Pollution in mediterranean-climate rivers

Julio C. Lopez-Doval (1) , Antoni Ginebreda (2) , Thierry Caquet (3) , Clifford N. Dahm (4) , Mira Petrovic (5) , Damia Barcelo (5, 6) , Isabel Munoz (1)

1 Dept Ecol, Fac Biol
2 Dept Environm Chem, Inst Environm Assessment & Water Res
3 ESE - Écologie et santé des écosystèmes
4 Dept Biol
5 ICRA - Instituto Catalán de Investigación del Agua - ICRA (SPAIN)
6 KSU - King Saud University [Riyadh]

This review examines information generated over the past decade on the pollution of rivers in regions with a mediterranean-type climate (med-climate). Pollution has clearly increased in the last 100 years and is correlated with the development of industry, agriculture and human population. Important efforts have been made in some med-climate countries in order to characterise the chemical status of rivers. In addition, the number of chemical substances detectable in mediterranean-climate rivers (med-rivers), as well as the limits of detection, have improved from the development of better analytical methods. New substances detected in rivers are gaining attention. We discuss available knowledge regarding real and potential effects of pollutants on the biota and ecosystems in med-rivers, taking into account natural environmental characteristics of these rivers. The extreme seasonal conditions in med-rivers add to the potential risk because these characteristics can enhance pollutant effects. Efforts and policies to prevent or reduce pollution effects on med-rivers are linked to the knowledge about pollution pressures associated with the degree of economic development. Aquatic communities in med-rivers are more sensitive to pollutants because they are exposed to strong natural and human stressors.

Mots clés: River pollution; Environmental chemistry; Ecotoxicology; Risk assessment; Mediterranean climate; ENVIRONMENTAL RISK-ASSESSMENT; SEWAGE-TREATMENT PLANTS; POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS; ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING CHEMICALS; PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS; RESOLUTION MASS-SPECTROMETRY; TROUT ONCORHYNCHUS-MYKISS; ACID-MINE DRAINAGE; LOWER EBRO RIVER; BASIN NE SPAIN

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]

Julio C. Lopez-Doval, Antoni Ginebreda, Thierry Caquet, Clifford N. Dahm, Mira Petrovic, et al.. Pollution in mediterranean-climate rivers. Hydrobiologia, 2013, 719 (1), pp.427 - 450. ⟨10.1007/s10750-012-1369-5⟩. ⟨hal-01210188⟩