Risk Assessment of Trace Element Pollution in Gymea Bay, NSW, Australia
The main purpose of this study is to assess the
sediment quality and potential ecological risk in marine sediments in
Gymea Bay located in south Sydney, Australia. A total of 32 surface
sediment samples were collected from the bay. Current track
trajectories and velocities have also been measured in the bay. The
resultant trace elements were compared with the adverse biological
effect values Effect Range Low (ERL) and Effect Range Median
(ERM) classifications. The results indicate that the average values of
chromium, arsenic, copper, zinc, and lead in surface sediments all
reveal low pollution levels and are below ERL and ERM values. The
highest concentrations of trace elements were found close to
discharge points and in the inner bay, and were linked with high
percentages of clay minerals, pyrite and organic matter, which can
play a significant role in trapping and accumulating these elements.
The lowest concentrations of trace elements were found to be on the
shoreline of the bay, which contained high percentages of sand
fractions. It is postulated that the fine particles and trace elements are
disturbed by currents and tides, then transported and deposited in
deeper areas. The current track velocities recorded in Gymea Bay had
the capability to transport fine particles and trace element pollution
within the bay. As a result, hydrodynamic measurements were able to
provide useful information and to help explain the distribution of
sedimentary particles and geochemical properties. This may lead to
knowledge transfer to other bay systems, including those in remote
areas. These activities can be conducted at a low cost, and are
therefore also transferrable to developing countries. The advent of
portable instruments to measure trace elements in the field has also
contributed to the development of these lower cost and easily applied
methodologies available for use in remote locations and low-cost
economies.
[1] Harikumar, P.S. and U.P. Nasir, Ecotoxicological impact assessment of
heavy elements in core sediments of a tropical estuary. Ecotoxicology
and Environmental Safety, 2010. 73(7): p. 1742-1747.
[2] Gu, Y., et al., Spatial, temporal, and speciation variations of heavy
elements in sediments of Nan'ao Island, a representative mariculture
base in Guangdong coast, China. Journal of Environmental Monitoring,
2012. 14(7): p. 1943-1950.
[3] Hosono, T., et al., Decline in heavy element contamination in marine
sediments in Jakarta Bay, Indonesia due to increasing environmental
regulations. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 2011. 92(2): p. 297-
306.
[4] Morelli, G., et al., Historical trends in trace element and sediment
accumulation in intertidal sediments of Moreton Bay, southeast
Queensland, Australia. Chemical Geology, 2012. 300-301: p. 152-164.
[5] Yuan, C.-G., et al., Speciation of heavy elements in marine sediments
from the East China Sea by ICP-MS with sequential extraction.
Environment International, 2004. 30(6): p. 769-783.
[6] Dural, M., M.Z.L. Göksu, and A.A. Özak, Investigation of heavy
element levels in economically important fish species captured from the
Tuzla lagoon. Food Chemistry, 2007. 102(1): p. 415-421.
[7] Hu, G., et al., Distribution and enrichment of acid-leachable heavy
elements in the intertidal sediments from Quanzhou Bay, southeast coast
of China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2011. 173(1-4): p.
107-116.
[8] Abrahim, G.M.S. and R.J. Parker, Assessment of heavy element
enrichment factors and the degree of contamination in marine sediments
from Tamaki Estuary, Auckland, New Zealand. Environmental
Monitoring and Assessment, 2008. 136(1-3): p. 227-238.
[9] Chen, C., et al., Spatial distribution and pollution assessment of mercury
in sediments of Lake Taihu, China. Journal of Environmental Sciences,
2013. 25(2): p. 316-325.
[10] Bacopoulos, P., et al., The role of meteorological forcing on the St.
Johns River (northeastern Florida). Journal of Hydrology, 2009. 369(1–
2): p. 55-70.
[11] Lapetina, A. and Y.P. Sheng, Three-dimensional modeling of storm
surge and inundation including the effects of coastal vegetation.
Estuaries and Coasts, 2014. 37(4): p. 1028-1040.
[12] McLean, E., B.L. McPherson, and J.B. Hinwood. A decision support
tool for prioritising remediation works in a catchment / estuarine bay
system in Integrative Modelling of Biophysical, Social, and Economic
Systems for Resource Management Solutions: Proceedings of the
International Congress on Modelling and Simulation. 2002. Monash
University: Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and NZ Ltd.
