Metals in the coastal systems of Abaco Island, The Bahamas following Hurricane Dorian.

Hurricanes can introduce metals into coastal systems. Unfortunately, metal concentrations are unknown in many hurricane prone locations. Here we measured vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, molybdenum, cadmium, antimony, barium, lead, and uranium in surface water, sediments, and seagrass (Thalassia testudinum) collected in seagrass beds and marinas around The Abacos, The Bahamas in November 2019, May 2020, and June and December 2021 to establish a post-Hurricane Dorian baseline, assess changes post-storm, and understand bioconcentration in seagrass. Metal concentrations were higher in marinas and several increased over time. Also, metal profiles in sediments became more similar over time. Together, these suggest that metals were impacted by Hurricane Dorian and are either returning to pre-storm conditions or increasing due to recovery-related activities. Thalassia testudinum uptakes most metals more readily from surface water than sediments. Therefore, seagrasses may phytoremediate metals, but also transfer metals to higher trophic levels.