Marine pollution in the Libyan coastal area: Environmental and risk assessment. (March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bonsignore, Maria; Salvagio Manta, Daniela; Al-Tayeb Sharif, Ehab A.; D'Agostino, Fabio; Traina, Anna; Quinci, Enza Maria; Giaramita, Luigi; Monastero, Calogera; Benothman, Mohamed; Sprovieri, Mario
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 128(2018)
• Page Start: 340
• Page End: 352
• Publication Date: 2018-03
• Subjects: Heavy metals -- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons -- Bioaccumulation -- Health risk assessment -- Libya coast; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.01.043
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: A comprehensive assessment of the potential adverse effects on environment and human health generated by the inputs of chemicals from the most important Libyan petrochemical plant is presented. Ecotoxicological risk associated with the presence of As, Hg, Ni, Zn and PAHs in marine sediments is low or moderate, with a probability of toxicity for ecosystem <9% and <20% for heavy metals and PAHs respectively. However, surface sediments result strongly enriched in Hg and As of anthropogenic origin. Investigation of metals in fish allowed to assess potential risks for human populations via fish intake. Target hazard quotients values indicate potential risk associated to toxic metals exposure by fish consumption and lifetime cancer risk (TR) values highlight a potential carcinogen risk associated to As intake. Noteworthy, the presented results provide an unprecedented environmental dataset in an area where the availability of field data is very scant, for a better understanding of anthropogenic impacts at Mediterranean scale. Highlights: A new dataset of pollutants from a Libyan chemical industry is here presented. Metals and PAHs in sediments and fish were analyzed for risk assessment evaluation. Probability of adverse effects on the ecosystem is low or moderate. Health risks associated with exposure to toxic metals by fish intake is significant