Noureddine Zaaboub - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Noureddine Zaaboub

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2022

The Sepetiba Bay (SB; SE Brazil) has been severely affected by growing of urbanization and indust... more The Sepetiba Bay (SB; SE Brazil) has been severely affected by growing of urbanization and industrial activity. This work aims to analyze the evolution of contamination by metals of sediments in SB. The results show a marked increasing trend in the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), which is consistent with the rapid populational and industrial growth, mostly since 1970 CE. The remobilization and redistribution of sediments by currents have contributed to the dispersion of metals from the main source of pollutants to relatively distant regions. "Moderately to strongly polluted" sediments are also recorded in some sites in deeper sedimentary layers (namely in preindustrial periods), probably due to lithologic sources of the sediments. The concentrations of PTEs in SB are relatively high when compared with those found globally and in other Brazilian water bodies. Samples of high-resolution sediment cores confirmed that potential ecological risk to the coastal system is influenced not only through human actions but also by natural causes.

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution

This study investigated the environmental quality of the Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia) through an inte... more This study investigated the environmental quality of the Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia) through an integrated approach that combined environmental, biogeochemical, and living benthic foraminiferal analyses. Specifically, we analyzed the physicochemical parameters of the water and sediment. The textural, mineralogical, and geochemical characteristics of the sediment, including total organic carbon, total nitrogen, simultaneously extracted metals (SEM), acid volatile sulfides (AVS), chlorophyll a, CaCO3, and changes in bacterial popula-tions and carbon isotopes were measured. The SEM/AVS values indicated the presence of relatively high concentrations of toxic metals in only some areas. Foraminiferal assem-blages were dominated by species such as A. parkinsoniana (20–91%), Bolivina striatula (<40%), Hopkinsina atlantica (<17%), and Bolivina ordinaria (<15%) that cannot be consid-ered typical of impacted coastal lagoons both in Mediterranean and northeast Atlantic regions. The result...

Recent Advances in Environmental Science from the Euro-Mediterranean and Surrounding Regions, 2018

The gulf of Gabes is a special area in the Mediterranean known by its abundant marine wealth. The... more The gulf of Gabes is a special area in the Mediterranean known by its abundant marine wealth. The geological setting of the southern coast of Tunisia is characterized by an extended continental shelf.

Recent Advances in Environmental Science from the Euro-Mediterranean and Surrounding Regions (2nd Edition), 2021

Journal of Sedimentary Environments, 2018

Nine crab species samples, males and females, were collected after homogeneously prospection of s... more Nine crab species samples, males and females, were collected after homogeneously prospection of sediment surface of Bizerte Lagoon. Crabs were caught by dip net from Bizerte Lagoon during spring 2012. Concentrations of metals (Zn, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn) were evaluated in the carapace and muscle tissue of crabs and in surface sediment samples. Concentrations of metals accumulated in the benthic crabs tissues were compared to the reactive metals content that constitute the bioavailable fraction of the sediments. Total organic carbon and carbonate contents were also determined, since they are principal requirements associated with crab development.Results of this work indicate that, in the study area, the metals that reach the highest concentrations in the sediments-water interface are by decreasing order Zn, Cr and Pb. The reactive concentrations of these metals are also the highest. However, the trace elements that are being accumulated in the carapace and muscle of crabs...

World Seas: an Environmental Evaluation, 2019

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2019

Deltaic sediments are important for biogeochemical metal cycling since they are hotspots for meta... more Deltaic sediments are important for biogeochemical metal cycling since they are hotspots for metal inputs. In addition, they are potential sites for diagenetic processes leading to either the burial of inorganic contaminants or their release. Diffusive fluxes of certain metals (Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd) in the sediments of the Mejerda River Delta (MRD) (Gulf of Tunis, Tunisia) were quantified by modeling the available concentration profiles in the pore water. The metals’ burial and sedimentation fluxes were also calculated using both the asymptotic concentrations of available metal profiles and sediment trap results. These fluxes were assembled with the exchange fluxes at the sediment-water interface in order to develop complete metal transfer budgets. The results showed that budgets of Cu and Zn are almost neutral. The sediment appears to be a good trap for iron since its average burial flux at the three studied stations is about 332.6 g m−2 year−1. Organic matter degradation, carbonate dissolution, and oxyhydroxide reduction are the main mechanisms which accelerate the release of metals associated with the suspended particle matter once they reach the pore water in the seabed.

