Distribution of organic contamination of sediments from Ichkeul Lake and Bizerte Lagoon, Tunisia

Abstract

Analyses of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and butyl tins (BuSn) were conducted on sediments from Ichkeul Lake-Bizerte Lagoon watershed (Tunisia). A total of 59 compounds (16 PAHs, 12 PCBs, 22 OCPs and 9 BuSn) were measured in 40 surface sediment samples collected during two campaigns. High concentrations of total PAHs were identified in the lagoon ranging from 122 to 19600ng·g. Several OCPs, including endrin, dieldrin, and lindane (Hexachlorocyclohexane or HCH or BHC) were found in high concentrations in Ichkeul Lake, ranging from 28 to 2012ngg. PAHs and OCPs varied seasonally, in response to the complex hydrology of the watershed. The concentrations of total PCBs ranged between 0.04 and 10.653ngg and suggests low total PCBs sediment contamination, when compared to most international criteria. Total BuSn concentrations range between 67 and 526ng·g, which are relatively low when compared to most international criteria and ecological risk assessments. This is the first study of organic contamination in Ichkeul Lake (RAMSAR and UNESCO World Heritage site).

Trace element assessment in Neoechinorhynchus agilis (Rudolphi, 1918) (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) and its fish hosts, Mugil cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Chelon ramada (Risso, 1827) from Ichkeul Lagoon, Tunisia

“…The latter is responsible for the release of large quantities of Pb and Cd, which considerably increased the pollution levels in the lagoon (water column, sediments) (Ouchir et al ., 2016). Regarding the rest of the metals, although their source remains unclear, their presence can be attributed mainly to urban inputs, the influx of agricultural products and the discharging of wastewater through wadis that flow into the lagoon (Ouchir et al ., 2016; Ben Salem et al ., 2017).…”

Persistent organic pollutants in sediments of the Wouri Estuary Mangrove, Cameroon: Levels, patterns and ecotoxicological significance

“…The presence of normally prohibited substances, such as aldrin, heptachlor, 4,4'-DDT, 4,4'-DDD, 4,4'-DDE, lindane, chlordane and dieldrin must be highlighted. The latter have also been found in sediments ofother African countries, such as Tanzania (Kruitwagen et al, 2008), Nigeria (Ibigbami et al, 2015), Benin (Yehouenou et al, 2014), Egypt , Tunisia (Ben Salem et al, 2017). This can be explained by the sale and illegal disposal of stocks of pesticides that are now banned but not destroyed and also by the persistent nature of some of (Bodin et al, 2011).…”

Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Bizerte Lagoon Ecosystem: Occurrence, Distribution, and Ecotoxicological Assessment Using Marine Organism

“…In addition, Naphthalene was the most important hydrocarbon identified in mussels (31.5-272.6 ng/g dw) and fish (57.9-68.6 ng/g dw) [40]. More recently, 16 PAHs were measured in 40 surface sediment samples from the Bizerte lagoon and the high concentrations of total PAHs were 122-19600 ng/g [15].…”

“…Many studies have been carried out for monitoring the organic pollutants and their impact on different aquatic ecosystems around the Bizerte lagoon. The most identified POP chemicals in Bizerte lagoon ecosystems are belonging the families of brominated (and chlorinated) aromatics, including brominated flame retardants (BFR) such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and their methoxylated analogues (MeO-PBDEs) [4-9]; polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) [10-12]; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAHs [13, 14]; and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) [11,12,15].…”

“…Biomonitoring of the aquatic environment has based both on the quantification of pollutant concentrations in bioindicator organisms and on the biological analyses (ecological indices and biomarkers). The chemical analyses were performed after pollutants extraction from different matrices (water, sediment, and marine organism), using instruments by Gas chromatography separation connected or not to a mass spectrometer (GC-MS) [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Nevertheless, the biological analyses were performed both firstly; by nematodes taxonomic structure and ecological indices determination to assess the chemicals toxicity, secondly, by biomarkers assessment who are known as tools for contamination impacts evaluation in the marine environment.…”