Grain size partitioning of metals in contaminated, coarse-grained river floodplain sediment: Clark Fork River, Montana, U.S.A.

Moore, Johnnie N.; Brook, Edward J.; Johns, Carolyn

doi:10.1007/bf01728502

Cited by 117 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Our findings are consistent with those reported by Moore et al (1989) and Bertin and Bourg (1995). These studies suggest alternative mechanisms-such as the input of contaminants by industrial processes that present a wider range of particle sizes (Moore et al 1989) or stronger associations with other controls on sediment geochemistry (Bertin and Bourg 1995).…”

Section: Particle Size Controls On Sediment-associated Metal(loid)ssupporting

confidence: 92%

Metal contamination of bed sediments in the Irwell and Upper Mersey catchments, northwest England: exploring the legacy of industry and urban growth

2017

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Purpose Manchester is often heralded as the first industrial city. Large volumes of physical and liquid contaminants were released into its river network throughout the industrial period up to the latter part of the twentieth century. Water quality has improved dramatically in recent decades, but, given their environmental significance, it is important to ascertain the extent to which a legacy of contamination persists in the modern bed sediments. Materials and methods Fine-grained bed sediments were sampled at 40 sites in the Mersey and Irwell catchments. Sediments were wet sieved to isolate the <63-μm grain size fraction. Metal concentrations were determined using XRF. Particle size characteristics were also measured. Sediments were subjected to a five-step sequential extraction procedure to ascertain the environmental significance of metal concentrations. Alongside archival research of past industry, enrichment factors, multivariate statistical techniques and conditional inferences trees were used to identify sources of heavy metals. Results and discussion Bed sediment-associated heavy metal(-loid) concentrations were as follows: As (9.89-110 mg kg −1 ), Cr (76.5-413 mg kg −1 ), Cu (53.1-383 mg kg −1 ), Pb (80.4-442 mg kg −1 ) and Zn (282-1020 mg kg −1 ). Enrichment factors ranged from moderate to extremely severe, with Pb showing the greatest enrichment across the catchments. Chemical mobility was generally low, but metal(loid) partitioning identified the influence of anthropogenic sources. Statistical analysis highlighted a number of point sources associated with former industrial sites that operated during the industrial period. Conditional inference trees highlighted the role of the textile industry on Cu concentrations in addition to indicating the complexity of sources, fluxes and stores of sediment-associated contamination throughout the system. Conclusions Fine-grained sediment-associated metal(loid)s in the Mersey and Irwell catchments are anthropogenically enriched. Concentrations also exceed sediment quality guidelines. A lack of distinct spatial patterning points to a complex network of contaminant inputs across the catchments, even in the headwaters. Whilst potential modern urban sources are likely to be important, spatial patterns and multivariate/data mining techniques also highlighted the importance of releases from former industrial sites as well as the reworking of historically contaminated floodplains and soils.

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Section: Particle Size Controls On Sediment-associated Metal(loid)ssupporting

confidence: 92%

Metal contamination of bed sediments in the Irwell and Upper Mersey catchments, northwest England: exploring the legacy of industry and urban growth

2017

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“…The normalization method, however, generates poor estimates of the concentrations in the fine fraction when there is limited fine-grained material present (<25%-50%) [7]. In addition, Moore et al [51] showed that within many mine contaminated rivers, trace metals are more uniformly distributed within the sediments. Thus, analyzing the fine-material may lead to erroneous results.…”

Section: Identifying Contaminant Sources Using Spatial Patterns In Gementioning

confidence: 99%

Forensic Assessment of Metal Contaminated Rivers in the 21st Century Using Geochemical and Isotopic Tracers

