Metal Accumulation in Surface Sediment of the Urban and Industrial Coastal Area of the Municipality of Moa (Cuba): Distribution and Pollution Assessment

Authors

  • Yosbanis Cervantes-Guerra Instituto Superior Minero metalúrgico de Moa
  • Allan Pierra-Conde Universidad de Ciencias Informáticas
  • Alina Rodríguez-Infante Insituto Superior Minero Metalúrgico
  • Yuri Almaguer-Carmenates Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila
  • Hans Jürgen-Gursky Universidad Técnica de Clausthal
  • Jo Van-Caneghem Universidad Católica de Leuven
  • Carlo Vandecasteele Universidad Católica de Leuven

Keywords:

Moa Bay Cay, geoaccumulation index, contamination in marine sediments, mining impacts, geoenvironmental study

Abstract

The investigation is to evaluate the accumulation of ten elements (Al, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Co, As, Cu, Pb and Zn) in surface sediments from the urban and industrial coastal area of Moa. Human activity has influenced the region, which has been developing in one of the most important mining regions of Cuba since the middle of the past century. Two methods were used to assess the contamination of the sediments: the estimation of metal enrichment by calculating the index of geo-accumulation (Igeo) and the interpretation of the data obtained based on quality criteria. The overall range of concentrations is 15.7 - 83.5 mg g-1 for aluminum, 1.4 – 17.9 mg g-1 for chromium, 22.8 - 379.5 mg g-1 for iron, 1.5 - 56.2 mg g-1 for manganese, 0.9 – 6.2 mg g-1 for nickel, 56 - 1094 µg g-1 for cobalt, 6 - 126 µg g-1 for arsenic, 17 to 146 µg g-1 for copper, 6 - 66 µg g-1 for lead, and 64 - 576 µg g-1 for zinc. The results obtained from the studied coastal zone show a high level of pollution in surface sediments. The spatial distribution of the elements varied according to the analyzed elements: Al, Cr, Fe and Ni showed high levels of concentration throughout the studied zone; Mn, Co, Cu, As and Zn are in a higher proportion in Moa Bay Cay. In the case of As and Pb, higher concentrations were located at the deltas of Moa and Cayo Guam rivers and also in some areas in the west of the bay.

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References

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Published

2017-04-11

How to Cite

Cervantes-Guerra, Y., Pierra-Conde, A., Rodríguez-Infante, A., Almaguer-Carmenates, Y., Jürgen-Gursky, H., Van-Caneghem, J., & Vandecasteele, C. (2017). Metal Accumulation in Surface Sediment of the Urban and Industrial Coastal Area of the Municipality of Moa (Cuba): Distribution and Pollution Assessment. Minería & Geología, 33(2), 235–250. Retrieved from https://revista.ismm.edu.cu/index.php/revistamg/article/view/art8_No2_2017

Issue

Vol. 33 No. 2 (2017): Abril-Junio

Section

Medio ambiente
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