Elemental Speciation and Distribution in Sediments of a Eutrophied Subtropical Freshwater Reservoir Using Postextraction Normalisation

Akhurst, Darren J.; Clark, Malcolm W.; Reichelt-Brushett, Amanda J.; Jones, Graham B.

Elemental Speciation and Distribution in Sediments of a Eutrophied Subtropical Freshwater Reservoir Using Postextraction Normalisation

2012

Akhurst, Darren J. | Clark, Malcolm W. | Reichelt-Brushett, Amanda J. | Jones, Graham B.

The speciation and distribution of trace and major elements (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, P, Pb and Zn) in the sediments of Emigrant Creek Dam (ECD), New South Wales Australia were investigated using sequential extraction, postextraction normalisation and spatial mapping to indicate source and dispersion patterns. Subsurface coring provided an estimate of elemental enrichment and showed that As 1.9 > P 1.7 > N 1.5 ≈ Cd 1.5 > Mn 1.3 were enriched. Moreover, a high proportion of the enriched elements (mean 57, 34, 47 and 87 % for As, P, Cd and Mn, respectively) were assessed as being bioavailable. Comparisons with ISQGs found that sediments from sites in proximity to Emigrant Creek inflows had the highest accumulations of metals and the greatest potential for causing biological harm. Spatially, contaminants accumulate in ECD sediments adjacent to anthropogenic sources including a cattle dip site, dredged sediment and macrophyte dump areas, and agricultural/residential runoff. Moreover, the integrated technique and postextraction normalisation allow assessment of texturally diverse and difficult sediments.

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