Abstract
Bizerte Lagoon is a vital Mediterranean ecosystem subjected to intense anthropogenic pressure. The potential ecological risk caused by certain metals (Zn, Cu, Cr, Cd, Ni, Pb and Mn) is assessed from the data carried out in the sediment and pore water at two sites along with identifying the effects of diagenetic processes on the vertical distribution of these metals and their resulting diffusive fluxes. Using various ecological indices our results reveal a high ecological risk to benthic organisms from metals chiefly Cd, Pb and Ni accumulated in the sediment at both sites. Metals derived from organic matter degradation (Cu and Cd) and/or reduction of Mn-Fe-oxyhydroxydes (Pb, Ni, Zn, Cr) due to early diagenetic processes in sediment. The resulting concentration gradients between pore water and overlying water induce diffusive fluxes of metals to the water column. The estimation of the potential ecological risk caused by dissolved metals in pore waters by application of the Interstitial Water Criteria Toxic Units index indicates a slight ecological risk by Cu that was not identified in sediment. The ecological risk posed by dissolved metals is evidenced from −6 cm depth, which reduces the possibility of contamination of benthic species living above the water-sediment interface by diffusive fluxes of these metals.
•Distribution of Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cd in sediment porewaters from the Bizerte Lagoon and estimation of their diffusive fluxes.•Prediction of the potential toxicity by metals in supernatant and porewaters.•Assessment of ecological risk degree in sediment.