[13] McLean, E.J. and J.B. Hinwood. Application of a simple hydrodynamic model to estuary entrance management. in Proceedings of the
International Conference on Coastal Engineering. 2010. United States:
American Society of Civil Engineers.
[14] Aljawi, A., Heavy Elements distribution in sediments at Burraneer Bay
and surrounding areas in Port Hacking, New South Wales, Australia, in
School of Earth and Environmental Science. 2010, University of
Wollongong: Wollongong.
[15] Fraser, C., P. Hutchings, and J. Williamson, Long-term changes in
polychaete assemblages of Botany Bay (NSW, Australia) following a
dredging event. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2006. 52(9): p. 997-1010.
[16] Gray, C.A., et al., Retained and discarded catches from commercial
beach-seining in Botany Bay, Australia. Fisheries Research, 2001. 50(3):
p. 205-219.
[17] Norrish, K. and B. Chappell, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, in
Physical Methods in Determinative Mineralogy, J. Zussman, Editor.
1977: Academic Press London. p. 201- 272.
[18] Zhang, W., D. Zhao, and X. Wang, Agglomerative clustering via
maximum incremental path integral. Pattern Recognition, 2013. 46(11):
p. 3056-3065.
[19] Li, J. and A.D. Heap, A Review of Spatial Interpolation Methods for
Environmental Scientists. 2008: Geoscience Australia.
[20] Hakanson, L., An ecological risk index for aquatic pollution control: a
sedimentological approach. Water Research, 1980. 14(8): p. 975-1001.
[21] Reboredo, F., How differences inthe field influence Cu, Fe and Zn
uptake by Halimione-portulacoides and Spartina-maritima. The Science
of the Total Environment, 1993. 133(1-2): p. 111-132.
[22] Pease, J., Sedimentation and Geochemistry in Oatley Bay, Georges
River, Sydney, New South Wales., in School of Earth and Environmental
Science. 2007, University of Wollongong: Wollongong.
[23] Mei, J., et al., Assessment of heavy elements in the urban river sediments
in Suzhou City, northern Anhui Province, China. Procedia
Environmental Sciences, 2011. 10: p. 2547 – 2553.
[24] Alyazichi, Y.M., B.G. Jones, and E. McLean. Environmental assessment
of benthic foraminifera and pollution in Gunnamatta Bay in NSW,
Australia. in 8th Asian Rock Mechanics International Symposium 2014.
Sapporo, Japan.
[25] Fernandes, L., et al., Accumulation of sediment, organic matter and
trace elements with space and time, in a creek along Mumbai coast,
India. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 2011. 91(3): p. 388-399.
[26] Mayer, L.M., et al., The distribution of bromine in coastal sediments and
its use as a source indicator for organic matter. Organic Geochemistry,
1981. 3(1–2): p. 37-42.
[27] Ligero, R.A., et al., Dating of marine sediments and time evolution of
heavy element concentrations in the Bay of Cádiz, Spain. Environmental
Pollution, 2002. 118(1): p. 97-108.
[28] Long, E., et al., Incidence of adverse biological effects within ranges of
chemical concentrations in marine and estuarine sediments.
Environmental Management, 1995. 19(1): p. 81-97.
[29] Connor, T.P.O., et al., Comparisons of sediment toxicity with predictions
based on chemical guidelines. Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry, 1998. 17(3): p. 468-471.
[30] Word, J.G. and T.P. O'Connor, Predictive ability of sediment quality
guidelines, in Use of Sediment Quality Guidelines and Related Tools for
Assessment of Contaminated Sediments, R.J. GE Batley, C.G. Ingersoll,
and D.W. Moore, Editors. 2005, Chemistry (SETAC), Pensacola, FL. p.
121-162.
[31] Guo, W., et al., Pollution and potential ecological risk evaluation of
heavy elements in the sediments around Dongjiang Harbor, Tianjin.
Procedia Environmental Sciences, 2010. 2(0): p. 729-736.
[32] Jiang, X., et al., Distribution and pollution assessment of heavy elements
in surface sediments in the Yellow Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2014.
83(1): p. 366-375.
[33] Yang, J., et al., Comprehensive risk assessment of heavy elements in lake
sediment from public parks in Shanghai. Ecotoxicology and
Environmental Safety, 2014. 102(0): p. 129-135.
[1] Harikumar, P.S. and U.P. Nasir, Ecotoxicological impact assessment of
heavy elements in core sediments of a tropical estuary. Ecotoxicology
and Environmental Safety, 2010. 73(7): p. 1742-1747.
