A risk assessment approach to contaminants in Port Curtis, Queensland, Australia

Port Curtis is one of Australia’s leading ports for which substantial industrial expansion is proposed over the next decade. However, there has been little attempt to date to assess the extent of contamination in waters, sediments and biota or to characterize the potential impacts of contaminants on...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine pollution bulletin 2005-01, Vol.51 (1), p.448-458
Main Authors: Jones, Mary-Anne, Stauber, Jenny, Apte, Simon, Simpson, Stuart, Vicente-Beckett, Vicky, Johnson, Rod, Duivenvoorden, Leo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Anthozoa
Contaminants
Ecological risk assessment
Ecosystem
Food Chain
Heavy Metal Poisoning
Human health risk assessment
Humans
Lates calcarifer
Marine
Metals
Metals, Heavy - pharmacokinetics
Particle Size
Port Curtis estuary
Public Health
Queensland
Risk Assessment
TBT
Tissue Distribution
Water Pollutants - pharmacokinetics
Water Pollutants - poisoning
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Summary:Port Curtis is one of Australia’s leading ports for which substantial industrial expansion is proposed over the next decade. However, there has been little attempt to date to assess the extent of contamination in waters, sediments and biota or to characterize the potential impacts of contaminants on aquatic biota. Contaminants of potential concern to biota and human health were investigated in the Port Curtis estuary using a screening-level risk assessment approach. Dissolved metal concentrations in waters were below [ANZECC/ARMCANZ, 2000. Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality, Vol. 1. The Guidelines, Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand] trigger values, suggesting low risk of these contaminants. In sediments, arsenic, nickel and chromium concentrations exceeded interim sediment quality guidelines-low (ISQG-low), but were also high in the reference zone suggesting a natural origin. Historical data on naphthalene in Harbour sediments showed that it was also of potential concern. Bioaccumulation of contaminants in a range of biota was also used as an indicator of contaminant exposure. Biota were generally enriched in metals and tributyltin, which was also elevated in water and sediments. Although not unique to Port Curtis, mercury in barramundi was identified as a potential risk to human health.
ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2004.10.021