title: Trace metals in harbour and slipway sediments from the island of Malta, central Mediterranean.
abstract: Sediment samples collected from large harbours and public slipways on the island of Malta have been analysed for geochemically important metals (Al, Ca, Fe, Mn) and contaminant metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sn, Zn) following fractionation (<63 μm) and digestion in aqua regia. Absolute and Al-normalised concentrations of contaminant metals exhibited relatively little dispersion both among different samples from the same location and between samples from different locations, notable exceptions including lower concentrations of Cr and Sn on the slipways than in the harbours. Sources of contaminant metals are attributed to diffuse and specific waste inputs from urban surroundings and boating and shipping activities. Overall, concentrations are similar to those reported for other large harbours in urban settings where equivalent sample fractionation-digestion has been performed. Relative to various sediment quality guidelines, Pb is predicted to exert the greatest threat to the marine environment of Malta.
authors.affiliation: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK.
authors.forename: Emily J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Huntingford
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turner
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D008319:Malta; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical