The environmental monitoring of heavy metals in water (dissolved and particulate) and sediments of Larymna bay

Human activities have significantly increased the heavy metal deliveries to marine environment. In the N. Evoikos Gulf the major pollution source is a Ferronickel smelting plant in the bay of Larymna which is located in the east part of Greek mainland. The Bay is receiving huge quantities of slag (by-product) daily from the smelting plant. This study presents the result of heavy metals (Fe, Ni and Mn) in water and surface sediments from the dumping area. The water and surface sediments samples from Five stations in the Gulf (dumping area) collected for three years in June 2009, March 2010 and March 2011. Heavy metals concentrations of water included both dissolved and particulate phases and surface sediments measured by flame and graphite atomic absorption. Results have been compared with the Greek concentrations of trace metals, US EPA acute and chronic criteria and shale
average. The results showed relatively high concentrations of metals in both water and surface sediments samples.