Department of Hydrology, University of Zululand, Private Bag x1001, Kwa Dlangezwa, 3886, South Africa.
Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo (CIIEMAD), Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Calle 30 de Junio de 1520, Barrio la Laguna Ticomán, Del. Gustavo A. Madero, C.P. 07340 Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico.
Mar Pollut Bull. 2018 Feb;127:568-575. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.12.044. Epub 2017 Dec 23.
A baseline study on metal concentrations in sediments was initiated from the Sodwana Bay and St. Lucia, adjacent to marine protected areas (MPAs) of South Africa. They were analysed to identify the acid leachable metal (ALM) (Fe, Mg, Mn, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Co, Pb, Cd, Zn and Hg) concentration pattern. Metal distribution in 65 sediment samples exhibits higher abundances of Cr, Mo, Cd and Hg compared to the Upper Continental Crust. We relate the enrichment of these metals to beach placer deposits and activities related to former gold mining. Geochemical indices affirmed that Cr and Hg caused contamination, and Hg posed ~90% harmful effect on the biological community. These beach sediments, however, host lower metal concentrations compared to many worldwide beaches and other beaches in South Africa. This study suggests that it is largely unaffected by human activities, however, the overabundance of Hg demands regular monitoring.
本研究以南非海洋保护区（MPA）毗邻的索德瓦纳湾（Sodwana Bay）和圣卢西亚（St. Lucia）为研究区域，开展了沉积物金属浓度基线研究。分析这些沉积物以确定酸可提取金属（ALM）（Fe、Mg、Mn、Cr、Cu、Mo、Ni、Co、Pb、Cd、Zn 和 Hg）的浓度分布模式。在 65 个沉积物样本中，Cr、Mo、Cd 和 Hg 的分布丰度高于上地壳大陆。我们认为这些金属的富集与海滩砂矿矿床和与以前的金矿开采有关的活动有关。地球化学指标证实 Cr 和 Hg 造成了污染，Hg 对生物群落造成了约 90%的有害影响。然而，与世界上许多海滩和南非其他海滩相比，这些海滩沉积物的金属浓度较低。本研究表明，它在很大程度上不受人类活动的影响，但 Hg 的过度富集需要定期监测。
