Transport of persistent organic pollutants by organo-mineral aggregates (OMAs) in the Lisboa-Setúbal Canyon system

Publikationstyp
Journal Article
Date Issued
2011-09-01
Sprache
English
Author(s)
Jesus Mendes, Pedro A. de  
Thomsen, Laurenz  
Garcia, Rosa  
Gust, Giselher  
Institut
Meerestechnik M-14(H)  
TORE-URI
http://hdl.handle.net/11420/12519
Journal
Deep-sea research  
Volume
58
Issue
23-24
Start Page
2345
End Page
2353
Citation
Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography 58 (23-24): 2345-2353 (2011)
Publisher DOI
10.1016/j.dsr2.2011.08.010
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-80054046474
Publisher
Elsevier Science
In this work we investigate the role of organo-mineral aggregates (OMAs) in the transport and deposition of persistent organic pollutants in the Lisboa-Setúbal Canyon system. OMAs are more easily remobilized than the underlying sediment surface, and are easily transported in the benthic boundary layer. Since aquatic sediments act as sinks for hydrophobic organic contaminants, OMAs must be a factor in the lateral transport of organic contaminants. Submarine canyons further facilitate the flux of these contaminants from source to deep-sea. Our results show that the difference between the behavior of the OMAs and the underlying superficial sediment is very important in the transport of carbon and persistent organic pollutants to the deep-sea. The Lisboa-Setúbal Canyon system is clearly exporting organic pollutants to the deep-sea through the transport of OMAs.
Subjects
Iberian Margin
Organo-mineral aggregates
Persistent organic pollutants
Submarine canyons
Superficial sediment
DDC Class
550: Geowissenschaften
600: Technik
620: Ingenieurwissenschaften