An environmental study by factor analysis of surface seawaters in the Gulf of Valencia (Western Mediterranean)

A study is made on the quality of coastal waters in the Gulf of Valencia (Spain) in terms of contamination markers including microbiological agents, toxic heavy metals and nutrients that adversely affect the environment. Relationships are also established between these factors and other physical and chemical parameters. A multivariate analysis is conducted where a total of 14 parameters are established for 919 water samples corresponding to 52 sampling points along the coast of the province of Valencia - specifically, total and fecal coliforms, fecal streptococci, Ni(II), Zn(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), Cu(II) and Cr(VI) concentrations, nitrates, phosphates, dissolved oxygen and finally pH and conductivity. Principal components analysis allows the characterization of the coastal water quality of the study zone, establishing the sources and types of contamination, and identifying the littoral areas associated to the different types of contamination. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.