Sediment quality in the Atlantic coast of Spain.

Sediments from the Atlantic coast of Spain have been studied to evaluate environmental quality by using an integrated approach including chemical and toxicological data. Sediment samples were collected in four littoral ecosystems located in Spain, Bay of Cádiz, Guadalquivir River estuary, Ría of Huelva, and Ría of Coruña. To characterize the sediments, organic carbon, granulometric content, total sulfide, eight trace metals (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, As, Ni, and Cr), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured. The toxicity of sediments was assessed with the amphipod Ampelisca brevicornis, the clam Ruditapes philippinarum, juveniles of the fish Solea senegalensis, populations of the estuarine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis, and populations of the bacterium Vibrio fischeri (Microtox). The results obtained show that in general, stations located in the Ría of Huelva were associated with heavy metal contamination and with the highest toxicity. Only chronic toxicity tests were capable of identifying the effects associated with PCB concentrations. The sediment quality guidelines calculated by means of a multivariate analysis approach for contaminants not associated with biological effects (mg/kg) are Hg, 0.54; Cd, 0.51; Pb, 260; Cu, 209; Zn, 513; As, 27.4; and total PCBs, 0.05.