Miller

2013

Minerals

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Documentation of contaminant source and dispersal pathways in riverine environments is essential to mitigate the potentially harmful effects of contaminants on human and ecosystem health, and is required from a legal perspective (particularly where the polluter pays principle is in effect) in assessing site liability. Where multiple natural and/or anthropogenic sources exist, identification of contaminant provenance has proven problematic, and estimated contributions from a specific source are often the subject of judicial debate. The past, current, and future use of geochemical and isotopic tracers in environmental forensic investigations of contaminant provenance, transport, and fate are analyzed herein for sediment-associated trace metals in riverine environments, particularly trace metals derived from mining and refining operations. The utilized methods have evolved significantly over the past four decades. Of primary significance has been the growing integration of geomorphic and stratigraphic techniques with the use of an increasing number of geochemical tracers including stable isotopes. The isotopes of Pb have been particularly well studied, and have been applied to a wide range of environmental media. Advances in analytical chemistry since the early 1990s have allowed for the precise characterization of other non-traditional stable isotopic systems within geological materials. The potential for using these non-traditional isotopes as tracers in river systems has yet to be adequately explored, but a number of these isotopes (e.g., Cd, Cu, Cr, Hg, Sb, and Zn) show considerable promise. Moreover, some of these isotopes (e.g., those of Cu, Cr, and Hg) may provide important insights into biogeochemical cycling processes within aquatic environments. This review suggests that future environmental forensic investigations will be characterized by an interdisciplinary approach that combines the use of multiple geochemical tracers with detailed stratigraphic, geomorphic, and hydrologic data, thereby yielding results that are likely to withstand the scrutiny of judicial review.

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“…Slice samples were dried at 80-110 °C and then ground with a pestle and mortar and sieved (<63 µm). The <63 µm fraction was used for analyses due to the strong association of metals with fine-grained sediments (Horowitz and Elrick, 1987;Moore et al, 1989;Goh and Chou, 1997;Tam and Wong, 2000;Che et al, 2003). Many previous studies completed on the SE of metals from sediments used this size fraction (Usero et al, 1998;Martin et al, 1998;Morillo et al, 2004;Guevara et al, 2004;Yuan et al, 2004).…”

Section: Sample Preparation and Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Study of chemical forms of heavy metals collected from the sediments of tin mining catchment

Ashraf

Maah²,

Yusoff³

2012

Chemical Speciation & Bioavailability

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The chemical speciation of heavy metals (arsenic, chromium, copper, lead, zinc and tin) in the sediments of the former tin mining catchment Bestari Jaya, Peninsular Malaysia was determined using the latest version of the Community Bureau of Reference, the BCR 3-step, sequential extraction procedure. A fourth step was introduced for the digestion and analysis of the residue. The analysis of total metal content was carried out using microwave-assisted acid digestion. The percentage of each metal obtained from the four steps extraction (acid-soluble + reducible + oxidisable + residual) is in good agreement with the percentage of total metal content obtained from microwave digestion, which implies that the accuracy of the procedure. The degree of pollution in catchment sediments was assessed using geoaccumulation index I geo and pollution intensity I POLL . The results indicates that: (1) the sediments have been polluted with arsenic (8.8%), chromium (12.9%), copper (17.4%), lead (19.5%), zinc (14.9%) and tin (33.8%) and have high anthropogenic influences; (2) the calculation of geo-accumulation index suggests that catchment sediments have background concentrations of all the studied metals (Igeo < 0); (3) high I POLL showed that all of these heavy metals pose a high environmental risk; and (4) the mobility order of metals in sediments at S1 and S2 was Sn>Pb>Zn>Cr >Cu >As, whereas at S3, S4 and S5 it was Cu>Pb>Zn>Cr>Sn>As. In conclusion, acidic pH, total organic carbon, scavenging ability and co-precipitation (inclusion, occlusion and adsorption) of studied metals with nonmetals could account for changes in the geochemistry of the catchment sediments.

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Grain size partitioning of metals in contaminated, coarse-grained river floodplain sediment: Clark Fork River, Montana, U.S.A.

Cited by 117 publications

References 15 publications

Metal contamination of bed sediments in the Irwell and Upper Mersey catchments, northwest England: exploring the legacy of industry and urban growth

Metal contamination of bed sediments in the Irwell and Upper Mersey catchments, northwest England: exploring the legacy of industry and urban growth

Forensic Assessment of Metal Contaminated Rivers in the 21st Century Using Geochemical and Isotopic Tracers

Study of chemical forms of heavy metals collected from the sediments of tin mining catchment

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