Assessing the contamination and ecological risk of
sediments around the mariculture area in northern Algeria
using a multivariate approach
Ryhane Lounas
a , Hamza Kasmi
b , Safia Chernai
a
, Nadia Amarni
a ,
and Boualem Hamdi
a,c
a
Laboratory of Conservation and Valorization of Marine Resources, National School of Marine Science
and Coastal Management (ENSSMAL), University Campus of Dely Ibrahim, Algiers, Algeria;
b SGS Centre.
Lotissement Boi � s Des Cars, Dely-Ibrahim, Algeria;
c
University of Science and Technology Houari
Boumediene (USTHB), Bab Ezzouar, Algeria
ABSTRACT
This study focused on the contamination by Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Fe
in the surface sediments of marine fish farms in Algeria to assess
their spatial distribution, sources, and potential ecological risk.
Results of geo-accumulation index and enrichment factors showed
that the sediments at most sites were uncontaminated to moderately contaminated with Pb and Zn associated with anthropogenic
input based on PCA result. All the stations have adverse effects
index values below 1; the concentration of metals in the sample is
not high enough to cause adverse effects on biota. The mean
effects range medium quotient indicated that sediments in fish
farming areas have a low probability (9%–21%) of being toxic. Our
results indicated that the Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd from mariculture were
unlikely to adversely affect the local aquatic environment. Outside
the fish farm, the marine ecosystem recovers its ecological balance.
KEYWORDS
Ecological risk assessment;
sediment; heavy metals;
aquaculture; Algeria
Introduction
Sediments are considered the best indicator of anthropogenic perturbations and
provide the history of pollution (Hu et al. 2013). They play a major role in the
accumulation, transport, bioavailability, and toxicity of contaminants (Miniero
et al. 2014). The significant increase in the amount of heavy metals in the aquatic
environment since the early 20th century is due to anthropogenic activities, such
as industrialization, mining, wastewater, agricultural, and aquaculture activities
as well as maritime traffic (Puttiwongrak et al. 2019; Zhang et al. 2015). Trace
metal pollution disrupts biogeochemical cycles and might spread over a large
area (Otansev et al. 2016). In its natural state, the distribution and geochemical
variability of metals are directly related to hydrology and geological characteristics of the region concerned (Saher and Siddiqui 2019; Sarı et al. 2018). Heavy
metals are essential for the physiological performance of biota (Katya et al.
CONTACT Ryhane Lounas
louna.ryhane@gmail.com
Laboratory of Conservation and Valorization of Marine
Resources, National School of Marine Science and Coastal Management (ENSSMAL), University Campus of Dely
Ibrahim, Algiers 16320, Algeria.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED AQUACULTURE
https://doi.org/10.1080/10454438.2020.1823297
© 2020 Taylor & Francis
sediments around the mariculture area in northern Algeria
using a multivariate approach
Ryhane Lounas
a , Hamza Kasmi
b , Safia Chernai
a
, Nadia Amarni
a ,
and Boualem Hamdi
a,c
a
Laboratory of Conservation and Valorization of Marine Resources, National School of Marine Science
and Coastal Management (ENSSMAL), University Campus of Dely Ibrahim, Algiers, Algeria;
b SGS Centre.
Lotissement Boi � s Des Cars, Dely-Ibrahim, Algeria;
c
University of Science and Technology Houari
Boumediene (USTHB), Bab Ezzouar, Algeria
ABSTRACT
This study focused on the contamination by Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Fe
in the surface sediments of marine fish farms in Algeria to assess
their spatial distribution, sources, and potential ecological risk.
Results of geo-accumulation index and enrichment factors showed
that the sediments at most sites were uncontaminated to moderately contaminated with Pb and Zn associated with anthropogenic
input based on PCA result. All the stations have adverse effects
index values below 1; the concentration of metals in the sample is
not high enough to cause adverse effects on biota. The mean
effects range medium quotient indicated that sediments in fish
farming areas have a low probability (9%–21%) of being toxic. Our
results indicated that the Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd from mariculture were
unlikely to adversely affect the local aquatic environment. Outside
the fish farm, the marine ecosystem recovers its ecological balance.
KEYWORDS
Ecological risk assessment;
sediment; heavy metals;
aquaculture; Algeria
Introduction
Sediments are considered the best indicator of anthropogenic perturbations and
provide the history of pollution (Hu et al. 2013). They play a major role in the
accumulation, transport, bioavailability, and toxicity of contaminants (Miniero
et al. 2014). The significant increase in the amount of heavy metals in the aquatic
environment since the early 20th century is due to anthropogenic activities, such
as industrialization, mining, wastewater, agricultural, and aquaculture activities
as well as maritime traffic (Puttiwongrak et al. 2019; Zhang et al. 2015). Trace
metal pollution disrupts biogeochemical cycles and might spread over a large
area (Otansev et al. 2016). In its natural state, the distribution and geochemical
variability of metals are directly related to hydrology and geological characteristics of the region concerned (Saher and Siddiqui 2019; Sarı et al. 2018). Heavy
metals are essential for the physiological performance of biota (Katya et al.
CONTACT Ryhane Lounas
louna.ryhane@gmail.com
Laboratory of Conservation and Valorization of Marine
Resources, National School of Marine Science and Coastal Management (ENSSMAL), University Campus of Dely
Ibrahim, Algiers 16320, Algeria.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED AQUACULTURE
https://doi.org/10.1080/10454438.2020.1823297
© 2020 Taylor & Francis