Investigation on possible chemical pollution of the Boughrara lagoon, south of Tunisia, by chemical wastes

Abstract

The BouGhrara lagoon, situated at south of Tunisia, is a 50 000 ha water surface area which has been highly contributing to the Tunisian fisheries production with a maximum of 4.786 M.T in 1992. Since that year the production has been steadily decreasing, (1.118 M.T in 2002). Several reasons have been referred to to explain the fisheries collapse and the lagoon environmental quality decrease. This study was intended to investigate on the water quality of the lagoon, especially with regard to those which have been at the origin of the lagoon environmental depletion. Along with the investigation on the current oceanographic parameters (temperature, salinity, pH, nutriments, etc.), focus has been made on the impact of the main pollutants which would come into the lagoon from the Ghannouch chemical factories, releasing organic matter, phosphates, fluoride, and cadmium. The study results are confirming such an expectation without excluding other eutrophication sources.