The historical record of metal enrichment in two Florida estuaries

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Estuaries; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1352800· OSTI ID:7285991

Alexander, C R; Smith, R G ^[1]; Calder, F D; Schropp, S J ^[2]; Windom, H L ^[1]

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1. Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, Savannah, GA (United States)
2. Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Tallahassee, FL (United States)

Historical profiles of metal accumulation have been generated for the lower St. Johns River and Hillsborough Bay, Florida, in cores representing approximately 50 yr of sediment and metal accumulation. These profiles demonstrate that Cd, Pb, and Zn are enriched in these Florida estuarine sediments. Pb enrichment has decreased since the mid 1970s because of reduced use of leaded gasoline. In the St. Johns River, most metals exhibit a trend of increasing enrichment with time. Cd enrichment significantly decreased between 1970 and 1975 as a result of reduced discharges into the river and control of aquatic vegetation. In Hillsborough Bay, enrichment factors for most metals are relatively high and show little change downcore. Cr, Cu, and Ni border on enrichment and Pb, Cd, and Zn are enriched. The results of this study are consistent with other studies of surficial-sediment metal concentration in other Florida estuaries. 39 refs., 5 figs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 7285991
• Journal Information: Estuaries; (United States), Vol. 16:3B; ISSN 0160-8347
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CADMIUM
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
COASTAL WATERS
SEDIMENTS
CONTAMINATION
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
FLORIDA
LEAD
ZINC
CHROMIUM
COPPER
NICKEL
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)