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Evaluation of metal contamination in sediments from north of Morocco: geochemical and statistical approaches

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Abstract

Concentrations of Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cd and Hg were evaluated in surface sediments of two rivers from north of Morocco, known as Souani and Mghogha rivers. Significantly higher concentrations in mg kg − 1 dry weight (dw) of Mn (747.6 vs. 392.9), Cr (86.4 vs. 56.3), Zn (299.5 vs. 138.5) were found in sediment samples from Mghogha when compared with Souani river. Average concentrations of Cd and Hg in several sediment samples from both rivers were above the effect range median that predicts toxic effects to aquatic organisms. The calculation of enrichment factors showed that Mn, Cr, Cu and Ni were depleted, whereas Pb and Hg were enriched. The results of geoaccumulation index revealed that sediments of both rivers were unpolluted with most of the metals and moderately contaminated with Fe and Hg. Some of elevated concentrations of Hg, principally in Mghogha River, were due to anthropogenic sources including the direct discharges of industrial zone.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Food Technologies and Environmental Technologies, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cadiz, C.P. 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain

    M. R. Rodríguez-Barroso, Y. Benhamou & J. L. García-Morales

  2. Département de Océanologie et Environnement Marin, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques de Tanger (FSTT), Université de Abdelmalek Essaadi, B.P. 416, Tanger, Morocco

    B. El Moumni & I. El Hatimi

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  1. M. R. Rodríguez-Barroso
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  2. Y. Benhamou
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  3. B. El Moumni
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  4. I. El Hatimi
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  5. J. L. García-Morales
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Correspondence to M. R. Rodríguez-Barroso.

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Rodríguez-Barroso, M.R., Benhamou, Y., El Moumni, B. et al. Evaluation of metal contamination in sediments from north of Morocco: geochemical and statistical approaches. Environ Monit Assess 159, 169–181 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0620-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0620-z

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