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Evaluation of the anthropogenic influx of metal and metalloid contaminants into the Moulay Bousselham lagoon, Morocco, using chemometric methods coupled to geographical information systems

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Abstract

Superficial and cored sediment samples from the Moulay Bousselham lagoon and sub-watershed were analyzed for Al, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Mn, Ni, Cr, As, Hg, and Cd. The temporal and spatial distributions of the main contamination sources of heavy metals were identified and described using chemometric and geographic information system (GIS) methods. Sediments from coastal lagoons near urban and agricultural areas are commonly contaminated with heavy metals, and the concentrations found in surface sediments are significantly higher than those from 50–100 years ago. The concentrations of these elements decrease sharply with depth in the sediment column, and the elements are preferentially enriched in the <2-μm-sized fraction of the sediment. The zones of enhanced risk of heavy metals were detected by means of GIS-based geostatistical modeling. According to sediment pollution indices and statistical analysis, heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, and Hg) that pose a risk have become largely enriched in the lagoon sediments during the recent period of agricultural intensification.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge four anonymous reviewers for their scientific suggestions and constructive comments. We also thank Carol Robins for proofreading this paper. We also acknowledge the help rendered by Nicolas Bessaguet for Geochemistry analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UMR 6554 LETG-Nantes Géolittomer, Université de Nantes, BP 81227, 44312, Nantes, France

    Mehdi Maanan, Mohamed Maanan & Paul Fattal

  2. Marine Geosciences Laboratory (URAC 45), Earth Sciences Department, Faculty of Sciences, 24000, El Jadida, Morocco

    Mehdi Maanan, Bendahhou Zourarah & Mohamed Sahabi

  3. SUBATECH (UMR 6457), Ecole des Mines, Nantes Cedex, France

    Catherine Landesman

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  1. Mehdi Maanan
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  2. Catherine Landesman
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  3. Mohamed Maanan
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  4. Bendahhou Zourarah
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Correspondence to Mohamed Maanan.

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Responsible editor: Stuart Simpson

Highlights: ►Land use was extracted from a remote sensing image. ► Lagoon sediment cores were successfully dated using 210Pb and 137Cs.► Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, and Hg are the major heavy metal contaminants in the lagoon. ►Agricultural and construction lands (Nador canal) have the greatest health risks due to heavy metal contamination.

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Maanan, M., Landesman, C., Maanan, M. et al. Evaluation of the anthropogenic influx of metal and metalloid contaminants into the Moulay Bousselham lagoon, Morocco, using chemometric methods coupled to geographical information systems. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20, 4729–4741 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1399-6

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