Heavy metal contamination in sediments from the Belgian coast and Scheldt estuary
In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. Macmillan: London. ISSN 0025-326X; e-ISSN 1879-3363, more |  |
| Keywords | Chemical elements > Metals > Heavy metals
Monitoring > Environmental monitoring > Pollution monitoring
Pollution > Sediment pollution
Pollution > Water pollution > Marine pollution
Sediments
ANE, Belgium [Marine Regions]; Belgium, Zeeschelde [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top | - Araújo, M.F.D.
- Bernard, P.C.
- Van Grieken, R.E., more
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| Abstract | Sixty-two samples of total sediments and the separated clay/silt fractions were analysed by the energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry to evaluate the pollution level and the trends in samples collected along the Belgian coast over a period of 6 yr and at four stations located in the Scheldt estuary where two of these were sampled periodically for 4 yr. Three correction methods for grain size effects were applied, either to the bulk sediment samples or to the clay/silt size fractions, and the results were compared. Local variations on the concentrations in some of the elements determined were used to establish whether they result from an anthropogenic or natural origin. The level of pollution was assessed as a function of the location, sampling date, and depth. |
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