Historical analysis of heavy metal pollution in three estuaries on the north coast of Galicia (NW Spain)

Lorenzo, F.; Alonso, Ángela; Pellicer, M. J.; Pagés, J. L.; Pérez‐Arlucea, Marta

doi:10.1007/s00254-006-0516-6

Cited by 20 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…PCA is an effective tool for the characterisation of anthropo-genic inputs (Lorenzo et al 2007). It allows for a description of a multidimensional system by reducing the number of studied variables to a few significant summary components facilitating the interpretation of relationships among them and the identification of contamination pro-files for large data bodies.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of groundwater contamination in an agricultural peri-urban area (NW Portugal): an integrated approach

et al. 2014

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The excessive use of pesticides and fertilisers in agriculture has generated a decrease in groundwater and surface water quality in many regions of the EU, consti-tuting a hazard for human health and the environment. Besides, on-site sewage disposal is an important source of groundwater contamination in urban and peri-urban areas. The assessment of groundwater vulnerability to contami-nation is an important tool to fulfil the demands of EU Directives. The purpose of this study is to assess the groundwater vulnerability to contamination related mainly to agricultural activities in a peri-urban area (Vila do Conde, NW Portugal). The hydrogeological framework is characterised mainly by fissured granitic basement and sedimentary cover. Water samples were collected and analysed for temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, chloride, phosphate, nitrate and nitrite. An evaluation of groundwater vulnerability to contamination was applied (GOD-S, Pesticide DRASTIC-Fm, SINTACS and SI) and the potential nitrate contamination risk was assessed, both on a hydrogeological GIS-based mapping. A principal component analysis was performed to characterised pat-terns of relationship among groundwater contamination, vulnerability, and the hydrogeological setting assessed. Levels of nitrate above legislation limits were detected in 75 % of the samples analysed. Alluvia units showed the highest nitrate concentrations and also the highest vulner-ability and risk. Nitrate contamination is a serious problem affecting groundwater, particularly shallow aquifers, especially due to agriculture activities, livestock and cesspools. GIS-based cartography provided an accurate way to improve knowledge on water circulation models and global functioning of local aquifer systems. Finally, this study highlights the adequacy of an integrated approach, combining hydrogeochemical data, vulnerability assessments and multivariate analysis, to understand groundwater processes in peri-urban areas.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of groundwater contamination in an agricultural peri-urban area (NW Portugal): an integrated approach

et al. 2014

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“…Samples were grouped for estuarine (surface water salinity < 35) and ría (salinity > 35) environments. No large interannual changes are expected in the composition of surface sediment samples as the average sedimentation rate of these rías is ~1 cm yr −1 (Lorenzo et al 2007). …”

Section: Benthos and Sedimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Continental and marine sources of organic matter and nitrogen for rías of northern Galicia (Spain)

Bode¹,

Varela²,

Prego³

2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Sources of organic matter and nitrogen to the rías of Ortigueira, O Barqueiro and Viveiro (Galicia, N Spain) were traced using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes. Samples of water, seston, benthic organisms and sediments were collected in summer 2007 and 2008. Instantaneous sources were inferred from the concentrations and isotopic composition of seston, while averaged sources over longer time scales (months) were inferred from stable isotopes in macrophytes (Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus) and mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis). Dissolved nitrate, nitrite and ammonium concentrations in surface water were low in the estuarine zone and generally increased towards the river and the open sea in all rías. Nitrite and ammonium values were generally low, suggesting low importance of in situ nitrification and denitrification processes. The concentrations of ammonium, chlorophyll, and heavy nitrogen isotopes in seston were higher only in the main river of Viveiro, suggesting local pollution. Isotopic signatures and high nitrogen concentrations in seston discharged from the wastewater treatment plants indicated incomplete removal of nitrogen. However, taking into account water discharge fluxes and the isotopic composition of all compartments analysed, all rías shared similar biogeochemical and trophic diversity and showed a low impact of anthropogenic sources at both short and long time scales. Dominance of marine waters, low river flow, and small urban population sizes in the watershed all contribute to the maintenance of the relatively pristine status of northern Galician rías.

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“…Large fluctuations in the Co content in the SPM were observed for all the rivers and the same pattern is detected for Ni, but not for Cr. The mining operations in the Mera River basin, where pyrite, chalcopyrite and Cu sulphides containing Co were exploited (Lorenzo et al, 2007b) also contribute to the increased abundances of Cu and Co in the SPM. The watershed of the Lourido and Landoi rivers appears to have higher concentrations of minerals and rocks richer containing Ni (e.g.…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lithogenic sources, composition and intra-annual variability of suspended particulate matter supplied from rivers to the Northern Galician Rias (Bay of Biscay)

Bernárdez

Prego

Filgueiras

et al. 2017

Journal of Sea Research

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Scarce research about small European rivers from non-human impacted areas to determine their natural background state has been undertaken. During the annual hydrological cycle of 2008-9 the patterns of particulate supply (SPM, POC, PON, Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, V, Zn) from the rivers Sor, Mera Landro, Lourido and Landoi to the Northern Galician Rias (SW Bay of Biscay) were tackled. No differences in the composition of the SPM were detected for the studied rivers regarding Al, Fe and POC but the relative percentage of particulate trace elements (PTE) discriminate the rivers. So, Cr, Co and Ni in the Lourido, and Landoi rivers, and Cu in the Mera River, are controlled by watershed minerals of Ortegal Geological Complex while for the rest rivers PTE are by granitic and Ollo de Sapo bedrock watershed. Therefore, the imprint of PTE in the parental rocks of the river basins is reflected on the coastal sediments of the Rias. The main process controlling the dynamics and variations of chemical elements in the particulate form isthe river discharge. This fact exemplifies that these rivers presents a natural behavior not being highly influenced by anthropogenic activities.

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Historical analysis of heavy metal pollution in three estuaries on the north coast of Galicia (NW Spain)

Cited by 20 publications

References 38 publications

Assessment of groundwater contamination in an agricultural peri-urban area (NW Portugal): an integrated approach

Assessment of groundwater contamination in an agricultural peri-urban area (NW Portugal): an integrated approach

Continental and marine sources of organic matter and nitrogen for rías of northern Galicia (Spain)

Lithogenic sources, composition and intra-annual variability of suspended particulate matter supplied from rivers to the Northern Galician Rias (Bay of Biscay)

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