Difference between revisions of "Heavy metals in various Belgian benthic invertebrates"
(New page: <u>'''Context of the study'''</u> In the Belgian coastal waters comes most of the contamination from disposals from the harbors of Ostend and Zeebrugge. Many species (flatfish, mussels,.....) |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
<u>'''Context of the study'''</u> | <u>'''Context of the study'''</u> | ||
| − | In the Belgian coastal waters comes most of the contamination from disposals | + | In the Belgian coastal waters comes most of the contamination from dredging disposals. Many species (flatfish, mussels,...) are studied continuously as part of monitoring programs. In addition to this the bentic communities are monitored as well. |
<u>'''Content of the study'''</u> | <u>'''Content of the study'''</u> | ||
| − | This study analyzed [[heavy metals|heavy metal]] contents in bentic invertebrates between 1981 and 1996. The animals were caught at 10 locations in the Belgian part of the North Sea. The study aimed to detect trends in the concentrations of mercury Hg, cadmium Cd, lead Pb, copper Cu, zinc Zn and chrome Cr in the bentic organisms. | + | This study analyzed [[heavy metals|heavy metal]] contents in bentic invertebrates between 1981 and 1996. The animals were caught at 10 locations in the Belgian part of the North Sea. The study aimed to detect trends in the concentrations of mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and chrome (Cr) in the bentic organisms. The sampled animals were: starfish, brown shrimp, hermit crab, swimming crab and cut through shell. |
<u>'''Main results of the study'''</u> | <u>'''Main results of the study'''</u> | ||
| + | |||
| + | In almost all locations the concentrations for all heavy metals in the animals showed a decreasing trend over the 15 year study period. At one location (the Bligh bank) however an increase in copper and zinc concentrations was observed in brown shrimp and hermit crabs. The reason for this increase in unclear, but might be related to the dumping of wast products in the Bligh bank. | ||
| + | The overall decrease is very likely to have been caused by both the lesser input of form the Scheldt river and by reduced contamination by dredging activities. | ||
Revision as of 10:30, 15 July 2009
Context of the study
In the Belgian coastal waters comes most of the contamination from dredging disposals. Many species (flatfish, mussels,...) are studied continuously as part of monitoring programs. In addition to this the bentic communities are monitored as well.
Content of the study
This study analyzed heavy metal contents in bentic invertebrates between 1981 and 1996. The animals were caught at 10 locations in the Belgian part of the North Sea. The study aimed to detect trends in the concentrations of mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and chrome (Cr) in the bentic organisms. The sampled animals were: starfish, brown shrimp, hermit crab, swimming crab and cut through shell.
Main results of the study
In almost all locations the concentrations for all heavy metals in the animals showed a decreasing trend over the 15 year study period. At one location (the Bligh bank) however an increase in copper and zinc concentrations was observed in brown shrimp and hermit crabs. The reason for this increase in unclear, but might be related to the dumping of wast products in the Bligh bank. The overall decrease is very likely to have been caused by both the lesser input of form the Scheldt river and by reduced contamination by dredging activities.
