title: Assessment of heavy metal cations in sediments of Shing Mun River, Hong Kong.
abstract: The extent of heavy metal cation contamination in the Shing Mun River has been assessed. Sediment samples were taken at eight strategic locations along the river system. The highest concentrations of copper (Cu, 1.66 mg/g), lead (Pb, 0.354 mg/g), zinc (Zn, 2.2 mg/g) and chromium (Cr, 0.047 mg/g) were found in the Fo Tan Nullah, a major tributary of the Shing Mun River. The highest concentrations of aluminum (114 mg/g) and cadmium (Cd, 0.047 mg/g) were found in the Shing Mun Main River Channel. These contaminated sediments, accumulated over the years on the river bed, could act as secondary sources of pollution to the overlying water column in the river.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Sin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D002412:Cations; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D006723:Hong Kong; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014873:Water Pollutants