Abstract
Samples of urban dusts and sediments have been collected and categorised into three compartments; those which act mainly as sources, those undergoing transport and those which have been deposited. The sediments were fractionated into <63 μm to match similar sized lacustrine sediments and <2 mm to represent natural and anthropogenic fluvially transported sediments. Preliminary results of total heavy metals analysis show that the <2 mm fraction of the source group exhibits the greatest variability in metal concentrations. Overall, however, the <63 μm fraction dominates regardless of compartment. Some heavy metal concentrations decrease through the source-transport-deposit process, possibly due to selective onward transport of finer material or other anthropogenic processes unique to the urban environment (e.g. street cleansing). Site-specificity is indicated in a comparison with other similar studies.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 97-115 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Journal | Environmental Geochemistry and Health |
| Volume | 21 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 1999 |
Keywords
- Heavy metals
- Particle size control
- Polluted dusts and sediments
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Chemistry
- Water Science and Technology
- Environmental Science(all)
- Geochemistry and Petrology