Anthropogenic impact on marine ecosystem health: A comparative multi-proxy investigation of recent sediments in coastal waters. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Filipkowska, Anna; Lubecki, Ludwik; Szymczak-Żyła, Małgorzata; Ciesielski, Tomasz M.; Jenssen, Bjørn M.; Ardelan, Murat V.; Mazur-Marzec, Hanna; Breedveld, Gijs D.; Oen, Amy M.P.; Zamojska, Anna; Kowalewska, Grażyna
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 133(2018)
• Page Start: 328
• Page End: 335
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: Sediment -- Organic contaminants -- Metals -- CALUX -- Oslofjord -- Gulf of Gdańsk; 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.2018.05.058
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: Hazardous substances entering the sea, and ultimately deposited in bottom sediments, pose a growing threat to marine ecosystems. The present study characterized two coastal areas exposed to significant anthropogenic impact - Gulf of Gdańsk (Poland), and Oslofjord/Drammensfjord (Norway) - by conducting a multi-proxy investigation of recent sediments, and comparing the results in light of different available thresholds for selected contaminants. Sediment samples were analyzed for benzo( a )pyrene (B(a)P) and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nonylphenols (NPs), organotin compounds (OTs), toxic metals (Cd, Hg, Pb), as well as mutagenic, genotoxic and endocrine-disrupting activities (in CALUX bioassays). In general, a declining trend in the deposition of contaminants was observed. Sediments from both basins were not highly contaminated with PAHs, NPs and metals, while OT levels may still give rise to concern in the Norwegian fjords. The results suggest that the contamination of sediments depends also on water/sediment conditions in a given region. Highlights: The sediments were not highly contaminated with PAHs, NPs and metals. Organotin levels may give rise to concern in the sediments of the Norwegian fjords. In general, a declining trend in the deposition of contaminants was observed. Contamination of sediments depends also on the water and sediment conditions. Different approaches to sediment appraisal provide significantly different results.