Environmental impact of the Midia Port - Black Sea (Romania), on the coastal sediment quality

Abstract

Abstract:The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of potential pollution sources, mainly from the upstream anthropogenic sources and port-related activities. The investigated area covered a wide range of anthropogenic impacts (e.g., industrial wastes, storm water runo , accidental oil spills, intentional discharges and shipping activities). The quality of water and sediments was assessed using standard methods, as physical-chemical parameters, chemistry and biology (microbiology, ecotoxicology) aiming to gure the level of pollution and the e ect of portrelated activities. Seawater quality results agreed generally with environmental standards. Though, in some samples the concentrations of sulphates (mg/l) and heavy metals (µg/l), as B, As and Se exceeded the recommended limits, without posing a serious environmental concern. Most of the surface sediment samples contain critical levels of hydrocarbons (C>12), (mg/kg), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (ng/g) and polychlorobiphenyls (ng/g). For some heavy metals (mg/kg), exchangeable concentrations were found to be very close or above the regulations. The signicance of this study is incontestable taking into account the lack of previous relevant historical data of this area. In this sense, it was possible to indicate, in general, good environmental conditions, despite the industrial and concentrated local port-related activities in the investigated area.

Black Sea Mussels Qualitative and Quantitative Chemical Analysis: Nutritional Benefits and Possible Risks through Consumption

“…1881/2006 [ 49 ], and there are no concerns about their consumption, especially when calculated hazard quotients were below the critical value 1 for all analyzed heavy metals, meaning no possible risks are associated with mussel consumption from the study areas. However, Pb concentrations in mussel meat samples taken from area 3 have slightly overrun, which could be attributed to anthropogenic changes/impacts accordingly to Catianis [ 68 ]. Over the years, previous studies of the Black Sea mussels have also reported slightly excessive Pb concentrations in that area [ 37 , 69 ], and the evolution trends were not very clear due to large concentration fluctuations [ 69 ].…”

Spatial distribution of trace elements and potential contamination sources for surface sediments of the North-Western Black Sea, Romania

“…In the study area, the influence of the Danube freshwater extends to the south, towards Mangalia, due to the longshore current oriented from the Danube Delta to south, and also to the deep-sea zone (Panin and Jipa, 2002;Catianis et al, 2016;Constantinescu et al, 2023). Moreover, the Danube sandy sediments are remobilized from north to south, due to the longitudinal marine coastal current (Catianis et al, 2016).…”

“…In the study area, the influence of the Danube freshwater extends to the south, towards Mangalia, due to the longshore current oriented from the Danube Delta to south, and also to the deep-sea zone (Panin and Jipa, 2002;Catianis et al, 2016;Constantinescu et al, 2023). Moreover, the Danube sandy sediments are remobilized from north to south, due to the longitudinal marine coastal current (Catianis et al, 2016). The jetties of the ports of Sulina, Midia, Constanta, and Mangalia are major obstacles for the transport of sediments, which are either deposited near the ports or redirected offshore (Ungureanu and Stanica, 2000).…”

“…The Romanian Black Sea waters are subject to multiple natural and anthropogenic pressures, determined by the Danube River discharges, rock/soil weathering and erosion, port and construction activities, coastal tourism, petrochemical industry, untreated/poorly treated wastewater discharges, offshore drilling for crude oil and gas, etc. (Catianis et al, 2016;Oros, 2019;Bucşe et al, 2020). Due to its very large drainage basin (801463 km 2 ), the Danube River, the second longest river in Europe, is a major pollution source in the NW Black Sea (Schmedtje et al, 2005;Sarı et al, 2018).…”

“…Due to its very large drainage basin (801463 km 2 ), the Danube River, the second longest river in Europe, is a major pollution source in the NW Black Sea (Schmedtje et al, 2005;Sarı et al, 2018). Most of the studies on TE distribution in the Romanian Black Sea have focused especially on the coastal zone (Coatu et al, 2013;Catianis et al, 2016;Oros et al, 2016;Bucşe et al, 2020). Only a few researches, mainly conducted within different European projects (e.g., MISIS, ANEMONE, BRIDGE), have investigated the distribution of TEs in deeper water areas.…”