Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Heavy metal contamination and ecological risk assessment in the surface sediments of the coastal area surrounding the industrial complex of Gabes city, Gulf of Gabes, SE Tunisia

  • Radhouan El Zrelli*
  • , Pierre Courjault-Radé
  • , Lotfi Rabaoui
  • , Sylvie Castet
  • , Sylvain Michel
  • , Nejla Bejaoui
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

177 Scopus citations

Abstract

In the present study, the concentrations of 6 trace metals (Hg, Cd, Cu, Pb, Cr and Zn) were assessed in the surface sediments of the central coastal area of Gabes Gulf to determine their contamination status, source, spatial distribution and ecological risks. The ranking of metal contents was found to be Zn. >. Cd. >. Cr. >. Pb. >. Cu. >. Hg. Correlation analysis indicated that Cd and Zn derived mainly from the Tunisian Chemical Group phosphogypsum. The other pollutants may originate from other industrial wastes. Metallic contamination was detected in the south of chemical complex, especially in the inter-harbor zone, where the ecological risk of surface sediments is the highest, implying potential negative impacts of industrial pollutants. The spatial distribution of pollutants seems to be due to the effect of harbor installations and coastal currents. The metallic pollution status of surface sediments of Gabes Gulf is obvious, very worrying and requires rapid intervention.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)922-929
Number of pages8
JournalMarine Pollution Bulletin
Volume101
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier Ltd.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
    SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
  2. SDG 14 - Life Below Water
    SDG 14 Life Below Water

Keywords

  • Ecological risk assessment
  • Gabes Gulf
  • Metallic contamination
  • Phosphogypsum
  • Sediment quality guidelines

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oceanography
  • Aquatic Science
  • Pollution

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Heavy metal contamination and ecological risk assessment in the surface sediments of the coastal area surrounding the industrial complex of Gabes city, Gulf of Gabes, SE Tunisia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this