[Trace metals in coastal sediments from Costa Rica]

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Marine Chemistry
• Ecotoxicology

Context:

• Coastal ecosystems in Costa Rica are vital for biodiversity and local economies.
• Understanding metal pollution in marine sediments is crucial for assessing ecosystem health.
• Previous studies on heavy metal contamination in Costa Rican marine environments are limited.

Purpose:

• To determine the concentrations of iron, lead, copper, and zinc in marine sediments from four Costa Rican coastal ecosystems.
• To compare metal levels across different bays and identify potential pollution hotspots.
• To establish baseline data for future environmental monitoring and management.

Summary:

• Marine sediment samples were collected from Culebra Bay, Gulf of Nicoya, Golfito Bay (Pacific), and Moín Bay (Caribbean) between 2000-2002.
• Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to quantify iron, zinc, copper, and lead concentrations.
• Metal concentrations followed the pattern Fe > Zn > Cu > Pb. Golfito Bay exhibited the highest concentrations for iron, copper, and zinc, while Moín Bay had the highest lead levels.
• Culebra Bay was identified as relatively unpolluted, Golfito Bay as more contaminated, and Moín Bay and the Gulf of Nicoya as intermediate.

Impact:

• Provides critical data on heavy metal distribution in Costa Rican marine sediments.
• Highlights Golfito Bay as a priority area for environmental remediation and further investigation.
• Informs coastal zone management and pollution control strategies in the region.
• Contributes to the broader understanding of metal pollution dynamics in tropical coastal ecosystems.