TITLE:
Geochemistry and Heavy Metal Levels in the Sediments of the Port of Santa Bárbara de Samana, Dominican Republic
AUTHORS:
Ramón Delanoy, Misael Díaz Asencio, Darlin Rodriguez
KEYWORDS:
Sediment, Heavy Metal, Port of Samana, X-Ray Fluorescence, Mercury
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.9 No.4,
April
27,
2021
ABSTRACT: In the Port of Santa Bárbara de Samana, chemical
residues, organic matter and heavy metals from domestic activities are
deposited together in the waters and sediments. The analysis of the sediments
by X-ray fluorescence of four extracted and sectioned cores showed that
concentrations of trace metals such as Nickel, Chromium, Lead and Mercury were
present at various depths, exceeding Limits of Toxicity (PEL) for marine
sediments according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
and Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). Cadmium presented
values above the
toxicity threshold (TEL) in its minimum values and in its
maximum values they exceeded the PEL value. While the Zinc and Copper values
were low in all sections and lower than TEL. The analysis of the loss by
ignition and the dating with lead 210 due to excess of the C4 core, showed a sudden change in the organic matter content and sedimentation rate.
The superficial sediments show that unlike the deeper ones, the heavy metal
content is lower, as well as that they do not represent a risk to the ecosystem
by not exceeding toxicity levels.