Journal of Hazardous Materials 170 (2009) 320–331 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Hazardous Materials journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jhazmat Development of site-specific sediment quality guidelines for North and South Atlantic littoral zones: Comparison against national and international sediment quality benchmarks R.B. Choueri a,b,∗ , A. Cesar b , D.M.S. Abessa c , R.J. Torres d , R.D. Morais b , I. Riba a,e , C.D.S. Pereira b,f , M.R.L. Nascimento g , A.A. Mozeto d , T.A. DelValls a a Cátedra UNESCO/UNITWIN/WiCop, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cádiz, CP 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain b Department of Ecotoxicology, Santa Cecília University, Oswaldo Cruz St, no. 266, 11045-907 Santos, SP, Brazil c São Paulo State University, Campus São Vicente, Infante Dom Henrique Plaza, s/n, 11330-900 São Vicente, SP, Brazil d Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental – DQ/UFSCar, Rod. Washington Luis km 235, CEP 13565-905, São Carlos, SP, Brazil e Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalucía, CSIC, Avda. Saharaui s/n, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cadiz, Spain f Laboratório de Ecotoxicologia Marinha, Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo - Prac ¸a do Oceanográfico, 191 São Paulo, Brazil g CNEN, Laboratório de Poc ¸os de Caldas, Rod. Andradas km 13, Caixa Postal 913, CEP 3771-970 Poc ¸ os de Caldas, MG, Brazil article info Article history: Received 10 December 2008 Received in revised form 13 March 2009 Accepted 21 April 2009 Available online 3 May 2009 Keywords: Sediment quality guidelines Multivariate analysis Dredged material Marine pollution Estuary abstract We aimed to develop site-specific sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) for two estuarine and port zones in Southeastern Brazil (Santos Estuarine System and Paranaguá Estuarine System) and three in Southern Spain (Ría of Huelva, Bay of Cádiz, and Bay of Algeciras), and compare these values against national and traditionally used international benchmark values. Site-specific SQGs were derived based on sediment physical–chemical, toxicological, and benthic community data integrated through multivariate analysis. This technique allowed the identification of chemicals of concern and the establishment of effects range correlatively to individual concentrations of contaminants for each site of study. The results revealed that sediments from Santos channel, as well as inner portions of the SES, are considered highly polluted (exceeding SQGs-high) by metals, PAHs and PCBs. High pollution by PAHs and some metals was found in São Vicente channel. In PES, sediments from inner portions (proximities of the Ponta do Félix port’s terminal and the Port of Paranaguá) are highly polluted by metals and PAHs, including one zone inside the limits of an environmental protection area. In Gulf of Cádiz, SQGs exceedences were found in Ria of Huelva (all analysed metals and PAHs), in the surroundings of the Port of Cádiz (Bay of Cádiz) (metals), and in Bay of Algeciras (Ni and PAHs). The site-specific SQGs derived in this study are more restricted than national SQGs applied in Brazil and Spain, as well as international guidelines. This finding confirms the importance of the development of site-specific SQGs to support the characterisation of sediments and dredged material. The use of the same methodology to derive SQGs in Brazilian and Spanish port zones confirmed the applicability of this technique with an international scope and provided a harmonised methodology for site-specific SQGs derivation. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Dredging activities can cause several negative impacts to the aquatic ecosystems, such as the elimination of benthic habitats and resuspension of nutrients and contaminants. Special concern arises on the disposal of the dredged material; the simple discharge in marine waters implies several environmental consequences, ∗ Corresponding author at: Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cadiz, Poligono Rio San Pedro, 11510 Puerto Real, Cadiz, Spain. Tel.: +34 956 01 67 64; fax: +34 956 01 60 40. E-mail address: rodrigobrasilchoueri@yahoo.com.br (R.B. Choueri). including physical disturbance (burrowing, smothering) of benthic communities [1] and chemical contamination [2]. There are different options to deal with dredged material, which include [3,4]: (i) beneficial uses—land creation and improvement, beach nourishment, agricultural uses, wetlands restoration, cre- ation of nesting islands, etc.; (ii) disposal in ocean or continental waters; (iii) treatment, such as the separation of sediment contam- inated fractions; and (iv) discharge into confined disposal facilities. The selection of the best management option is in a great extent dependent on the quality of the dredged material. Therefore, a reli- able assessment of the sediments to be dredged is needed to assure that the disposal of such material will be environmentally harmless as well as cost-effective. 0304-3894/$ – see front matter © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.04.093