Chifflet Sandrine auteur aut IRD Tedetti Marc auteur aut IRD Zouch H. auteur aut IRD Fourati R. auteur aut IRD Zaghden H. auteur aut IRD Elleuch B. auteur aut IRD Quéméneur Marianne auteur aut IRD Karray F. auteur aut IRD Sayadi S. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access Coastal areas are sites of discharge of anthropogenic compounds, such as trace metals. In seawater, trace metals have a strong affinity for particulate organic matter or clay mineral and tend to accumulate in sediments. However, natural events and human activities can cause disturbances in surface sediments involving modification of chemical balances and contamination of surrounding waters. Here, we investigated the dynamics of trace metals in the Sfax coastal area (Gulf of Gabès, southern Mediterranean Sea), a shallow coastal ecosystem impacted by tides and submitted to urban/industrial effluents. We presented the spatial distribution of trace metals concentrations, their potential mobility in sediments and evaluated the potential sources of target elements in surface waters. The highest concentration levels in surficial sediments (3.51 µg/g) and surface waters (0.25 µg/L) were found for Cd. The latter showed a great affinity (50%) for the exchangeable phase while other elements (Cu, Cr and Ni) were found in most residual phases, reducing the environmental risk. Pb and Zn, associated Fe/Mn oxyhydroxides revealed potential inputs from urban and industrial effluents. Multivariate statistical analysis suggested that dissolved trace metals in surface waters were probably derived from effluents/wadis but also from sediment resuspension processes, induced by natural (tides, hydrodynamics) or anthropogenic (dredging) events. Overall, this study highlights the importance of the interactions between sediment and water column for the trace metal dynamics in very shallow coastal environments with an exacerbated pattern for Cd. specialized GEOCHIMIE ZONE COTIERE ELEMENT EN TRACE MATIERE EN SUSPENSION EAU DE SURFACE SEDIMENT PROTECTION DE L'ECOSYSTEME POLLUTION CHIMIQUE IMPACT SUR L'ENVIRONNEMENT TUNISIE MEDITERRANEE 064GEOCHI 032MILPHY 6 4 277-297 2019 2372-0344 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010076302 10.3934/environsci.2019.4.277 2372-0344 [F B010076302] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010076302 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/divers19-07/010076302.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2019-07-16 2025-02-24 fdi:010076302 fre