Sustainable Beneficial Uses of Marine Sediments: a Case study in Colombia

Abstract

Marine sediments (MSs) constitute valuable natural resources for humans in the context of sustainable development. Recently studies of MSs have gained significant importance worldwide due to their feasibilty to be converted into various beneficial uses such as construction materials, enginering aplications, agricultural products, and others. However, the sorption of harmful heavy metals (HHMs) in MSs has become an environmental concern. High concentrations of HHMs may lead to undesirable changes in sediments with detrimental consequences for human health, the marine environment, and limitations to use water bodies. This research aims to (1) evaluate the degre of polution by HHMs in MSs of Cartagena Bay (CB), one of the most developed coastal areas in Colombia, using background values. (2) Characterize the potential danger of HHMs to the ecosystem by calculating the ecological risk index (RI). (3) To propose sustainable beneficial uses from clean and contaminated MSs. The results of the degre of polution of MSs in CB was characterized as low risk. Thus, concentrations of HHMs may not afect the balance of the local ecosystem. This study proposed the application of solidification/stabilzation (S/S) as remediation technologies for MSs to obtain beneficial uses. Sustainable beneficial use of MSs may provide diverse environmental and economic benefits from the point of view of new blue economies. The results of this case study may contribute to a database for future environmental monitoring projects in Colombia and promote beter sustainable practices in coastal and marine environments. Additional isues including the qualities of MSs in CB wil be presented during the 2023 KEDS conference. The establishment of national environmental standards for MSs in Colombia would be a step forward for an aquatic life-protecting approach and a beter evaluation of polution asesment.