The Impact of Brine Discharge on Sea Urchins, Case Study of the Bousfer Desalination Plant in West Algeria

This study investigated the potential impact of discharged water from the Bousfer desalination plant in Algeria on the marine environment, with a focus on sea urchins that we found overpopulated in the brine discharge area. To assess the presence of heavy metals, which can pose significant ecological and health risks, water samples were collected from the discharge area and analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The targeted metals included iron, copper, zinc, nickel, and chromium. The results indicated extremely low concentrations of these metals, with values ranging from ≤ 0.001 to ≤ 0.01 mg/L. This research is the first of its kind at the Bousfer desalination plant and this site was chosen because this station is scheduled to be replaced by a much larger plant. This study suggests that the levels of heavy metals detected in discharged waters are insufficient to pose a direct threat to sea urchins or humans who consume them. However, given the potential for long-term and cumulative effects, further in-depth studies are needed to assess the overall environmental impact of discharged waters on marine ecosystems, including benthic fauna.