Historical trends and assessment of radionuclides and heavy metals in sediments near an abandoned mine, Lavrio, Greece

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2018-10, Vol.25 (30), p.30084-30100
• Main Authors: Pappa, Filothei K., Tsabaris, Christos, Patiris, Dionisis L., Androulakaki, Effrosini G., Eleftheriou, Georgios, Betsou, Chrysoula, Michalopoulou, Veatriki, Kokkoris, Michael, Vlastou, Roza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abandoned mines; Anthropogenic factors; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Cesium 137; Cesium isotopes; Cesium radioisotopes; Cesium Radioisotopes - analysis; Coastal environments; Cores; Dosage; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental science; Gamma rays; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Greece; Heavy metals; Historic artifacts; Historical metallurgy; Human influences; Lead isotopes; Lead Radioisotopes - analysis; Marine environment; Marine organisms; Metal concentrations; Metals; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Mining; Radioactivity; Radioisotopes; Research Article; Sedimentation; Sediments; Soil Pollutants, Radioactive - analysis; Spatial variations; Trace elements; Trace Elements - analysis; Trace metals; Tracers; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; X-ray fluorescence
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-2984-0

Two sediment cores (coastal and offshore) and surface sediments were collected near an abandoned mine area in the marine environment of Oxygono Bay at Lavreotiki peninsula to investigate temporal and spatial variations among radionuclides and trace metals/major elements. Lavreotiki was and still is well known for the mining and metallurgical activities, which lasted from ancient times to nowadays (early 1980s). Gamma-ray and X-ray fluorescence measurements were held to determine the radionuclide and trace metal/major element concentrations, respectively. The sedimentation rate at Oxygono Bay coastal core was determined using the 210 Pb and 137 Cs tracers, while the enrichment factors were estimated to assess the anthropogenic influence due to metals in a spatial (surface sediments) and a temporal (coastal core sediments) basis. The mass flux at the coastal core was utilized to provide a baseline information at Lavreotiki peninsula. The trace metal/major element profiles were indeed associated with the mining activity in the area, revealing the mining history. The ERICA Tool was incorporated to estimate the dose rates due to natural and 137 Cs radioactivity in the marine organisms and the values were found below the screening levels.