Potentially toxic elements in the Caribbean coastal region: A review

Resumen

Marine pollution by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) represents a significant environmental challenge for the Caribbean coastal region. This article reviews research published between 1990 and 2022 on pollution in coastal environments in different countries. The results revealed the presence of As, Cu, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, Mn, Ni, and Zn, in various samples. Concentration levels in sediments and aquatic samples from various locations suggest possible environmental, toxicological, and public health risks due to contamination. Considerable accumulations were found in some marine organisms, and certain areas show severe contamination; others show lower levels, which indicates the existence of multiple and complex pollution sources, mainly of anthropogenic origin. The article aims to provide an overview of the status of PTEs pollution in the Caribbean, to understand the state of research on the topic and establish a basis for future studies. This review compiles existing knowledge to support multinational efforts. to integrate pollution monitoring and prevention programs in the Caribbean region. Findings from the samples examined vary concerning sampling schemes, parameters, and analytical techniques, as well as differences in data presentation (i.e., dry weight versus wet weight, or fraction of sediment analyzed). These differences make it difficult to make meaningful comparisons between the available data. Limited data are available for most of these contaminants for most of the countries in the region, and any attempt to develop a regional-scale assessment from contaminant data available in the open literature is made difficult by this limitation.