Ecological risk assessment of sediment in wastewater discharging area by means of metal speciation

This study was designed to evaluate the influence of wastewater discharge to the marine ecosystem after treatment plant construction. Heavy metal concentrations in sediment and bioavailability of the metals were analyzed and ecological risks were assessed using the results. Metal speciation for sediments collected in the wastewater discharging area was measured by a Shimadzu AA-680 atomic absorption spectrometer. The distribution of the metals among various geochemical phases was determined. Biological samples collected and analyzed were four species of crustacea, four species of bivalve, and seven species of fish. Exchangeable fraction of superficial sediment (0-2 cm layer) was Zn 35.09%, Ph 5.30%, Cu 0.86%, Cr 0.01% and Fe 0%. However, exchangeable fraction of deep layer sediment (15-20 cm) was not detected for ail metals analyzed. Deeper sediments were found to have more residual fraction, and bioavailable phases decreased by depth, which provides an indication of the seriousness of wastewater discharge effect in this enclosed bay. The chemical concentrations observed to be associated with biological effects were sorted. The comparisons were made with regard to the potential for adverse biological effects. The potential of adverse biological effects in the sediments of wastewater discharge site was estimated as Zn 69.8%, Pb 35.8%, Cu 29.1%, and Cr 21.1%, respectively. Mullet (Mugil cephalus) among biological samples had the highest concentration of Zn in the muscle and liver organs. The bioconcentration factors (BCFs) of Zn by the mullet, mussel, oyster and crab were the highest among heavy metals determined. This result was well related to 81.6% of bioavailable phase Zn and 69.8% of adverse biological effects for the surface sediment. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.