title: Recent history of sediment metal contamination in Lake Macquarie, Australia, and an assessment of ash handling procedure effectiveness in mitigating metal contamination from coal-fired power stations.
abstract: This study assessed historical changes in metal concentrations in sediments of southern Lake Macquarie resulting from the activities of coal-fired power stations, using a multi-proxy approach which combines (210)Pb, (137)Cs and metal concentrations in sediment cores. Metal concentrations in the lake were on average, Zn: 67 mg/kg, Cu: 15 mg/kg, As: 8 mg/kg, Se: 2mg/kg, Cd: 1.5 mg/kg, Pb: 8 mg/kg with a maximum of Zn: 280 mg/kg, Cu: 80 mg/kg, As: 21 mg/kg, Se: 5 mg/kg, Cd: 4 mg/kg, Pb: 48 mg/kg. The ratios of measured concentrations in sediment cores to their sediment guidelines were Cd 1.8, As 1.0, Cu 0.5, Pb 0.2 and Zn 0.2, with the highest concern being for cadmium. Of special interest was assessment of the effects of changes in ash handling procedures by the Vales Point power station on the metal concentrations in the sediments. Comparing sediment layers before and after ash handling procedures were implemented, zinc concentrations have decreased 10%, arsenic 37%, selenium 20%, cadmium 38% and lead 14%. An analysis of contaminant depth profiles showed that, after implementation of new ash handling procedures in 1995, selenium and cadmium, the main contaminants in Australian black coal had decreased significantly in this estuary.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. Electronic address: Larissa.Schneider@canberra.edu.au.
authors.forename: Larissa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.affiliation: New South Wales Office of Environmental and Heritage, Lidcombe, NSW, 2141 Australia.
authors.forename: Jaimie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Potts
authors.affiliation: Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Land and Water, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia.
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Batley
authors.affiliation: Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Land and Water, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chariton
authors.affiliation: Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Krikowa
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Research, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia.
authors.forename: Atun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zawadzki
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Research, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia.
authors.forename: Henk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heijnis
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003031:Coal; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D060106:Lakes / Q000737:chemistry; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D011210:Power Plants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D003031:Coal; D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: (137)Cs; (210)Pb; Ash dam; Coal; Power station; Sediment