Natural trace metal concentrations in estuarine and coastal marine sediments of the southeastern United States

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00180a008· OSTI ID:6156993

Windom, H L; Schropp, S J; Calder, F D; Ryan, J D; Smith, Jr, R G; Burney, L C; Lewis, F G; Rawlinson, C H

Over 450 sediment samples from estuarine and coastal marine areas of the southeastern US remote from contaminant sources were analyzed for trace metals. Although these sediments are compositionally diverse, As, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Ni, and Zn concentrations covary significantly with aluminum, suggesting that natural aluminosilicate minerals are the dominant natural metal bearing phases. Cd and Hg do not covary with aluminum apparently due to the importance of the contribution of natural organic phases to their concentration in sediments. It is suggested that the covariance of metals with aluminum provides a useful basis for identification and comparison of anthropogenic inputs to southeastern US coastal/estuarine sediments. By use of this approach sediments from the Savannah River, Biscayne Bay, and Pensacola Bay are compared.

• Research Organization: Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, Savannah, GA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: FG09-86ER60435
• OSTI ID: 6156993
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 23:3; ISSN ESTHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALUMINIUM
ARSENIC
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BAYS
BISCAYNE BAY
CADMIUM
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHROMIUM
COASTAL REGIONS
COPPER
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ESTUARIES
FEDERAL REGION IV
FLORIDA
IRON
LEAD
MANGANESE
MERCURY
METALS
MONITORING
NICKEL
NORTH AMERICA
RIVERS
SAVANNAH RIVER
SEAS
SEDIMENTS
SEMIMETALS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
ZINC