HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION IN SEDIMENTS FROM ANTHROPOGENIC SOURCES OFFSHORE OF HAVANA BAY, CUBA

Sediment cores were collected off the northwest coast of Cuba in 2017 to evaluate sedimentation patterns and anthropogenic influences. Potential anthropogenic influences on sediments include industrial activity, wastewater dumping, strip mining, and dredging, which can contribute to heavy metal contamination in the marine environment. Heavy metals are persistent in the environment and can have adverse health effects on both marine organisms and human health. Sediment cores were analyzed by X-Ray Fluorescence for elemental composition and sedimentology (texture and composition). Age control and accumulation rates were determined using short-lived radioisotope chronologies (excess Pb-210 using CRS model). Concentrations of heavy metals, particularly Copper, Zinc and Arsenic, and sometimes Zircon, Lead, and Nickel, were above the United States Environmental Protection Agency chronic marine sediment quality criteria. Concentrations of heavy metals decreased with increasing distance offshore of Havana Bay and distance to the west. In a transect of cores offshore from Havana Bay, the concentrations peaked around the 1970s at the site closest to shore (150m water depth), and around the 2010s in the furthest offshore (750m water depth). This could indicate a lag in sediment transport and deposition with increasing distance offshore. After peaking, the metal concentrations typically remained above background levels until present day. Locating input source(s) would assist in determining how to minimize their impact or potential mitigation efforts.

Presentation Preference: Poster

Primary Presenter: Rosalie Cruikshank, Eckerd College (rkcruikshank@gmail.com)

Authors:

Rosalie Cruikshank, Eckerd College  (rkcruikshank@eckerd.edu)

Rebekka Larson, Eckerd College  (larsonra@eckerd.edu)

Adrian Martínez-Suárez, University of Havana  (cim@uh.cu)

Patrick Schwing, Eckerd College  (schwinpt@eckerd.edu)

Gregg Brooks, Eckerd College  (brooksgr@eckerd.edu)