Ecological risk by potentially toxic elements in surface sediments of the Lake Maracaibo (Venezuela)

MARÍN, Julio, COLINA, Marinela, LEDO, Hilda and GARDINER, PHE (2022). Ecological risk by potentially toxic elements in surface sediments of the Lake Maracaibo (Venezuela). Environmental Engineering Research, 27 (4), 210232-0.

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Official URL: https://www.eeer.org/journal/view.php?doi=10.4491/...
Open Access URL: https://www.eeer.org/upload/eer-2021-232.pdf (Published version)
Link to published version:: https://doi.org/10.4491/eer.2021.232

Abstract

The evaluation of potential ecological risk of aquatic sediments associated with the presence of potentially toxic elements (PTE) determines its degree of danger on native biota. In this work, the potential ecological risk of V, Ti, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Sn, Hg and Pb in superficial sediments is explained in three different areas of Lake Maracaibo: El Tablazo Bay, Strait of Maracaibo and the lake itself, through a multi-guideline approach (elemental enrichment (enrichment factor, contamination degree, pollutant load index and geo-accumulation index), sediment quality guidelines and risk assessment code). The PTE levels ranged from < 0.025 to 176.722 mg·kg−1 DW, with an overall proportion of V > Ti > Pb > Zn > Cr > Cu > Ni > As > Cd > Se > Hg > Sn. The PTE concurrent effect on biota was El Tablazo Bay > lake > Strait of Maracaibo. The superficial sediments of Lake Maracaibo constitute a medium with a high potential ecological risk on estuarine biota. This is mainly due to the levels of As in El Tablazo Bay, Cd in the Strait of Maracaibo and Pb in the lake area. This represents a latent toxicity hazard for native biological communities and other associated organisms.

Item Type: Article
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.4491/eer.2021.232
Page Range: 210232-0
SWORD Depositor: Symplectic Elements
Depositing User: Symplectic Elements
Date Deposited: 02 Dec 2022 15:56
Last Modified: 12 Oct 2023 08:47
URI: https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/31104

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