Trace-element concentrations in streambed sediment across the conterminous United States
- Geological Survey, Charlottesville, VA (United States)
Trace-element concentrations in 541 streambed-sediment samples collected from 20 study areas across the conterminous United States were examined as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program of the U.S. Geological Survey. Sediment samples were sieved and the < 63-[micro]m fraction was retained for determination of total concentrations of trace elements. Aluminum, iron, titanium, and organic carbon were weakly or not at all correlated with the nine trace elements examined: arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, and zinc. Four different methods of accounting for background/baseline concentrations were examined; however, normalization was not required because field sieving removed most of the background differences between samples. The sum of concentrations of trace elements characteristic of urban settings -- copper, mercury, lead, and zinc -- was well correlated with population density, nationwide. Median concentrations of seven trace elements (all nine examined except arsenic and selenium) were enriched in samples collected from urban settings relative to agricultural of forested settings. Forty-nine percent of the sites sampled in urban setting had concentrations of one or more trace elements that exceeded levels at which adverse biological effects could occur in aquatic biota.
- OSTI ID:
- 6376629
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 33:15; ISSN 0013-936X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ALUMINIUM
ARSENIC
CADMIUM
CHROMIUM
COPPER
IRON
LEAD
MERCURY
MONITORING
NICKEL
SEDIMENTS
SELENIUM
TITANIUM
TRACE AMOUNTS
WATER POLLUTION
ZINC
ELEMENTS
METALS
POLLUTION
SEMIMETALS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)