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Environmental Assessment of Aromatic Hydrocarbons-Contaminated Sediments of the Mexican Salina Cruz Bay

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Abstract

Concentrations of total aromatic hydrocarbons and extractable organic matter in the water column and sediment were determined in samples collected in the course of the last 20 years from the Salina Cruz Harbor, México, to assess the degree of organic contamination. In sediments, organic compounds accumulate in shallow areas mostly associated with extractable organic matter and fine fractions. Calculated geocumulation index and enrichment factors suggest that contamination could be derived from anthropogenic activities attributed to harbor and ship scrapping activities, as well as transboundary source. Concentration of total aromatic hydrocarbons (as chrysene equivalents) ranged from 0.01 to 534 μg l−1 in water, and from 0.10 to 2,160 μg g−1 in sediments. Total aromatic concentration of 5 μg g−1 is proposed as background concentration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dirección de Seguridad y Medio Ambiente, Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo, Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas No. 152, San Bartolo Atepehuacan, México, México, D.F., 07730, Mexico

    C. González-Macías & I. Schifter

  2. Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C. Mar Bermejo No. 195. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, La Paz, BCS, 23090, Mexico

    D. B. Lluch-Cota, L. Méndez-Rodríguez & S. Hernández-Vázquez

Authors
  1. C. González-Macías
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  2. I. Schifter
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  3. D. B. Lluch-Cota
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  4. L. Méndez-Rodríguez
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  5. S. Hernández-Vázquez
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Correspondence to I. Schifter.

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González-Macías, C., Schifter, I., Lluch-Cota, D.B. et al. Environmental Assessment of Aromatic Hydrocarbons-Contaminated Sediments of the Mexican Salina Cruz Bay. Environ Monit Assess 133, 187–207 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-006-9572-3

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