Pollution Processes in Bahía Blanca Estuarine Environment

Abstract

Natural systems dynamics, relationships and equlibrium can be significally affected due to human interventions which alter (either eventually or structurally) their activities imbalance. Each environment has its own characteristics which determine the response against these changes. Main human processes generating the strongest effects on coastal marine systems are: non adequate use of soils (including unplanned urbanization), untreated domestic or industrial sewage discharge, harbour activities and incorrect solid waste disposal. Simultaneous occurrence of these processes can generate different kind of impacts on natural systems, and their magnitudes will depend not only on phenomena intensity but also response ability of the considered environment. Bahía Blanca estuary, at the southern Buenos Aires Province Atlantic littoral, is an excellent study case, because it is a large transitional environment with a great human activity within its inner area, including most of the above mentioned processes. This environment has been particularly studied since ‘70s decades, including its water physico-chemical parameters, associated biological processes and pollutants occurrence. These studies allow to characterize the potential effects on the system, as well as to recognize its response ability. The present chapter includes a brief overview on the occurrence, levels and distribution trends of the main pollutants determined within Bahía Blanca estuary (i.e. heavy metals, hydrocarbons) in both the abiotic and the biological compartments. The identified trends are analyzed within an historical viewpoint, which allows pointing out evolutive processes on the estuarine environmental quality. This information is largely useful to make concrete monitoring and management programs within this estuary.