Industrial Impact on Marsh Soils at the Bahia Blanca Ria, Argentina

Abstract

The Bahia Blanca Estuary is located in southern Buenos Aires province, Argentina. The area is linked to a petrochemical industrial complex, whose raw materials and final products contaminate the surrounding areas via atmospheric pollution and effluents, which are dumped in the estuary waters. To establish the effects of the industrial waste disposal on the nearest coastal soils, 17 samples were taken at different distances from the loading dock and the outfall pipes of the industrial complex. Later, the physicochemical characteristics of the soil samples, their hydrocarbon contents, sulfides, sulfates, Zn, Cu, and Pb were analyzed and a comparison was made to control samples, which were not affected by the industrial outfall. Hydrocarbons, Zn, Cu, and Pb contents were found at levels that modified the physical and chemical characteristics of the soils. The resistance to penetration shows that the thinner the film of water that surrounds the particles or aggregates, the smaller the migration of organic micelle, which settle on the surface of the contact material. This is demonstrated by the degree of cohesion reached by the particles and the strong influence on the index of hydrophobicity. The high porosity shows that the continuity of the porous space of the soil matrix is impeded by the presence of pollutants, which generate areas that are highly limiting to water flow. The oxidation-reduction potential and the low concentrations of soluble forms of Cu and Pb compared with their concentrations precipitated as sulfides confirm the action of the pollutants.

Assessment of the Petrochemical Industry Pollution on the Skikda Bay, Algeria

“…This paper reports on the influences of industrial pollution on the properties of soils and its impact on the marine environment, which could harm the fish and pollute the neighbouring bathing resorts. The objectives of this study are to determine the effects of hydrocarbons and other constituents in the waste dumping on each other and their variations along the studied sites with different distances from the petrochemical plant [2,3]. The study also shows the important concentrations of different chemical constituents found in the dumping area and therefore, helps for a better understanding of the contamination process and consequently will push the decision making authority to plan for a corrective actions if necessary in the future.…”

Impact of the Prestige oil spill on marsh soils: Relationship between heavy metal, sulfide and total petroleum hydrocarbon contents at the Villarrube and Lires marshes (Galicia, Spain)

“…This may seriously jeopardize the fauna and flora if the acidic conditions allow part of these contents to become soluble. It must be highlighted that according to data provided by Andrade et al (2002), the heavy metal content in the contaminated soils is about 50 to 200 times greater than the content in uncontaminated soils (control). This, in the near future, will have repercussions on the available amounts of heavy metal content and consequently the environmental quality of these areas.…”

“…Low bulk densities, high organic matter content and high sulfide content often characterize tidal marsh soils (Griffin and Rabenhorst, 1989;Fernández-Feal, 1999;Marcet et al, 2000;Andrade et al, 2002). The organic matter accumulated by superficial deposition of marsh grass detritus and urban effluents is very important to the fate of trace metals (Griffin and Rabenhorst, 1989).…”

“…Los suelos de marismas mareales están caracterizados frecuentemente por densidades bajas y contenidos altos de materia orgánica y de sulfuros (Griffin and Rabenhorts, 1989;Fernández-Feal, 1999;Marcet et al, 2000;Andrade et al, 2002). La materia orgánica, acumulada por deposición superficial de restos vegetales de la marisma y por aportes de diversos efluentes urbanos, es fundamental en el comportamiento de los metales pesados (Griffin y Rabenhorts, 1989).…”

Effects of redox oscillations on the phosphogypsum waste in an estuarine salt-marsh system

“…Significant pollution sources including metal mining, industrial activity and waste disposal have led to extensive contamination of environmental systems, such as marsh soils (e.g., Vega et al, 2008;. Such systems can act as important sinks for great loads of contaminants, both organic and inorganic, that are transferred through the estuarine water and the suspended sediments affected by tidal variations (Andrade et al, 2002;2004;Vega et al, 2008).…”