title: Metal contamination of sediment by paint peeling from abandoned boats, with particular reference to lead.
abstract: Fragments of flaking paint have been sampled from eighteen boats (including sailing barges, houseboats, a trawler and a ferry) abandoned on the intertidal mudflats of two estuaries in eastern England and analysed for Cu, Pb and Zn by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry. Median concentrations of Pb on each boat ranged from about 350 to 35,000 μg g(-1), with individual concentrations exceeding 200,000 μg g(-1) in several cases. Median concentrations of Cu and Zn ranged from about 50 to 1900 μg g(-1) and 50 to 10,000 μg g(-1), respectively, with respective maxima of 172,000 μg g(-1) and 239,000 μg g(-1). Because of peeling paint, local sediment (analysed by ICP following acid digestion) was often measurably contaminated by the metals and, based on median, Al-normalised enrichment factors, in the order Pb>Zn>Cu. Due to its abundance and persistence in old paints, Pb is of greatest concern from both environmental and human health perspectives.
authors: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK.
authors: Aldous B
authors: AB
authors: Rees
authors: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK. Electronic address: aturner@plymouth.ac.uk.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Turner
authors: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK.
authors: Sean
authors: S
authors: Comber
mesh_terms: D004739:England; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D010150:Paint / Q000032:analysis*; D012767:Ships; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D007854:Lead
keywords: Abandoned boats; Antifouling; Contamination; Metals; Paint; Sediment