Copper, lead and zinc distribution in soils and sediments of the south-western coast of the Rio de la Plata estuary

Background, Aim and Scope: The compositional study of suspended matter in water from rivers of different latitudes and climates has revealed that the fine fraction reflects both substrate lithology from source areas or topsoil composition along the course. Metal distribution patterns are also strong...

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Autores principales: Camilión, María Cecilia, Manassero, Marcelo Jorge, Hurtado, Martín Adolfo, Ronco, Alicia Estela
Formato: Articulo
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2003
Materias:
Acceso en línea:http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/141514
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id I19-R120-10915-141514
record_format dspace
institution Universidad Nacional de La Plata
institution_str I-19
repository_str R-120
collection SEDICI (UNLP)
language Inglés
topic Ciencias Naturales
Geología
Argiudolls
drainage basins
epiaquerts
heavy metals
Río de la Plata
coast run-off
soils
stream-bottom sediments
topography
spellingShingle Ciencias Naturales
Geología
Argiudolls
drainage basins
epiaquerts
heavy metals
Río de la Plata
coast run-off
soils
stream-bottom sediments
topography
Camilión, María Cecilia
Manassero, Marcelo Jorge
Hurtado, Martín Adolfo
Ronco, Alicia Estela
Copper, lead and zinc distribution in soils and sediments of the south-western coast of the Rio de la Plata estuary
topic_facet Ciencias Naturales
Geología
Argiudolls
drainage basins
epiaquerts
heavy metals
Río de la Plata
coast run-off
soils
stream-bottom sediments
topography
description Background, Aim and Scope: The compositional study of suspended matter in water from rivers of different latitudes and climates has revealed that the fine fraction reflects both substrate lithology from source areas or topsoil composition along the course. Metal distribution patterns are also strongly related to the clay mineral fate in fluvial aquatic systems. For the particular case of the coastal area of the Río de la Plata estuary in South America, previous studies have, on the one hand, focused on the analysis of distribution patterns of heavy metals in bottom river sediments and, on the other hand, on the assessment of metal contents in topsoils. The present study was conducted to evaluate the Cu, Pb and Zn distribution in soils and sediments from four drainage basins crossing two differentiated geomorphologic units composed of unconsolidated materials and to understand the metal behaviour. Methods: Data used included the existent, self-produced soil and sediment data sets (grain size, organic matter and Cu, Pb and Zn contents from 124 samples). Analyses were performed by using standardised methods: grain size analysis by sieving and settling; organic matter content based on the reduction of dichromate ion followed by titration; metal content by atomic absorption spectrophotometry following acid digestion. Results and Discussion. The average (% w/w) clay and organic matter content were 45.9 ± 17.1 and 1.5 ± 1.7 for sediments and 32.0 ± 19.8, and 7.5 ± 7.6 for soils, respectively. The raw mean metal concentrations (mg-kg-1 dry weight) for sediments and soils were: Cu: 28.02 ± 27.28, 32.08 ± 21.64; Pb: 32.08 ± 46.94, 68.44 ± 69.25 and Zn: 83.09 ± 150.33, 118.22 ± 74.20, respectively. A good correlation for each clay-normalised metal concentration was found between soil and sediments using regression analysis considering average data for each basin sampling site (r > 0.89, p < 0.05). A comparison between metal concentration levels taking into account geomorphologic units by a t independent sample test showed significant differences for the normalised soil-sediment metal data (p < 0.001), responding to differences in grain size, clay mineralogy, organic matter and neoformed Fe-Mn oxide composition. Conclusion, Recommendation and Outlook: A clear parenthood between the topsoils and the bottom sediments in the study area was found. The Argiudolls from the inner zone are frequently affected by rainwater erosion, which washes the fine materials with sorbed metals and carries them to the streams. These watercourses reach the flat coastal plain, where soil flooding and bottom sediment depositional processes predominate. Here, both soils and bottom sediments are enriched in clay, organic matter and metals. The topography and lithology, under the environmental conditions of a temperate and humid climate control the fate of metals within these small basins. The influence of the physical media on the distribution and fate of pollutants should not be minimised in the understanding of the governing processes from natural systems.
format Articulo
Articulo
author Camilión, María Cecilia
Manassero, Marcelo Jorge
Hurtado, Martín Adolfo
Ronco, Alicia Estela
author_facet Camilión, María Cecilia
Manassero, Marcelo Jorge
Hurtado, Martín Adolfo
Ronco, Alicia Estela
author_sort Camilión, María Cecilia
title Copper, lead and zinc distribution in soils and sediments of the south-western coast of the Rio de la Plata estuary
title_short Copper, lead and zinc distribution in soils and sediments of the south-western coast of the Rio de la Plata estuary
title_full Copper, lead and zinc distribution in soils and sediments of the south-western coast of the Rio de la Plata estuary
title_fullStr Copper, lead and zinc distribution in soils and sediments of the south-western coast of the Rio de la Plata estuary
title_full_unstemmed Copper, lead and zinc distribution in soils and sediments of the south-western coast of the Rio de la Plata estuary
title_sort copper, lead and zinc distribution in soils and sediments of the south-western coast of the rio de la plata estuary
publishDate 2003
url http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/141514
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