Geochemical Study of Coastal Sediments Influenced by River-Transported Pollution: Southern Evoikos Gulf, Greece

The impact of river-transported metal pollution on the metal distribution in coastal sediments was studied in Southern Evoikos Gulf, Greece, a marine area characterized by relatively strong tidal currents. The river Asopos, which flows into this part of the Gulf, acts as a recipient of industrial effluents generated in the river drainage basin, which hosts approximately 300 industries including chemical and metal processing plants. Several trace metals (namely Cd, Cr, Cu and Ni) were found enriched in the marine sediments near the river mouth. However, only Cd and to a lesser degree Cu were related to the river-transported industrial pollution. The high Cr and Ni concentrations were of natural origin, probably from the weathering of ultramaphic rocks, which are abundant in the drainage basin of the river Asopos.