Bacterial community assemblages in sediments under high anthropogenic pressure at Ichkeul Lake/Bizerte Lagoon hydrological system, Tunisia.

Bacterial communities inhabiting sediments in coastal areas endure the effect of strong anthropogenic pressure characterized by the presence of multiple contaminants. Understanding the effect of pollutants on the organization of bacterial communities is of paramount importance in order to unravel bacterial assemblages colonizing specific ecological niches. Here, chemical and molecular approaches were combined to investigate the bacterial communities inhabiting the sediments of the Ichkeul Lake/Bizerte Lagoon, a hydrological system under anthropogenic pressure.

Distribution of organic contamination of sediments from Ichkeul Lake and Bizerte Lagoon, Tunisia.

Analyses of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and butyl tins (BuSn) were conducted on sediments from Ichkeul Lake-Bizerte Lagoon watershed (Tunisia). A total of 59 compounds (16 PAHs, 12 PCBs, 22 OCPs and 9 BuSn) were measured in 40 surface sediment samples collected during two campaigns. High concentrations of total PAHs were identified in the lagoon ranging from 122 to 19600ng·g.

Validation of an Adapted QuEChERS Method for the Simultaneous Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Organochlorine Pesticides in Sediment by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

A Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) method has been adapted and validated for the simultaneous analysis of 16 PAHs, 12 PCBs and 9 OCPs in sediment. The sample preparation was adapted by modifying the nature of the extraction solvent, the extraction technique and the amount of sediment. The analytical performances were evaluated in terms of accuracy, linearity and quantification limits.

Pesticides in Ichkeul Lake-Bizerta Lagoon Watershed in Tunisia: use, occurrence, and effects on bacteria and free-living marine nematodes.

This study aimed to identify the most commonly used agricultural pesticides around Ichkeul Lake-Bizerta Lagoon watershed. First survey of pesticide use on agricultural watershed was performed with farmers, Regional Commissioner for Agricultural Development, and pesticide dealers. Then, sediment contamination by pesticides and response of benthic communities (bacteria and free-living marine nematode) were investigated.