Anthropogenic impact in the Suances estuary (Cantabria, N. Spain)microfaunal and geochemical evidences in its recent geological record
- Humberto Serrano
- Alejandro Cearreta
- María Jesús Irabien
- José Gómez Arozamena
- Ana Gomes (ed. lit.)
- Célia Gonçalves (ed. lit.)
- Lino André (ed. lit.)
- Nuno Bicho (ed. lit.)
- Tomasz Boski (ed. lit.)
Publisher: Asociación Española para el Estudio del Cuaternario ; Grupo de Trabalho Português para o Estudo do Quaternário (GTPEQ) ; Universidade do Algarve
ISBN: 978-989-8859-20-4
Year of publication: 2017
Pages: 157-160
Congress: Reunión del Cuaternario Ibérico = Reuniâo do Quaternário Ibérico (9. 2017. Faro)
Type: Conference paper
Abstract
Benthic foraminiferal contents and Zn, Pb, Cd and Hg concentrations have been analyzed in three short cores of the Suances estuary (Cantabria, N. Spain) in order to characterize the environmental evolution of its recent geological record. High levels these metals and reduced numbers of foraminifera have been detected along all cores, suggesting a very intense and persistent deterioration of the original conditions of the estuary as a consequence of mining, industrial and urban activities during the last 160 years. Multiproxy geochemical and microfaunal techniques represent a powerful tool for the historical monitoring of the environmental transformation process in coastal areas.