Metals and their ecological impact on beach sediments near the marine protected sites of Sodwana Bay and St. Lucia, South Africa

A baseline study on metal concentrations in sediments was initiated from the Sodwana Bay and St. Lucia, adjacent to marine protected areas (MPAs) of South Africa. They were analysed to identify the acid leachable metal (ALM) (Fe, Mg, Mn, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Co, Pb, Cd, Zn and Hg) concentration pattern....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine pollution bulletin 2018-02, Vol.127, p.568-575
Main Authors: Vetrimurugan, E., Shruti, V.C., Jonathan, M.P., Roy, Priyadarsi D., Rawlins, B.K., Rivera-Rivera, D.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acid leachable metal
Baseline studies
Bays - chemistry
Beach sediment
Beaches
Biological effects
Cadmium
Chromium
Conservation of Water Resources - methods
Contamination
Continental crust
Copper
Environmental Monitoring - methods
Geochemical index
Geochemistry
Geologic Sediments - chemistry
Gold
Gold mines & mining
Heavy metals
Human influences
Humans
Iron
Lead
Magnesium
Manganese
Marine parks
Marine protected areas
Mercury
Mercury (metal)
Metal concentrations
Metals, Heavy - analysis
Mining
Molybdenum
Nickel
Placers
Potential ecological risk
Protected areas
Sediment
Sediment samplers
Sediment samples
Sediments
Sodwana Bay and St. Lucia
South Africa
Studies
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Zinc
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Summary:A baseline study on metal concentrations in sediments was initiated from the Sodwana Bay and St. Lucia, adjacent to marine protected areas (MPAs) of South Africa. They were analysed to identify the acid leachable metal (ALM) (Fe, Mg, Mn, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Co, Pb, Cd, Zn and Hg) concentration pattern. Metal distribution in 65 sediment samples exhibits higher abundances of Cr, Mo, Cd and Hg compared to the Upper Continental Crust. We relate the enrichment of these metals to beach placer deposits and activities related to former gold mining. Geochemical indices affirmed that Cr and Hg caused contamination, and Hg posed ~90% harmful effect on the biological community. These beach sediments, however, host lower metal concentrations compared to many worldwide beaches and other beaches in South Africa. This study suggests that it is largely unaffected by human activities, however, the overabundance of Hg demands regular monitoring. [Display omitted] •Acid leachable metals in beaches of Marine Protected Areas in South Africa•Transport and deposition of metals due to human activities•Presence of metals above permissible limit•Identification of enrichment of metals through geochemical indices
ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.12.044