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Atmospheric pollution recorded in wetland sediments
Pollution history of Pb and other trace metals was reconstructed for the first time for the Eastern Mediterranean, from an urban winter pond, located at the densely populated coastal plain of Israel. An integrated approach including geochemical, sedimentological, and historical analyses revel the pre- and post-19th century pollution history.
Publication:
Zohar, I., Bookman, R., Levin, N., de Stigter, H. and Teutsch, N., 2014. Contamination history of lead and other trace metals reconstructed from an urban winter pond in the eastern Mediterranean Coast (Israel). Environmental science & technology, 48(23), pp.13592-13600.
Heavy metal pollution records presenting increase in concentrations following the Industrial Revolution.
Mercury pollution in Haifa Bay
We have assessed the redistribution of a secondary source of sedimentary anthropogenic mercury in the Haifa Bay, which is the northern sink for Nile-driven sand. A long-term (30 years) ~80% decrease of the total sedimentary mercury concentrations (THg) was recorded in the inner bay, while an up to 3-fold increase was recorded in the top sediments of the outer bay. We revisited the concept of environmental relaxation, i.e. the rate of return of a polluted environment to an acceptable state, showing that sedimentary transport processes may affect the associated ecological risks, mainly at shallow-water coastal sites.
(Left) A map of the Haifa bay area that shows the location of the sampling stations of surficial and sediment cores, and the spatial distribution pattern of the total Hg concentrations in surface sediments and a calculated differential map of the past (1994). The differential map shows that most of the reduction in THg concentrations occurred in the most polluted areas at shallow water depths, in close proximity to the location of the past effluent discharge and the Qishon outlet.
Publication:
Bareket, M.M., Bookman, R., Katsman, R., de Stigter, H. and Herut, B., 2016. The role of transport processes of particulate mercury in modifying marine anthropogenic secondary sources, the case of Haifa bay, Israel. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 105(1), pp.286-291.
China – Israel collaboration on pollution of industrialized bays
At present, we continue with the study on marine pollution and focus on tracing sources, dispersal and burial of heavy metals in industrialized bays using geochemistry of multiple stable isotopes. A Joint NSFC-ISF Research Grant with collaboration of the Geological Survey of Israel and Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research funds the study.
Heavy metals are persistent pollutants in the marine environment and are tightly bound to suspended particulates and bottom sediments. Their distribution and transport in coastal regions depends to a large extent on the local sedimentological and wave regime, their proximity to terrestrial point sources and their mobilization through biological processes. This is especially true for bays and estuaries, which have been a focus for human activity on land and in the sea.
In the picture, sediment trap deployment at the Haifa Bay for the assessment of heavy metal pollution transport to the open sea.
Plastic pollution in coastal streams
In a recent study, we wish to assess the flux of microplastic pollution from coastal streams to the Mediterranean. In collaboration with Dror Angel (Maritime Civilizations) and Yael Segal (IOLR) a reconnaissance survey in the Naaman Stream sets the hypothesize that winter runoff will be the main source for micro-plastic to the coast.
Sampling the Naaman Stream for microplastic with Annelise Ferry, MSc student. The study is done in collaboration with Dr. Dror Angel and Dr. Yael Segal
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