Sediment Quality Assessment in the Gulf of Gdańsk (Baltic Sea) Using Complementary Lines of Evidence |
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Authors: | Roberta Bettinetti Silvana Galassi Jerzy Falandysz Marina Camusso and Davide A L Vignati |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, University of Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, Como, 22100, Italy;(2) Department of Biology, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, Milano, 20133, Italy;(3) Department of Environmental Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, 18 Sobieskiego Str, Gdańsk, 80-952, Poland;(4) Water Research Institute, CNR, 20047 Brugherio, Milano, Italy;(5) Institut F.-A. Forel, CP 416, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland |
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Abstract: | Sediments from Polish coastal environments were classified by a quality assessment approach that took into account trace metal
and organic micropollutant concentrations, grain-size distribution, and organic carbon content. Generally, no benthic organisms
were found at sites where sediments were classified as heavily polluted. However, areas characterized by a moderate contamination
showed a variable composition of the benthic community and changing bioaccumulation patterns; therefore, no single species
found in the Gulf of Gdańsk could be considered representative of the whole benthic environment. Although sediment monitoring
must be considered a suitable tool to detect hot-spot pollution areas in coastal and inland waters, it should be complemented
by bioaccumulation measurements to evaluate the actual risk posed by contaminants to benthic organisms. This “biological information”
allows a better appreciation of the real benthic infaunal community exposure to chemicals and can usefully complement the
existing sediment quality guidelines. |
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Keywords: | Benthic organisms Bioaccumulation Marine coastal environments Probable effects level Probable effect level quotient Risk assessment Sediment Quality Guidelines |
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