title: Trace metals in settling particles from the sewage impacted Buenos Aires coastal area in the Río de la Plata estuary, Argentina.
abstract: Sediment traps deployed in Buenos Aires sewage outfall area collected a substantial amount of material (average mass flux 22 ± 12 g cm (2) year(-1)) with very high metal concentrations, mostly in the range of hazardous exposition for organisms (Zn: 138-671, Cu: 41-273, Cr: 44-255 and Pb: 26-260 μg g(-1)). The combination of high mass fluxes and concentrations results in huge metal fluxes (0.005-0.7 to 3.6-31 g m(-2) day(-1) for minor elements and Fe, respectively). Metal concentrations were correlated to the total mass flux and total organic carbon but with different trends for redox-sensitive Fe and Mn (negative) and anthropogenic elements (positive). This reflects the key role of organic discharges promoting anoxia with Fe and Mn evasion, and also contributing toxic metals.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Química Ambiental y Biogeoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Av. Calchaqui km 23500, 1888, Florencio Varela, Buenos Aires, Argentina. leatatone@yahoo.com.ar
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Tatone
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bilos
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Skorupka
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Colombo
mesh_terms: D001118:Argentina; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D063366:Estuaries; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D014507:Urbanization; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012722:Sewage; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical