원문정보
초록
영어
Harmful heavy metal (HHM) pollution in marine sediments threatens aquatic ecosystems and human health. Accurate characterization of HHM is crucial for protecting environmental health and supporting coastal community resilience. This study analyzes 28 years of HHM data from Cartagena Bay (CB), Colombia, to assess sediment quality and ecological risk using various geochemical methods. A modified index was developed to account for vertical HHM distribution in sediments. Results show that anthropogenic pollution in CB poses low to moderate risk, with mercury (Hg) as the main contributor to total toxicity. Positive multivariate correlations highlight anthropogenic activities as the primary source of pollution. This research provides valuable data for Colombia’s future environmental projects and offers a new methodology for assessing sediment pollution in similar coastal environments worldwide. Further details will be presented at the 2024 KEDS Conference.