[2] Gu, Y., et al., Spatial, temporal, and speciation variations of heavy
elements in sediments of Nan'ao Island, a representative mariculture
base in Guangdong coast, China. Journal of Environmental Monitoring,
2012. 14(7): p. 1943-1950.
[3] Hosono, T., et al., Decline in heavy element contamination in marine
sediments in Jakarta Bay, Indonesia due to increasing environmental
regulations. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 2011. 92(2): p. 297-
306.
[4] Morelli, G., et al., Historical trends in trace element and sediment
accumulation in intertidal sediments of Moreton Bay, southeast
Queensland, Australia. Chemical Geology, 2012. 300-301: p. 152-164.
[5] Yuan, C.-G., et al., Speciation of heavy elements in marine sediments
from the East China Sea by ICP-MS with sequential extraction.
Environment International, 2004. 30(6): p. 769-783.
[6] Dural, M., M.Z.L. Göksu, and A.A. Özak, Investigation of heavy
element levels in economically important fish species captured from the
Tuzla lagoon. Food Chemistry, 2007. 102(1): p. 415-421.
[7] Hu, G., et al., Distribution and enrichment of acid-leachable heavy
elements in the intertidal sediments from Quanzhou Bay, southeast coast
of China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2011. 173(1-4): p.
107-116.
[8] Abrahim, G.M.S. and R.J. Parker, Assessment of heavy element
enrichment factors and the degree of contamination in marine sediments
from Tamaki Estuary, Auckland, New Zealand. Environmental
Monitoring and Assessment, 2008. 136(1-3): p. 227-238.
[9] Chen, C., et al., Spatial distribution and pollution assessment of mercury
in sediments of Lake Taihu, China. Journal of Environmental Sciences,
2013. 25(2): p. 316-325.
[10] Bacopoulos, P., et al., The role of meteorological forcing on the St.
Johns River (northeastern Florida). Journal of Hydrology, 2009. 369(1–
2): p. 55-70.
[11] Lapetina, A. and Y.P. Sheng, Three-dimensional modeling of storm
surge and inundation including the effects of coastal vegetation.
Estuaries and Coasts, 2014. 37(4): p. 1028-1040.
[12] McLean, E., B.L. McPherson, and J.B. Hinwood. A decision support
tool for prioritising remediation works in a catchment / estuarine bay
system in Integrative Modelling of Biophysical, Social, and Economic
Systems for Resource Management Solutions: Proceedings of the
International Congress on Modelling and Simulation. 2002. Monash
University: Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and NZ Ltd.
[13] McLean, E.J. and J.B. Hinwood. Application of a simple hydrodynamic model to estuary entrance management. in Proceedings of the
International Conference on Coastal Engineering. 2010. United States:
American Society of Civil Engineers.
[14] Aljawi, A., Heavy Elements distribution in sediments at Burraneer Bay
and surrounding areas in Port Hacking, New South Wales, Australia, in
School of Earth and Environmental Science. 2010, University of
Wollongong: Wollongong.
[15] Fraser, C., P. Hutchings, and J. Williamson, Long-term changes in
polychaete assemblages of Botany Bay (NSW, Australia) following a
dredging event. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2006. 52(9): p. 997-1010.
[16] Gray, C.A., et al., Retained and discarded catches from commercial
beach-seining in Botany Bay, Australia. Fisheries Research, 2001. 50(3):
p. 205-219.
[17] Norrish, K. and B. Chappell, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, in
Physical Methods in Determinative Mineralogy, J. Zussman, Editor.
1977: Academic Press London. p. 201- 272.
[18] Zhang, W., D. Zhao, and X. Wang, Agglomerative clustering via
maximum incremental path integral. Pattern Recognition, 2013. 46(11):
p. 3056-3065.
[19] Li, J. and A.D. Heap, A Review of Spatial Interpolation Methods for
Environmental Scientists. 2008: Geoscience Australia.
[20] Hakanson, L., An ecological risk index for aquatic pollution control: a
sedimentological approach. Water Research, 1980. 14(8): p. 975-1001.
[21] Reboredo, F., How differences inthe field influence Cu, Fe and Zn
uptake by Halimione-portulacoides and Spartina-maritima. The Science
of the Total Environment, 1993. 133(1-2): p. 111-132.
