DISSOLVED METALS IN ALVARADO LAGOON, MEXICO

Concentrations of major and trace elements (temperature, salinity, con ductivity, Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl-, Br-, F-, SO42-, pH, A(T), Cd, Cu, Pb, Fe, and Cr) were determined in the Alvarado Lagoon at fifteen sta tions in four seasons during November 1992 - September 1993. The salin ities, and concentrations of major cations and anions, were found to b e a function of seasons. The dissolved metal concentrations depend on the season. Cd concentrations were higher in a winter season and lower in a rainy season. The concentrations of Cu and Pb were higher in the dry season with low values in a rainy season. Cr and Fe concentration s were found higher in the rainy seasons and lowest in a dry season. T he concentrations of Cd, Cu, and Pb were found to be positively relate d to the salinity, and Fe and Cr did not change significantly with sal inity. The results of dissolved metal concentrations in Alvarado Lagoo n are compared with other lagoon waters in Mexico and are briefly disc ussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.