/2007] [Accepted: 08/09/2007] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Protection of the environment post-mining is a key objective of rehabilitation, especially where runoff and erosion from rehabilitated mine sites could potentially lead to contamination of the surrounding land and watercourses. As part of an overall assessment of the success of rehabilitation at the former Nabarlek uranium (U) mine, an appraisal of stable lead (Pb) isotopes, radionuclides and trace metals within sediments and soils was conducted to determine the off site impacts from a spatial and temporal perspective. The study found localised areas on and adjacent to the site where soils had elevated levels of trace metals and radionuclides. Lead isotope ratios are highly radiogenic in some samples, indicating the presence of U-rich material. There is some indication that erosion products with more radiogenic Pb isotope ratios have deposited in sediments downstream of the former ore body. However, there is no indication that the radiogenic erosion products found on the mine site at present have significantly contaminated sediments further downstream of Cooper Creek.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Frostick
- Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia; ERISS, GPO Box 461, Darwin, NT 0801, Australia.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|