BibliographicReference 347606

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Type: Bibliographic resource
Type of document: Journal article
BibLvlCode: AS
Title: Spatial distribution and consequences of contaminants in harbour sediments – A case study from Richards Bay Harbour, South Africa
Abstract: Richards Bay Harbour (RBH) is situated in the industrialized area on the northeast coast of South Africa. To decipher recent human activities and accompanying environmental degradation, surface sediment was collected across RBH and analysed for granulometric and elemental composition, microfaunal assemblages, and microplastics. Microplastics occur most abundantly near recreational areas, whereas metal contamination relates to activities at bulk goods terminals from which they are imported or exported. In particular, Cr and Cu concentrations in surface sediment near bulk goods terminals exceed South African sediment quality guidelines. In metal contaminated sediment, bioindicators reflected stress and were noticeably impacted. A transect of short sediment cores reflects spatial and historical metal contamination and allows quantification of the load of metals within the sediment column. The volume of metal (Cr) contaminated sediment was estimated at almost 2 million m³.
WebOfScience code: https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:000701874400002
Bibliographic citation: Mehlhorn, P.; Viehberg, F.; Kirsten, K.; Newman, B.K.; Frenzel, P.; Gildeeva, O.; Green, A.; Hahn, A.; Haberzettl, T. (2021). Spatial distribution and consequences of contaminants in harbour sediments – A case study from Richards Bay Harbour, South Africa. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 172: 112764. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112764
Topic: Marine
Is peer reviewed: true
Access rights: open access
Is accessible for free: true

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