Detection of anthropogenic Cu, Pb and Zn in continental shelf sediments off Sydney, Australia - A new approach using normalization with cobalt

Concentrations of Co, Cu, Ph and Zn were determined in 107 surficial. sedim ent samples from the continental margin adjacent to Sydney, Australia. The spatial distributions of trace metals in the sediments and the mud content are similar and increase with greater distance from the coast. In contrast, normalization of the concentrations of Cu, Ph and Zn in the total sediment with Co enables a coastal anthropogenic source to be identified. The spati al distribution of Co-normalized concentrations of Cu, Ph and Zn in total s ediment is similar to the distribution of these trace metals in the fine fr action of sediment (<62.5 <mu>m), indicating that Co may be used as a norma lizing element for determining contaminant sources in the marine environmen t near Sydney. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.