Both examined breakwaters, that of Nea Chora (sample 18) and of Platanias (Figure selleck inhibitor 5, scraps) ports, where ship maintenance activities take place (Figure 4); they both contained high loads of heavy metals. For example, sediment from Nea Chora port breakwater had about 7 times higher Cu, 40 times higher Zn and 20 times higher Pb concentration, than their respective natural loads.Figure 4Boat maintenance and repainting, Platanias port, March 19, 2012.Figure 5The results of the XRF analysis regarding Copper, Zink, and Lead of Platanias beach and port.Another five small ports examined did not exhibit relatively high heavy metal loads. This indicates that water circulation and sediment transport yielded a significant effect on the occurrence of heavy metal within the borders of provincial ports and harbors.

3.2. Opportunistic Beach Nourishment of Platanias BeachOur results were disseminated to stakeholders and local authorities.Before nourishment took place, a thorough spatial analysis for heavy metals loads was conducted and samples from the adjacent area as well as from inside of the port were analyzed (Figure 2). During the sampling time, a boat was repainted (Figure 4) and a homogenized collected sample from the breakwater confirmed (Figure 5, sample scraps) that repainting activities excrete heavy metals in port areas and on adjacent beaches. Moreover, one surface sediment sample (Figure 5, sample 5a) and one deeper (1m depth) (Figure 5, sample 1b) in the borrowed material were enriched with Cu, while the other samples had heavy medal concentrations similar to the adjacent beach.

Using the geoaccumulation index, we found that these two samples were moderately polluted with their Igeo being less than 2 [9], while all the other samples were assessed as relatively unpolluted. Therefore, since the prerequisite standards of the dredged material were met, the first planned opportunistic beach nourishment project in Greece materialized.The frequent evaluation of the evolution of Platanias beach is continuing. About a year and a half later, it appears that opportunistic beach nourishment in specific locales (versus the entire beach) cannot solely address erosion, yet buys time, until a permanent and sustainable solution is implemented.4.

ConclusionsOur study (a) assessed the presence and distribution of heavy metals in coastal sediment from Chania beaches and ports, (b) identified heavy metal point sources in the coastal environment, and (c) assessed the feasibility of opportunistic beach nourishments projects in Greece. From AV-951 the comparative assessment of the examined samples, we conclude the following.The majority of the examined beaches had similar heavy metal concentrations with background values (beachrock).Heavy metals point sources include municipal WWTP effluents, which led to increased loads of Zn in the 20cm deep sediments.