Environmental quality of mussels in the Port of Sines (SW Portugal)

Event Abstract Back to Event Environmental quality of mussels in the Port of Sines (SW Portugal) Susana Celestino1*, Cristina Espírito Santo1, Marta Mamede1, André Costa1, Nuno Mamede1, Alina Sousa1, Teresa Silva1, Teresa Cruz1, 2 and João Castro1, 2 1 MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório de Ciências do Mar, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Évora, Portugal 2 Departamento de Biologia, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Évora, Portugal The Port of Sines is an open deep-water multipurpose harbor located in the SW coast of continental Portugal supporting several industrial activities in Sines region. Operating since 1978, the new industrial harbor handles crude and its derivatives, coal, natural gas and containerized cargo. Within a monitoring program of marine environments of the Port of Sines, the environmental quality of mussels was assessed by analysing heavy metals (Cu, Pb and Zn) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentration. In the Port of Sines four confined (TPC - confined Liquid Bulk Terminal, PPC - confined Fishing Harbor, PRC - confined Leisure Port and TMC - Confined Multipurpose Terminal) and two exposed (TPE - exposed Liquid Bulk Terminal and TQE - exposed Petrochemical Terminal) areas were sampled. Four nearby control areas were also sampled outside the port: two areas located north of the Port of Sines, near the Cape of Sines (CPA – “Pedras Amarelas” and CRO – “Rio do Ouro”) and two areas located south (CAS – “Pedras da Casca” and SAM – “praia da Samouqueira”). Spatial variability was analysed in three, four or five years from 1999 to 2013 (two dates sampled in autumn and/or winter of 1999/2000, 2002/2003, 2005, 2009 and 2012/2013), depending on the area. Cu, Pb and Zn values obtained in each area/date were compared with MVC (minimum values of contamination; Cantillo, 1998). Results of 10 PAHs analyses observed in each area/date were compared with BAC and/or EAC (background assessment criteria; environmental assessment criteria; OSPAR, 2009). To assess temporal variation, heavy metals concentration and total concentration of PAH was analysed by ANOVA. There was no general pattern of lower environmental quality in the Port of Sines areas when compared with control areas. In most cases, the area with higher percentage of values above MVC, BAC or EAC was PPC, namely in heavy metals. The control areas and PPC had higher levels of zinc but the values observed are in the normal range for the Portuguese coast suggesting that this element was mostly originated in natural processes. The percentage of values above BAC and/or EAC of the different PAHs was in general higher in the Port of Sines areas, namely in TPC and PPC. Considering the 10 PAHs referred in OSPAR assessment criteria, only naphthalene in the confined area TMC exceeded EAC in 2002/2003. According to OSPAR, values below EAC represent no significant risk to the environment. In most sampled areas a decrease of heavy metals and PAHs concentration was observed from 1999 to 2013, suggesting a positive tendency of the environmental quality of mussels in the Port of Sines and nearby control areas. In spite of higher values found in some areas of the Port of Sines, the observed contamination has low environmental concern. Dispersion of seawater contaminants is probably high in this oceanic harbour, where higher values were observed in mussels of confined areas. Due to industrial activities developed in Sines region and to the operation of the industrial Port of Sines, monitoring the environmental quality of mussels in this harbor is recommended to be pursued. Acknowledgements This study was made within a monitoring program of marine environments of the Port of Sines, funded by the Ports of Sines and the Algarve Authority (APS, S.A.). References Cantillo, A.Y. (1998). Comparison of results of mussel watch programs of the United States and France with worldwide mussel watch studies. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 36, 712-717. OSPAR (2009). Background Document on CEMP assessment criteria for the QSR 2010. OSPAR Commission. Publication Number: 461/2009. 23 pp. Keywords: mussels, environmental quality, heavy metals, PAH, SINEs Conference: IMMR | International Meeting on Marine Research 2016, Peniche, Portugal, 14 Jul - 15 Jul, 2016. Presentation Type: Poster presentation Topic: Biodiversity, Conservation and Coastal Management Citation: Celestino S, Espírito Santo C, Mamede M, Costa A, Mamede N, Sousa A, Silva T, Cruz T and Castro J (2016). Environmental quality of mussels in the Port of Sines (SW Portugal). Front. Mar. Sci. Conference Abstract: IMMR | International Meeting on Marine Research 2016. doi: 10.3389/conf.FMARS.2016.04.00082 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 29 Apr 2016; Published Online: 13 Jul 2016. * Correspondence: Ms. Susana Celestino, MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório de Ciências do Mar, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Évora, Sines, 7521-903, Portugal, scelestino@uevora.pt Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Susana Celestino Cristina Espírito Santo Marta Mamede André Costa Nuno Mamede Alina Sousa Teresa Silva Teresa Cruz João Castro Google Susana Celestino Cristina Espírito Santo Marta Mamede André Costa Nuno Mamede Alina Sousa Teresa Silva Teresa Cruz João Castro Google Scholar Susana Celestino Cristina Espírito Santo Marta Mamede André Costa Nuno Mamede Alina Sousa Teresa Silva Teresa Cruz João Castro PubMed Susana Celestino Cristina Espírito Santo Marta Mamede André Costa Nuno Mamede Alina Sousa Teresa Silva Teresa Cruz João Castro Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.