CHARACTERIZATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF METALS IN SURFICIAL SEDIMENTS INSOUTHWESTERN TAIWAN

This study analyses copper, zinc, lead, iron, nickel, chromium and cad mium concentrations in surficial sediments sampled from major river es tuaries, harbours and ocean outfall fields in southwestern Taiwan, Gra in size effect, normalization technique of iron concentration and guid elines of hazardous assessment suggested by Ontario Ministry of Enviro nment, Canada are also discussed and/or compared. According to this co mparison, the Kaohsiung coast appears to be the most polluted area wit h respect to enrichment of copper and zinc among all the stations stud ied. Metal contamination has reached a remote and undeveloped area, th e Feng-Kung Chi estuary, The results demonstrate that normalization te chniques of grain size and iron concentration can characterize pollute d marine sediments. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved .