The application of a weight of evidence approach to compare the quality of coastal sediments affected by acute (Prestige 2002) and chronic (Bay of Algeciras) oil spills
2008
Morales-Caselles, Carmen | Riba, Inmaculada | Sarasquete, Carmen | Del Valls, T. A.
To evaluate sediment quality in different areas affected by oil spills, a weight of evidence approach was employed by including a complete set of parameters as part of four lines of evidence: sediment contamination, biological effects (including biomarkers) and bioaccumulation under laboratory conditions, toxicity in field conditions and benthic community structure. The methodology was applied to sediments from the Bay of Algeciras (S Spain) chronically impacted by different spills, and the Galician Coast (NW Spain) acutely impacted by an oil spill (Prestige 2002). Results obtained have elucidated the sources and fates of pollutants and the type of risk involved for the ecosystem. Factorial analysis revealed that the main factors were those containing toxicity, chemistry and benthic community variables indicating degradation in Algeciras. It has been demonstrated that the impact associated with chronic event of contamination by oil spills are significantly more dangerous and polluted than those related to acute effects. Chronic inputs due to the continuous entrance of contaminants result in much more harm to coastal ecosystems than major but precise environmental impacts.
Show more [+] Less [-]The work described was partly supported by the projects VEM2003-20563/INTER, and CTM2005-07282-C03-01/TECNO financed by the Spanish Education and Science Ministry and by CIS funded by the Ministry of Environment. C.M.-C. thanks the Ministry of Education and Science for funding her research fellowship (FPU).
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