Abstract
Since the beginning of the last decade, a chlor-alkali plant operates in Sagua la Grande, in the central part of Cuba. The factor is equipped with a treatment system for trapping Hg in the waste water, which did not always function efficiently. During 1985–1988, a first evaluatian of the environmental impact by Hg was made. Analyses of a terrestrial plant (Mimosa pudica), soils, sediments and aquatic organisms, taken from a dam upstream, that atmospheric pollution by Hg is only restricted to the factory and its surrounding. Nevertheless, the liquid wastes discharged to Sagua la Grande River, have affected aquatic systems downstream up to the estuarine zone of the river mouth. This is confirmed by the examination of core and surface sediment samples, suspended matter, awnaquatic plant (water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes) and a sea urchin (Lytechinus variegatus). Different control measures have now limited the Hg discharges and should bring a progressive recuperation of the affected area.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ablanedo,N.,González,H.,Ramirez,M. and Torres,I. (1990) “Evaluación del erizo de mar Echinometra lucunter cotfK, indicador der contaminación por metales pesados”, Aquatic Living Resources 3, 113–120.
Aston, S.R. and Rae, J.E. (1982) “Evaluation of the historical ie,r pcntie of mercury contamination in estuarine sediments to chlorillsali effluent, treatment”, Environment International 7, 331–336.
Baldi, F. and Bargagli, R. (1984) “Mercuiit pollution in marine sediments near a chlor-alkali plant: distrihztion and availability rf the metal”, The Science of the Total Environment 39, 15–26.
Baldi, F. and D'Amato, M.L. (1986) “Mercury i llutiori inniarine sediment cores near cinrTaltiar deposits and t, chlor-alkali plant”, The Science of the Total Environment 57, 111–120.
Björklund, I., Borg, H. and Johansson, K. (1984) “Mercury in SWedis'h lakes-Its regional distribution and causes” Ambio 13, 118–121.
Campbell, J.A., Chan, E.Y.L., Riley, J.P., Head, P.C. and Jones, P.D. (1986) “The distribution of mercury in the Mersey Estuary”, Marine Pollution Bulletin 17, 36–40.
Department of Environmental Conservation,University of Helsinki (1982) Bioaccumulation of mercury, Helsinki,84 pp.
Figueres, G., Martin, J.M., Meybeck, M. and Seyler, P. (1985) “A comparative study of mercury contamination bi the Tagus estuary (Portugal) and major French estuaries (Gironde, Loire, Rhône)” Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 20, 183–203.
Gronzález, A. (1988) “Reduction of mercury losses in the chlor-alkali factory of Sagua la Grande”, International Symposium “Water Resources Management and Protection in Tropical Climate”, Havana.
Hall, A., Duarte, A.C., Calideira, M.T.M. and Lucas, M.F.B. (1987) “Sources and sinks of mercury in the coastal lagoon of Aveiro, Portugal”, The 'Science of the Total Environment 64, 75–87.
Iglesias, N. and Penchassarleh, P.E. (1983) “Mercury in sea stars from Golfo Triste, Venezuela”, Marine Pollution Bulletin 14, 396–398.
Loring, D.H., Rantala, R.T.T. and Smith, J.N. (1983) “Response time of Sagzaenay Fjord sediments to metal contamination”, Environmental Biogeochemistry, Ecological Balletin 35, 59–72.
Muller, G. (1931) “Heavy metals and nutrients in sediments of Lake Balaton, Hungary”, Environmental Technology Letters 2, 39–48.
Muramoto, S. and Oki, Y. (1983) ‘Removal of some heavy metals from polluter, water by water hyacisith (Eichbornia crassipes)”, Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 30, 170–177.
Pelletier,E and Canuel, G. (1988) “Trace metals in surface sediments of the Saguenay Fjord, Canada”, Marine Pollution Bulletin 19, 336–338.
Rae, J.E. and Aston, S.R. 1981 “Mercury in coastal and estuarine sediments of the northeastern Irish Sea”. Marine Pollution Bulletin 12, 367–371.
Randlesome, J.E. and Aston, S.R. (1980) “A rapid method for the determination of mercury in sediments, suspended solids and soils”, Environ Technology Letters 1, 3–8.
Rekolainen, S., Verta, M. and Liehu A. (1985) “The effect of airboryfe mercury and peatland drainage on sediment merculit contents in some finnish forest lades” Publications of the Water Research Institute. National Board of Waters, Finland. No.65, 11–20.
R.N.O. (1831) “Synthèse des travawx de surveillance 1975–1979 du Réseau National d'Observation de la qualité du milieu marin”, Centre Océanologique de Bretagne. CNEXO ed., 358pp.
Robbe, D. (1984) “Interprétation des teneurs en élémente métalliques associés aux sédiments”, Rapport des labaratoires LCPC, Série EG-1, 149pp.
Sasamal S.K., Sahu, B.K. and Panigraby, R.C. (1987) “Mercury distribution the estuarine and nearshore sediments of the western Bay of Bengal”, Marine Pollution Bulletin 18, 135–136.
Shaw, B.P., Sahu, A., Chaudhuri, S.B. and Panigrahy A.K. (1988) “Mercury in the Rushikulya river estuary”, Marine Pollution Bulletin 19, 233–234.
Shaw, B.P., Sahu, A. and Panigrahy, A.E. (1986) “Mercury br plants, soil and water from a caustic chlorine industry” Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 36, 299–305.
Vernet, J.P., Fapin, F., Favarger, P.Y. and Fernex, F. (1977) “Contamination des sédiments marins (Côte d'Azur) par les métaux lourde (Hg et Cd): quelques problèmes méthodologiques”, Revue International d'Océanographie Médicale XLVII, 91–95.
Verta, M., Rekolainen, S., Ma≨io, J. and Surma-Aho, K. (1986) “The origin and level of mercury it finnish forest lakes", Publicatirns of the Water Research Institute, National Board of Waters, Finland. No. 65, 21–31.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gonzalez, H. Mercury pollution caused by a chlor-alkali plant. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 56, 83–93 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00342263
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00342263