Environmental science and pollution research international, 2018

The degree of pyritization and degree of trace metal pyritization (DTMP) were investigated in sed... more The degree of pyritization and degree of trace metal pyritization (DTMP) were investigated in sediments from Ghar El Melh Lagoon (northern Tunisia) in order to study metal deposition. A sediment core and 28 samples were thus taken in summer 2008, and metals and sulfate were analyzed in pore water/pyrite. Acid-volatile sulfide and metals were simultaneously extracted from these two fractions and the role of pyrite in the metal cycling studied. To examine pyrite presence and mineralogical form in sediments, X-ray diffraction of the washed and decarbonated sediment was performed along with scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that pyrite is present in fromboidal and euhedral forms. Thermodynamic calculation highlighted the formation of metallic sulfides and the co-precipitation of metals with iron sulfides. The DTMP increases with depth, indicating that these metals are either sequestered as sulfides or that they co-precipitate with pyrite into the deep sediment.

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2017

To examine the state of pollution of Bizerte Lagoon which is exposed to intense anthropogenic pre... more To examine the state of pollution of Bizerte Lagoon which is exposed to intense anthropogenic pressure, two sediment cores were taken at two sites, one undergoes the dual effects of both marine waters arriving from the Mediterranean Sea through the Channel, and also of freshwater from the Tinja River; the other core is located at the center of the lagoon where water depth is maximal (12 m). Heavy metal concentrations in the two cores were assessed, with calculated enrichment factors and geo-accumulation indexes. Core sediments were also studied for chemical speciation and their monosulfide contents were measured. Results from enrichment factors and geo-accumulation indexes show an accumulation of Cd, Zn, Cr, and Pb, while chemical speciation revealed a risk only from Cd and Mn. Comparison of sequential extraction values with those of acid volatile sulfides revealed that non-toxic effects may be caused by any of the studied metals in the sediment.

Journal of Sedimentary Environments, 2007

Journal of Sedimentary Environments, 2016

Guanabara Bay (GB), located at the coast of Rio de Janeiro State (Brazil), is an ecosystem rich i... more Guanabara Bay (GB), located at the coast of Rio de Janeiro State (Brazil), is an ecosystem rich in biodiversity both in terms of mega, macro and microfauna. However, the factors that control their distribution are still poorly understood. This work intends to identify the possible factors affecting the distribution of benthic foraminifera in the bay by comparing living and dead assemblages in selected sediment fractions. Substantial differences in terms of density, diversity and equitability of the species in the living and dead assemblages and in different sediment fractions (63-150 μm, 150-250 μm, 250-500 μm) are identified. Lower similarity (<70%) between the living and dead assemblages are associated with areas impacted by organic matter and may be mainly ascribed to either loss of tests due to dissolution, currents remobilization and abrasion, or inclusion of allochthonous species transported by currents. This work suggests that the use of the living plus dead assemblages or dead assemblages can reduce the accuracy of the results if the work intends to evaluate the environmental conditions.

The Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 2017

Two species, Spirobolivina papillosa n. sp. and Spirobolivina retorta n. sp., are described from ... more Two species, Spirobolivina papillosa n. sp. and Spirobolivina retorta n. sp., are described from the Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia), a Mediterranean transitional ecosystem. Two additional species, S. curta (Cushman, 1933) and S. minuta McCulloch, 1977, are also recorded from this lagoon. The identification and documentation of the new species are followed by a comparison with all the species belonging to the genus Spirobolivina and with selected species assigned to the genera Bolivinopsis and Spiroplectoides. Spirobolivina spp. are uncommon in Mediterranean modern environments and their ecology and paleoecology are poorly understood.

Journal of Sedimentary Environments, 2016

fingerprints of the sediments supply and early diagenetic processes in the Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia).

Marine pollution bulletin, Jan 9, 2017

Metal concentrations in sediments were investigated in the Gulf of Tunis, Tunisia, in relation to... more Metal concentrations in sediments were investigated in the Gulf of Tunis, Tunisia, in relation to anthropic activities along the Mejerda River and Ghar El Melh Lagoon, with effluents discharged into the gulf. Distribution of grain size showed that the silty fraction is dominant with 53%, while sand and clay averages are 34 and 12% respectively. Zn concentration increased in the vicinity of the Mejerda River while Pb was at its highest levels at the outlet of Ghar El Mehl Lagoon. Sediment elutriate toxicity, as measured by oyster embryo bioassays, ranged from 10 to 45% abnormalities after 24h, but no relation was found between metal concentration and sediment toxicity. The AVS fraction that represents monosulfide concentrations in the sediment was higher in the central part of the gulf than in the coastal zone. The results reveal the influence of AVS, TOC and grain size on metal speciation and sediment toxicity.

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2017

The report was made possible by the generous support of the American people through USAID. The co... more The report was made possible by the generous support of the American people through USAID. The contents are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the U.S. government.

