Metal concentrations in soils and sediments in Southwest Louisiana

Soils and sediments represent concentrated reservoirs for metals that serve as sinks for introduced trace metals or can become environmental sources. The coastal zone of Louisiana provides a "living laboratory" to investigate the mechanisms of transport, deposition, and dissolution of trace metals i nto this fragile environment. Common trace metals determined and their rang e of concentrations in soil and sediments are chromium (10-30 (parts per mi llion) (ppm)), copper (10-25 ppm), iron (0.6-2.1 %), manganese (200-600 ppm ), nickel (6-20 ppm), lead (8-20 ppm), and zinc (30-55 ppm).