Evaluation of trace metal contamination in the intertidal areas of a moderately impacted coastal lagoon (Óbidos Lagoon, Portugal)

Event Abstract Back to Event Evaluation of trace metal contamination in the intertidal areas of a moderately impacted coastal lagoon (Óbidos Lagoon, Portugal) Carmen A. Pedro1*, Marcia S.S. Santos1, 2, Susana M. F. Ferreira1, 3 and Sílvia C. Gonçalves1, 4 1 Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Portugal 2 Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra, CERNAS - Research Centre for Natural Resources, Environment and Society, Escola Superior Agrária, Portugal 3 University of Coimbra, CFE - Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, Portugal 4 University of Coimbra, MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Portugal Coastal lagoons represent nearly 13% of the world’s coastlines and 5.3% of the European ones. As semi-enclosed transitional systems between land and sea, coastal lagoons are particularly complex environments, exposed to anthropogenic inputs from agricultural runoff, urban and industrial sewages. Amongst the most hazardous contaminants that threaten the balance of these ecosystems, trace metals have been of great concern due to their high toxicity, non-degradable nature and accumulative properties between abiotic and biotic compartments. Management of coastal lagoons assumes a high relevance, because of their ecological and economic recognized importance (e.g. Ramsar Convention and European Water Framework Directive). It guarantees the conservation of their biodiversity and functioning, as well as of their natural heritage and social-economic values for future generations. In this context, a seasonal environmental monitoring program was carried out (winter 2009 to summer 2010) in the margins of the Óbidos Lagoon, the largest shallow coastal lagoon in Portugal, to evaluate the environmental quality of this ecosystem. A major component of this monitoring program was the assessment of spatial and seasonal contamination by trace metals - the aim of the present study. Therefore, the concentrations of cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn) and nickel (Ni) were determined in water (dissolved and suspended fractions) and sediment samples, collected from 8 different sampling stations. In addition, and considering the influence of environmental parameters in trace metals behaviour, some physical-chemical parameters (such as the organic matter content in the sediments) were monitored at each sampling station and occasion. The sediments and the water suspended matter were the major compartments for trace metals storage, except in the case of Ni, which was detectable only in the dissolved fraction (0.0061 ± 0.0013 mg.L-1). As regard to the sediment, the trace metals concentrations (in mean  standard error mg.kg-1 dry weight) were observed in the following sequence: Fe (5781.00 ± 485.43) > Pb (325.17 ± 24.63) > Mn (239.31 ± 35.84) > Cd (0.52 ± 0.17), whilst for the water suspended matter, it was Fe (310.53 ± 310.31) > Mn (402.05 ± 75.01) > Pb (152.45 ± 13.44) > Cd (4.16 ± 1.01). In general, trace metals contamination reached higher levels in the inner part of the lagoon, namely in sediments, which receives agro-industrial effluents by some small tributaries. The concentrations of Pb, Fe and Mn in the sediment, as well as Mn concentration in the suspended fraction and the organic matter content, were significantly different between sampling stations. On the other hand, Cd concentration in the suspended fraction and in sediments, Mn concentration in the dissolved fraction and some environmental parameters were significantly influenced by seasons. The assessment of the environmental quality of coastal lagoons is rather difficult due to their intrinsic high complexity. However, the results obtained in the present study confirmed worrying trace metals contamination levels, namely as regards to Pb and Cd concentrations in the inner part of the lagoon. These results allowed a better understanding of the spatial and temporal occurrence of trace metals in this ecosystem and may contribute to delineate efficient future management plans for coastal lagoons. Acknowledgements This study had the support of Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), through the strategic project UID/MAR/04292/2013 granted to MARE. It was also supported by the FCT through a PhD grant (SFRH/BD/124200/2016). Keywords: environmental quality, Environmental Management, Sediment contamination, Trace metals, Transitional waters, Water contamination Conference: IMMR'18 | International Meeting on Marine Research 2018, Peniche, Portugal, 5 Jul - 6 Jul, 2018. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Biodiversity, Conservation and Coastal Management Citation: Pedro CA, Santos M, Ferreira S and Gonçalves SC (2019). Evaluation of trace metal contamination in the intertidal areas of a moderately impacted coastal lagoon (Óbidos Lagoon, Portugal). Front. Mar. Sci. Conference Abstract: IMMR'18 | International Meeting on Marine Research 2018. doi: 10.3389/conf.FMARS.2018.06.00037 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 10 May 2018; Published Online: 07 Jan 2019. * Correspondence: MD. Carmen A Pedro, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Leiria, Portugal, carmen.pedro@ipleiria.pt Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Carmen A Pedro Marcia S.S. Santos Susana M. F. Ferreira Sílvia C Gonçalves Google Carmen A Pedro Marcia S.S. Santos Susana M. F. Ferreira Sílvia C Gonçalves Google Scholar Carmen A Pedro Marcia S.S. Santos Susana M. F. Ferreira Sílvia C Gonçalves PubMed Carmen A Pedro Marcia S.S. Santos Susana M. F. Ferreira Sílvia C Gonçalves Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.