Metal concentrations in sediments of the Tamsui River, flows through central metropolitan Taipei.
This work analyzed metal concentrations and potential sources of sediment pollutants in the Tamsui River, Taiwan, by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The Tamsui River, the second longest of Taiwan's three major rivers, flows through metropolitan Taipei City in northern Taiwan and is renowned for its preserved mangrove wetlands. In total 11 elements Al, As, Br, Cs, Fe, La, Mg. Mn, Na, Sc, and Ti were identified in 24 samples taken from three sites upriver, the mangrove area and estuary during the spring of 2004. Specifically, the most abundant Al metal concentration was 15.6-0.92 mg/g adopted as standard reference in this study. Only few sites had As at the statistical meaning (>DL). Furthermore, arsenic concentrations fluctuated at roughly 0.67 +/- 0.09 mg/kg based on variations in background counts in various gamma-ray spectra. Elemental concentrations of these elements were compared with those in other nations, and discussed in the context of enrichment factors calculated for elements using the earth crust of various sediments as references, based on elemental values of Al.
Lai
Dong-Shang
DS
Institute of Medicine, School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
Lin
Jye-Bin
JB
Liu
Wen-Shan
WS
Pan
Lung-Kwang
LK
Chu
Kuang-Hua
KH
Chen
Chien-Yi
CY
Lin
Ding-Bang
DB
D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013624:Taiwan; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical