Southern Mediterranean coast pollution: Long-term assessment and evolution of PAH pollutants in Monastir Bay (Tunisia)

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 167; p. 112268
• Main Authors: Khiari, Nouha, Charef, Abdelkrim, Atoui, Abdelfattah, Azouzi, Rim, Khalil, Nadia, Khadhar, Samia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-06-2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Aromatic compounds; Aromatic hydrocarbons; Chemical composition; Coastal zone; Core sediments; Cores; Hydrodynamics; Marine Bay; Marine environment; Molecular weight; Origins; Pollutants; Pollutants source; Pollution levels; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Sediment; Sediment pollution; Sediments; Streams; Marine Bay; Hydrodynamics; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Sediments; Core sediments; Pollutants source
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112268

In order to evaluate the long-term pollution level(s) of Monastir Bay (Tunisian-Mediterranean coastal area), four sediment cores were collected from the meeting points between the main local streams and the marine environment and investigated. Macroscopic observations and granulometric and chemical compositions showed that this Bay received heterogeneous materials. The distribution of 15 total PAH (priority pollutants) concentrations in different levels of core sediments ranged from 222 to 2992 μg kg−1. Thus, the Bay had been polluted for a long time, and sediments and pollutants had varied anthropogenic sources. After that, local hydrodynamism controlled their distributions. Molecular-weight Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and calculated LMW/HMW ratios showed that pollutants were principally a mixture of pyrolytic and petrogenic sources. One part of these pollutants had local origins, and the most important amounts were of distant origins. Monastir Bay was considered a moderate to highly polluted area, and sediments had an ecosystem risk.
•Monastir Bay showed important extension of seaweed carpets and pollution signs.•PAHs of sediment cores located in front of main local sources were investigated.•∑15PAHs concentrations in different sediment levels ranged from 222 to 2992 μgkg−1.•Pollutants were principally a mixture of pyrolytic and petrogenic sources.•Monastir bay is considered low to highly polluted by PAHs.