Chronological reconstruction of metal contamination in the Port of Maó (Minorca, Spain)

► The Port of Maó is an example of progressive sediment pollution around a harbour. ► Submarine outfall implied a clear decrease in metal concentration in sedimentary record. ► Misleading sediment quality conclusions could be drawn by sampling only the surface sediments. ► Metal concentrations are h...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Marine pollution bulletin 2011-08, Vol.62 (8), p.1632-1640
Main Authors:	Garcia-Orellana, J., Cañas, L., Masqué, P., Obrador, B., Olid, C., Pretus, J.
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	210Pb Applied sciences Brackish cadmium chromium Chronology as Topic Cities Contamination copper Dredging Earth sciences Earth, ocean, space Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics Environmental Monitoring - history Environmental Monitoring - methods estuaries Exact sciences and technology Geologic Sediments - analysis Geologic Sediments - chemistry Harbour History, 19th Century History, 20th Century History, 21st Century industrial wastes lead Lead Radioisotopes - analysis Lead Radioisotopes - history Marine Mediterranean Metals Metals - analysis Metals - history Natural water pollution nickel Pollution Pollution, environment geology Seawaters, estuaries Sediment chronology sediment deposition sediments Spain tin urbanization Urbanization - history Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis Water Pollutants, Chemical - history water pollution Water treatment and pollution zinc
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Summary:	► The Port of Maó is an example of progressive sediment pollution around a harbour. ► Submarine outfall implied a clear decrease in metal concentration in sedimentary record. ► Misleading sediment quality conclusions could be drawn by sampling only the surface sediments. ► Metal concentrations are higher than the recommended concentrations for acceptable sediment quality. In this work we discuss the historical record of metals as derived from a sediment core from the Port of Maó (Minorca, Spain), the second natural largest harbour in Europe. The sedimentation rate derived from radionuclide profiles increased by a factor of five since the 1960s due to the urbanisation of the town waterfront. Metal concentrations showed two different trends: (i) Pb and Sn inputs started during the second half of the 19th century and remained relatively high until mid-20th century; and (ii) Ag, Cd, Ni, Zn, Cu and Cr accumulation began in the 1940s, peaking in the late 1970s. The commissioning of a submarine outfall in 1978 reduced metal concentrations in subsequently deposited sediments since, thereafter, urban and industrial wastes have been dumped out of the estuary. This study also shows that evaluating the quality of sediments on the basis of surface concentrations may be misleading.
ISSN:	0025-326X 1879-3363