Equilibrium partitioning approach for metal toxicity assessment in tropical estuarine sediment of Bandon Bay, Thailand

Thanakorn Jiwarungrueangkul; Penjai Sompongchaiyakul; Danai Tipmanee; Suriyapong Kumsopar; Naranun Khammanee; Chalermrat Sangmanee; Chawalit Charoenpong

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116418

Equilibrium partitioning approach for metal toxicity assessment in tropical estuarine sediment of Bandon Bay, Thailand

Mar Pollut Bull. 2024 Apr 26:203:116418. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116418. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Thanakorn Jiwarungrueangkul¹, Penjai Sompongchaiyakul², Danai Tipmanee³, Suriyapong Kumsopar⁴, Naranun Khammanee⁵, Chalermrat Sangmanee⁶, Chawalit Charoenpong⁴

Affiliations

¹ Marine Environment and Geoinformatics Technology Research Unit, Faculty of Technology and Environment, Prince of Songkla University, Phuket Campus, Phuket 83120, Thailand; Coastal Oceanography and Climate Change Research Center, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai Campus, Songkhla 90110, Thailand. Electronic address: thanakorn.j@phuket.psu.ac.th.
² Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. Electronic address: penjai.s@chula.ac.th.
³ Marine Environment and Geoinformatics Technology Research Unit, Faculty of Technology and Environment, Prince of Songkla University, Phuket Campus, Phuket 83120, Thailand.
⁴ Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
⁵ Major in Natural Resources and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Suratthani Rajabhat University, Suratthani 84100, Thailand.
⁶ Phuket Marine Biological Center, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Phuket 83000, Thailand.

PMID: 38677218
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116418

Abstract

An equilibrium partitioning approach (EqPA) was employed to evaluate the metal toxicity and define sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) for arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and mercury (Hg) in the cockle cultivated areas located in Bandon Bay, Thailand. An assessment of metal toxicity using the [∑SEM]-[AVS] and [∑SEM]-[AVS]/f_oc models indicated no adverse effect on benthic organisms. The normalized total metal concentrations in this area were below the established SQG values for As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Hg, namely respectively 21.3, 0.8, 84.6, 36.0, 34.6, 440.9 mg/kg dry weight, and 49.3 μg/kg dry weight on sand and calcium carbonate free with 1 % total organic carbon basis, suggesting low metal toxicity. This study provides locality adapted SQG values for supporting sediment quality management specifically in Bandon Bay, potentially serving as a model for other coastal areas.

Keywords: Acid volatile sulfide; Equilibrium partitioning approach; Heavy metals; Malay Peninsula coast; Sediment quality.