Water, sediments and fishes: First multi compartment assessment of metal pollution in a coastal environment from the SW Atlantic.

Abstract This is an integrated assessment of the distribution of Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb in dissolved water, sediments and muscle fish tissues (Cynoscion guatucupa, Micropogonias furnieri, Mustelus schmitti and Ramnogaster arcuata) from the Bahia Blanca estuary, Argentina. Within the water fraction (μg L−1), Hg and Pb concentrations ranged from below the limit of detection ( This marine environment is potentially vulnerable to anthropogenic pollution since dissolved Cr, Hg and Pb values exceeded established environmental quality guidelines. Moreover, the sediment pollution indices indicated a deterioration of the estuarine environment, with Cr and Pb associated to anthropogenic impacts, whereas Hg could be occasionally associated with adverse biological effects. The biota to water accumulation factor (BWAF) reflected that fish species showed potential to accumulate Cr (BWAF: 73–510) and, especially, Hg (BWAF: 1000–8000). The high biota to sediment accumulation factor found for Hg (up to 9.8) indicated that fish species behaved as macro or micro concentrators. These results highlights the importance of a multi compartment approach in pollution assessment, with implicances for future works.