Heavy metal speciation in waters, sediments and biota from Lake Macquarie, New South Wales

1987 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 591 ◽  
Author(s):  
GE Batley
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Surface Sediments ◽  
Metal Speciation ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Contaminated Sediments ◽  
Zinc Smelter ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Lead Zinc

The distribution and bioavailability of heavy metals in waters and sediments from Lake Macquarie (N.S.W.) have been examined. Elevated concentrations of zinc, lead, cadmium and copper detected in surface sediments and waters from the northern end of the lake are attributable to discharges from a lead-zinc smelter on Cockle Creek. The majority of the metals are in bioavailable forms and are shown to be accumulated in seagrasses, seaweeds and bivalves. Calculations indicate that, at the current rates of discharge, the concentrations of bioavailable metals in newly-deposited sediments should not be deleterious. Elutriate tests showed that there will be no significant mobilization of metals during dredging operations to remove the contaminated sediments.

Heavy Metals in Sediments from the Central New South Wales Coastal Region

1978 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 777 ◽  
Author(s):  
A de Forest ◽  
SP Murphy ◽  
RW Pettis
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Environmental Assessment ◽  
Analytical Methods ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Coastal Region ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Coastal Marine ◽  
Sea Bed ◽  
Shelf Region

Coastal marine sediments were collected from 20 oceanographic stations along the central New South Wales coastal region in September 1975. Chemical and physical properties of the sediments were determined to establish analytical methods suitable for use in environmental assessment studies. Statistical analyses of the data indicated that this region is typical of an unpolluted continental shelf region, in which the sea bed is mainly composed of sand with some silt.

Natural enrichment of topsoils with chromium and other heavy metals, Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia

Soil Research ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 1165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernd G. Lottermoser
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Metal Concentrations ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Heavy Metal Concentrations ◽  
Environmental Investigation ◽  
South Wales

Total heavy metal concentrations [cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper(Cu), iron (Fe), mangnese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn)]were determined in surface soil samples from Port Macquarie, New South Wales,Australia. Composite topsoil samples (0–10 cm depth) had mean values(per kg) of 13 mg Co, 1020 mg Cr, 59 mg Cu, 136·7 g Fe, 719 mg Mn, 149mg Ni, 20 mg Pb, and 47 mg Zn. The topsoils were generally characterised by alow pH (3·8–5·2) and a mineralogy dominated by haematite,magnetite, quartz, and kaolinite. Chromium was predominantly present in thetopsoils as Cr3+ in microcrystalline chromite(FeCr2O4) and, to a lesser degree,in kaolinite and haematite. Differences in Cr soil concentrations with depthwere due to variations in the relative abundance of the various soilcomponents, rather than Cr3+ mobility within the soilprofile. The elevated heavy metal concentrations are the result of soildevelopment over metal-rich bedrock (serpentinite matrix melange) andassociated enrichment of relatively immobile elements (Cr, Fe, Ni) in theresidual soil profile. The ANZECC and NH&MRC (Australian and New ZealandEnvironment and Conservation Council and National Health & MedicalResearch Council) environmental investigation limits were exceeded for100% of the sample sites for Cr, 47% for Cu, 61% for Mn,and 58% for Ni.

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