RT journal article
T1 Distribution of heavy metals in marine sediments of Tetouan coast (North of Morocco): natural and anthropogenic sources
A1 Ben Omar, Mostapha
A1 Mendiguchía Martínez, Carolina
A1 Er-Raioui, Hassan
A1 Marhraoui, Mohammed
A1 Lafraoui, Ghizlane
A1 Oulad-Abdellah, Mohammed Karim
A1 García Vargas, Manuel
A1 Moreno Aguilar, Carlos
A2 Química Analítica
K1 Metals
K1 Morocco
K1 Mediterranean Sea
K1 Sebtides
K1 Sediments
AB The heavy metal concentrations (Al, Fe, Ti, Mn, Zn, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb and Cu) in sediment samples collected from the Moroccan Mediterranean coast were studied. The heavy metal concentrations obtained were similar or relatively low when compared with other Mediterranean zones. To assess their distribution and distinguish between their natural and anthropogenic sources, the enrichment factor (EF) index was applied. Consequently, minor enrichment by Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn and Pb was observed. The effects on aquatic organisms were established using sediment quality guidelines (SQGs). As a result, Cu concentrations were above the interim sediment quality guidelines (ISQG), Ni and Pb presented concentrations above the effects range low (ERL) while Cr was above the probable effect level (PEL) in some sampling points. In addition, a principal component analysis was performed showing that the distribution of metals in the study area seems to be influenced by both natural and anthropogenic sources. Nevertheless, the analysis of mineralogical composition has allowed the identification of a natural source as the most probable origin of some elements, such as Ni and Mn, related mainly to the geological background. In contrast, Fe, Cr, Co and Pb could be related to both natural and anthropogenic activities in the area while Cd and Cu seem to have an anthropic origin.
PB Springer
SN 1866-6299
YR 2015
FD 2015
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/32907
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/32907
LA eng
NO This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review and is subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use, but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4494-4
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 12-nov-2026