Mediterranean Marine Science, 2015

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2022

The Sepetiba Bay (SB; SE Brazil) has been severely affected by growing of urbanization and indust... more The Sepetiba Bay (SB; SE Brazil) has been severely affected by growing of urbanization and industrial activity. This work aims to analyze the evolution of contamination by metals of sediments in SB. The results show a marked increasing trend in the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), which is consistent with the rapid populational and industrial growth, mostly since 1970 CE. The remobilization and redistribution of sediments by currents have contributed to the dispersion of metals from the main source of pollutants to relatively distant regions. "Moderately to strongly polluted" sediments are also recorded in some sites in deeper sedimentary layers (namely in preindustrial periods), probably due to lithologic sources of the sediments. The concentrations of PTEs in SB are relatively high when compared with those found globally and in other Brazilian water bodies. Samples of high-resolution sediment cores confirmed that potential ecological risk to the coastal system is influenced not only through human actions but also by natural causes.

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution

This study investigated the environmental quality of the Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia) through an inte... more This study investigated the environmental quality of the Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia) through an integrated approach that combined environmental, biogeochemical, and living benthic foraminiferal analyses. Specifically, we analyzed the physicochemical parameters of the water and sediment. The textural, mineralogical, and geochemical characteristics of the sediment, including total organic carbon, total nitrogen, simultaneously extracted metals (SEM), acid volatile sulfides (AVS), chlorophyll a, CaCO3, and changes in bacterial popula-tions and carbon isotopes were measured. The SEM/AVS values indicated the presence of relatively high concentrations of toxic metals in only some areas. Foraminiferal assem-blages were dominated by species such as A. parkinsoniana (20–91%), Bolivina striatula (<40%), Hopkinsina atlantica (<17%), and Bolivina ordinaria (<15%) that cannot be consid-ered typical of impacted coastal lagoons both in Mediterranean and northeast Atlantic regions. The result...

Recent Advances in Environmental Science from the Euro-Mediterranean and Surrounding Regions, 2018

The gulf of Gabes is a special area in the Mediterranean known by its abundant marine wealth. The... more The gulf of Gabes is a special area in the Mediterranean known by its abundant marine wealth. The geological setting of the southern coast of Tunisia is characterized by an extended continental shelf.

Recent Advances in Environmental Science from the Euro-Mediterranean and Surrounding Regions (2nd Edition), 2021

Journal of Sedimentary Environments, 2018

Nine crab species samples, males and females, were collected after homogeneously prospection of s... more Nine crab species samples, males and females, were collected after homogeneously prospection of sediment surface of Bizerte Lagoon. Crabs were caught by dip net from Bizerte Lagoon during spring 2012. Concentrations of metals (Zn, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn) were evaluated in the carapace and muscle tissue of crabs and in surface sediment samples. Concentrations of metals accumulated in the benthic crabs tissues were compared to the reactive metals content that constitute the bioavailable fraction of the sediments. Total organic carbon and carbonate contents were also determined, since they are principal requirements associated with crab development.Results of this work indicate that, in the study area, the metals that reach the highest concentrations in the sediments-water interface are by decreasing order Zn, Cr and Pb. The reactive concentrations of these metals are also the highest. However, the trace elements that are being accumulated in the carapace and muscle of crabs...

World Seas: an Environmental Evaluation, 2019

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2019

Deltaic sediments are important for biogeochemical metal cycling since they are hotspots for meta... more Deltaic sediments are important for biogeochemical metal cycling since they are hotspots for metal inputs. In addition, they are potential sites for diagenetic processes leading to either the burial of inorganic contaminants or their release. Diffusive fluxes of certain metals (Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd) in the sediments of the Mejerda River Delta (MRD) (Gulf of Tunis, Tunisia) were quantified by modeling the available concentration profiles in the pore water. The metals’ burial and sedimentation fluxes were also calculated using both the asymptotic concentrations of available metal profiles and sediment trap results. These fluxes were assembled with the exchange fluxes at the sediment-water interface in order to develop complete metal transfer budgets. The results showed that budgets of Cu and Zn are almost neutral. The sediment appears to be a good trap for iron since its average burial flux at the three studied stations is about 332.6 g m−2 year−1. Organic matter degradation, carbonate dissolution, and oxyhydroxide reduction are the main mechanisms which accelerate the release of metals associated with the suspended particle matter once they reach the pore water in the seabed.

