Trace element contamination status of surface marine sediments of Greece: an assessment based on two decades (2001–2021) of data

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 29; no. 30; pp. 45171 - 45189
• Main Authors: Kanellopoulos, Theodore D., Kapetanaki, Natalia, Karaouzas, Ioannis, Botsou, Fotini, Mentzafou, Angeliki, Kaberi, Helen, Kapsimalis, Vasilios, Karageorgis, Aristomenis P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.06.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Coasts; Contamination; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Environmental studies; Greece; Industrial areas; industry; Iron and steel industry; Marine pollution; Marine sediments; Pollution; Pollution index; Quality assessment; Review Article; Sediments; Shipyards; steel; Steel industry; Trace elements; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Greece; Sediment quality guidelines; Greece; Aegean Sea; Marine sediments; Trace elements; Pollution index
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20224-y

This study is a first attempt to assess the trace element contamination status in the surface sediments of the Hellenic Seas since the first environmental studies in the country commenced in the mid-1970s. All available trace element data from the last 20 years have been collected and assessed using sediment quality guidelines and application of single- and multielement pollution indices. Although Hellenic marine sediments initially appear as anthropogenically enriched in Cr and As, this enrichment is attributed to the natural background. Central Greece appears more polluted, followed by Northern Greece and lastly Southern Greece. The element pollution indices featured the influence of industrial activities such as mining, steel industry and chemical factories, shipyards, and secondarily the influence of port activities.