title: Metal contamination of estuarine intertidal sediments of Moreton Bay, Australia.
abstract: Trace element concentrations in surface intertidal sediments were analyzed to assess the level of contamination along the western side of Moreton Bay (Australia). The environmental risks posed by metals were evaluated using sediment quality guidelines, the Risk Assessment Code (RAC) and enrichment relative to background levels. Chromium, Ni, and Cu are the main contributors to sediment pollution. Sediments are also enriched in Zn, Cd and Pb by 1.5-3 times the regional background. Zinc, Cd and Co may pose high to very high risk to the aquatic biota due to their potential bioavailability, while Ni, As, Cu, Pb and Cr may pose medium risk at some of the investigated sites. Results emphasize the importance of using different methods for the assessment of sediment pollution at an estuarine site.
authors.affiliation: School of Earth Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia. Electronic address: g.morelli@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Guia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.affiliation: School of Earth Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia; The Australian National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, Australia.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gasparon
mesh_terms: D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000187:drug effects; D061006:Bays / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D063366:Estuaries; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D011793:Queensland; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Estuaries; Exchangeable metals fraction; Heavy metals contamination; Moreton Bay; Surficial sediments