Tf. Rozan et G. Benoit, Heavy metal removal efficiencies in a river-marsh system estimated from patterns of metal accumulation in sediments, MAR ENV RES, 48(4-5), 1999, pp. 335-351
Estuaries have long been thought to be effective traps for river-borne cont
aminants; however, accurately predicting removal efficiencies remains probl
ematic. In the Quinnipiac River, CT, marsh system, patterns of metal accumu
lation (Ag, Cd, Cu, Pb) in sediments were used to estimate heavy metal remo
val efficiencies. Linear and multivariate regression models were fit to sed
iment metal concentrations to estimate removal curves and surfaces, which a
voided the large temporal variability commonly encountered when using direc
t water column measurements. Second order regressions normalized to the sho
rtest distance to the river channel were found to have the best fit (r > 0.
67) with the lowest standard error (< 32%). The heavy metal removal efficie
ncies estimated by comparing total metal accumulation in marsh sediments wi
th riverine flux were Ag = 21%, Cd = 6%, Cu = 14%, and Pb = 17%, which are
comparable to the maximum removal efficiency of riverine suspended particul
ate matter (similar to 28%). (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. Al
l rights reserved.