Trace metals in sediments from bahia de Chetumal, Mexico

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology 2003-06, Vol.70 (6), p.1228-1234
• Main Authors: GARCIA-RIOS, V, GOLD-BOUCHOT, G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Fresh Water - chemistry; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Marine; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Mexico; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Soil and sediments pollution; Trace metals; Trichechidae; Trichechus manatus; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s00128-003-0113-2

Bay of Chetumal, an important habitat for the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), is located southeast of the Yucatan Peninsula on the border between Mexico and Belize (Lock, 1997). It is a shallow estuarine coastal lagoon with several freshwater inputs from rivers, the main being the Rio Hondo that sets the border between the two countries. The influence of the Caribbean Sea is limited to the southeastern area. There are pollution problems in the Bay, such as inputs of urban sewage (Ortiz and Saenz, 1997), the presence of organochlorine pesticides used in agricultural areas (mainly sugar cane) on the margins of Rio Hondo (Euan-Avila et al, 2002), and hydrocarbon inputs through sewage from the city of Chetumal, and outboard motor activities. The distribution of organochlorine compounds (pesticides and PCBs) and hydrocarbons in sediments has been described (Norena-Barroso et al., 1998), and the toxicity of sediments established (Zapata-Perez et al., 2000). The objective of this study was to evaluate the concentrations and speciation of seven heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Ni, Cu, Cd, Fe and V) in the sediments of the bay, as a contribution to the knowledge and rational management of the bay.