Environmental science and pollution research international, 2018

The degree of pyritization and degree of trace metal pyritization (DTMP) were investigated in sed... more The degree of pyritization and degree of trace metal pyritization (DTMP) were investigated in sediments from Ghar El Melh Lagoon (northern Tunisia) in order to study metal deposition. A sediment core and 28 samples were thus taken in summer 2008, and metals and sulfate were analyzed in pore water/pyrite. Acid-volatile sulfide and metals were simultaneously extracted from these two fractions and the role of pyrite in the metal cycling studied. To examine pyrite presence and mineralogical form in sediments, X-ray diffraction of the washed and decarbonated sediment was performed along with scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that pyrite is present in fromboidal and euhedral forms. Thermodynamic calculation highlighted the formation of metallic sulfides and the co-precipitation of metals with iron sulfides. The DTMP increases with depth, indicating that these metals are either sequestered as sulfides or that they co-precipitate with pyrite into the deep sediment.

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2017

To examine the state of pollution of Bizerte Lagoon which is exposed to intense anthropogenic pre... more To examine the state of pollution of Bizerte Lagoon which is exposed to intense anthropogenic pressure, two sediment cores were taken at two sites, one undergoes the dual effects of both marine waters arriving from the Mediterranean Sea through the Channel, and also of freshwater from the Tinja River; the other core is located at the center of the lagoon where water depth is maximal (12 m). Heavy metal concentrations in the two cores were assessed, with calculated enrichment factors and geo-accumulation indexes. Core sediments were also studied for chemical speciation and their monosulfide contents were measured. Results from enrichment factors and geo-accumulation indexes show an accumulation of Cd, Zn, Cr, and Pb, while chemical speciation revealed a risk only from Cd and Mn. Comparison of sequential extraction values with those of acid volatile sulfides revealed that non-toxic effects may be caused by any of the studied metals in the sediment.

Journal of Sedimentary Environments, 2007

Journal of Sedimentary Environments, 2016

Guanabara Bay (GB), located at the coast of Rio de Janeiro State (Brazil), is an ecosystem rich i... more Guanabara Bay (GB), located at the coast of Rio de Janeiro State (Brazil), is an ecosystem rich in biodiversity both in terms of mega, macro and microfauna. However, the factors that control their distribution are still poorly understood. This work intends to identify the possible factors affecting the distribution of benthic foraminifera in the bay by comparing living and dead assemblages in selected sediment fractions. Substantial differences in terms of density, diversity and equitability of the species in the living and dead assemblages and in different sediment fractions (63-150 μm, 150-250 μm, 250-500 μm) are identified. Lower similarity (<70%) between the living and dead assemblages are associated with areas impacted by organic matter and may be mainly ascribed to either loss of tests due to dissolution, currents remobilization and abrasion, or inclusion of allochthonous species transported by currents. This work suggests that the use of the living plus dead assemblages or dead assemblages can reduce the accuracy of the results if the work intends to evaluate the environmental conditions.

The Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 2017

Two species, Spirobolivina papillosa n. sp. and Spirobolivina retorta n. sp., are described from ... more Two species, Spirobolivina papillosa n. sp. and Spirobolivina retorta n. sp., are described from the Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia), a Mediterranean transitional ecosystem. Two additional species, S. curta (Cushman, 1933) and S. minuta McCulloch, 1977, are also recorded from this lagoon. The identification and documentation of the new species are followed by a comparison with all the species belonging to the genus Spirobolivina and with selected species assigned to the genera Bolivinopsis and Spiroplectoides. Spirobolivina spp. are uncommon in Mediterranean modern environments and their ecology and paleoecology are poorly understood.

Journal of Sedimentary Environments, 2016

fingerprints of the sediments supply and early diagenetic processes in the Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia).

Marine pollution bulletin, Jan 9, 2017

Metal concentrations in sediments were investigated in the Gulf of Tunis, Tunisia, in relation to... more Metal concentrations in sediments were investigated in the Gulf of Tunis, Tunisia, in relation to anthropic activities along the Mejerda River and Ghar El Melh Lagoon, with effluents discharged into the gulf. Distribution of grain size showed that the silty fraction is dominant with 53%, while sand and clay averages are 34 and 12% respectively. Zn concentration increased in the vicinity of the Mejerda River while Pb was at its highest levels at the outlet of Ghar El Mehl Lagoon. Sediment elutriate toxicity, as measured by oyster embryo bioassays, ranged from 10 to 45% abnormalities after 24h, but no relation was found between metal concentration and sediment toxicity. The AVS fraction that represents monosulfide concentrations in the sediment was higher in the central part of the gulf than in the coastal zone. The results reveal the influence of AVS, TOC and grain size on metal speciation and sediment toxicity.

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2017

The report was made possible by the generous support of the American people through USAID. The co... more The report was made possible by the generous support of the American people through USAID. The contents are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the U.S. government.

Mediterranean Marine Science, 2015