Acid-volatile sulfide (AVS) in a seasonally anoxic mesotrophic lake: Seasonal and spatial changes in sediment AVS

Journal Article · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620120611· OSTI ID:5596908

Howard, D E; Evans, R D ^[1]

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1. Trent Univ., Peterborough, Ontario (Canada)

Acid-volatile sulfide (AVS) is an operational definition for the sulfides removed from sediment by cold acid extraction. It has been proposed that this fraction could be used as an indicator of divalent metal toxicity, as it increases the metal-binding capacity of sediments and hence renders metals unavailable to biota. Before AVS can be used as a predictive tool in freshwater systems, the authors must develop a better understanding of the impact of seasonal turnover events on its geochemistry. An in-depth study of spatial and temporal variation in AVS concentrations in a seasonally anoxic mesotrophic lake is presented. Comparisons are made to AVS in other lakes, with reference to its utilization as a sediment toxicity parameter. Results indicated that AVS increases during anoxic periods and that lake morphology is important due to sediment focusing. Seasonal variations in AVS concentration were observed that may change the potential toxicity of metals in freshwater sediments.

• OSTI ID: 5596908
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States) Vol. 12:6; ISSN 0730-7268; ISSN ETOCDK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANOXIA
BIOLOGICAL AVAILABILITY
CHALCOGENIDES
CONTAMINATION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
LAKES
METALS
POLLUTION
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SEDIMENTS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
TOXICITY
VARIATIONS
WATER POLLUTION