Journal of Earth Science & Climatic Change
Open Access

Abstract

Aquaculture off-shore industry has been increasing steadily worldwide because of economic benefits and the improvements given to fisheries. However intensive activities can develop a negative impact on environment. High concentrations of heavy metals have been reported in aquaculture sediments, being Zn and Cu the most abundant heavy metals. Other heavy metals present on such sediments are Cd, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni and Pb. In these study heavy metals concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in sediments beneath fish cages in the Island of Tenerife (Spain) were determined. Sediment samples were collected in two different zones: �??impact�?� and �??control�?�. The Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zn concentrations were determined using Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (ETAAS). The Cd and Pb concentrations were determined using Perkin- Elmer model 4100 ZL Zeeman spectrophotometer, equipped with a graphite furnace tube and an automatic sampler. Results demonstrate that the concentration of the studied heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) was significantly different at both areas, with the exception of Mn. The impacted site showed higher concentrations of Cd, Co, Cu, Cr and Zn than at control location, while Mn, Ni and Pb concentrations in control site were higher than in the impacted site. In conclusion, seabed sediments can act as a pollution risk and it can represented a potential environmental risk.

Biography

F A Guardiola has completed his PhD from University of Murcia. He has published more than 17 papers in reputed journals and more than 30 presentations at national and international conferences. Actually, he is a candidate to Marie Curie Fellowships.