[22] Pease, J., Sedimentation and Geochemistry in Oatley Bay, Georges
River, Sydney, New South Wales., in School of Earth and Environmental
Science. 2007, University of Wollongong: Wollongong.
[23] Mei, J., et al., Assessment of heavy elements in the urban river sediments
in Suzhou City, northern Anhui Province, China. Procedia
Environmental Sciences, 2011. 10: p. 2547 – 2553.
[24] Alyazichi, Y.M., B.G. Jones, and E. McLean. Environmental assessment
of benthic foraminifera and pollution in Gunnamatta Bay in NSW,
Australia. in 8th Asian Rock Mechanics International Symposium 2014.
Sapporo, Japan.
[25] Fernandes, L., et al., Accumulation of sediment, organic matter and
trace elements with space and time, in a creek along Mumbai coast,
India. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 2011. 91(3): p. 388-399.
[26] Mayer, L.M., et al., The distribution of bromine in coastal sediments and
its use as a source indicator for organic matter. Organic Geochemistry,
1981. 3(1–2): p. 37-42.
[27] Ligero, R.A., et al., Dating of marine sediments and time evolution of
heavy element concentrations in the Bay of Cádiz, Spain. Environmental
Pollution, 2002. 118(1): p. 97-108.
[28] Long, E., et al., Incidence of adverse biological effects within ranges of
chemical concentrations in marine and estuarine sediments.
Environmental Management, 1995. 19(1): p. 81-97.
[29] Connor, T.P.O., et al., Comparisons of sediment toxicity with predictions
based on chemical guidelines. Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry, 1998. 17(3): p. 468-471.
[30] Word, J.G. and T.P. O'Connor, Predictive ability of sediment quality
guidelines, in Use of Sediment Quality Guidelines and Related Tools for
Assessment of Contaminated Sediments, R.J. GE Batley, C.G. Ingersoll,
and D.W. Moore, Editors. 2005, Chemistry (SETAC), Pensacola, FL. p.
121-162.
[31] Guo, W., et al., Pollution and potential ecological risk evaluation of
heavy elements in the sediments around Dongjiang Harbor, Tianjin.
Procedia Environmental Sciences, 2010. 2(0): p. 729-736.
[32] Jiang, X., et al., Distribution and pollution assessment of heavy elements
in surface sediments in the Yellow Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2014.
83(1): p. 366-375.
[33] Yang, J., et al., Comprehensive risk assessment of heavy elements in lake
sediment from public parks in Shanghai. Ecotoxicology and
Environmental Safety, 2014. 102(0): p. 129-135.
@article{"International Journal of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences:71615", author = "Yasir M. Alyazichi and Brian G. Jones and Errol McLean and Hamd N. Altalyan and Ali K. M. Al-Nasrawi", title = "Risk Assessment of Trace Element Pollution in Gymea Bay, NSW, Australia", abstract = "The main purpose of this study is to assess the
sediment quality and potential ecological risk in marine sediments in
Gymea Bay located in south Sydney, Australia. A total of 32 surface
sediment samples were collected from the bay. Current track
trajectories and velocities have also been measured in the bay. The
resultant trace elements were compared with the adverse biological
effect values Effect Range Low (ERL) and Effect Range Median
(ERM) classifications. The results indicate that the average values of
chromium, arsenic, copper, zinc, and lead in surface sediments all
reveal low pollution levels and are below ERL and ERM values. The
highest concentrations of trace elements were found close to
discharge points and in the inner bay, and were linked with high
percentages of clay minerals, pyrite and organic matter, which can
play a significant role in trapping and accumulating these elements.
The lowest concentrations of trace elements were found to be on the
shoreline of the bay, which contained high percentages of sand
fractions. It is postulated that the fine particles and trace elements are
disturbed by currents and tides, then transported and deposited in
deeper areas. The current track velocities recorded in Gymea Bay had
the capability to transport fine particles and trace element pollution
within the bay. As a result, hydrodynamic measurements were able to
provide useful information and to help explain the distribution of
sedimentary particles and geochemical properties. This may lead to
knowledge transfer to other bay systems, including those in remote
areas. These activities can be conducted at a low cost, and are
therefore also transferrable to developing countries. The advent of
portable instruments to measure trace elements in the field has also
contributed to the development of these lower cost and easily applied
methodologies available for use in remote locations and low-cost
economies.", keywords = "Current track velocities, Gymea Bay, surface
sediments, trace elements.", volume = "9", number = "12", pages = "1353-7", }
