Spatial distribution of mercury in sediment from coastal environments around Cuba

Résumé fourni par la source

: Mercury (Hg) contamination in coastal sediments poses significant ecological and health risks, necessitating comprehensive assessments under the Minamata Convention. This study investigates the spatial distribution and potential ecological risks of Hg in surface sediments from 15 diverse Cuban coastal environments. Sediment samples were collected and analyzed for total Hg (ranging from 0.001 to 16.5 mg·kg -1 ), and a reference value of 0.090 ± 0.059 mg·kg -1 , defined as the geochemical background level for Hg in marine sediments, was derived using a cumulative distribution function method. Contamination degree was assessed using the Contamination Factor (CF), and the ecological risk was quantified using the Ecological Risk Index, the Threshold Effect Level (TEL), the Probable Effect Level (PEL), and the novel Composite Environmental Vulnerability Index (CEVI). Results revealed pronounced Hg enrichment in anthropogenically influenced sites, with Sagua la Grande River and Havana Bay exhibiting extremely high CF values and frequent exceedances of the PEL, identifying them as regional hotspots driven by industrial legacies and urban pressures. The CEVI effectively linked Hg levels to industrial and population factors. Compared to global hotspots, these findings provide a critical baseline for Cuba, supporting Minamata Convention monitoring and urging future studies to focus on temporal data, speciation, and bioaccumulation.

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