Regional geochemical baselines for Portuguese shelf sediments

Metal concentrations (Al, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) from the DGM-INETI archive data set have been examined for sediments collected during the 1970s from 267 sites on the Portuguese shelf. Due to the differences in the oceanographic and sedimentological settings between western and Algarve coasts, the a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental pollution (1987) 2007-07, Vol.148 (2), p.418-427
Main Authors: Mil-Homens, M., Stevens, R.L., Cato, I., Abrantes, F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
aluminum
Aluminum - analysis
Applied sciences
Brackish
chromium
Chromium - analysis
Copper - analysis
data analysis
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics
Enrichment factors
environmental assessment
Environmental Monitoring - methods
Environmental Pollutants - analysis
Exact sciences and technology
Freshwater
geochemistry
Geologic Sediments - chemistry
Heavy metals
lead
Lead - analysis
Marine
Marine and continental quaternary
Marine sediments
metal concentration
Metals, Heavy - analysis
nickel
Nickel - analysis
Pollution
Pollution sources. Measurement results
Pollution, environment geology
Portugal
Portuguese continental shelf
Portuguese shelf
regional geochemical baseline
Regional geochemical baselines
sediment contamination
Soil and sediments pollution
spatial variation
Surficial geology
Time Factors
zinc
Zinc - analysis
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Summary:Metal concentrations (Al, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) from the DGM-INETI archive data set have been examined for sediments collected during the 1970s from 267 sites on the Portuguese shelf. Due to the differences in the oceanographic and sedimentological settings between western and Algarve coasts, the archive data set is split in two segments. For both shelf segments, regional geochemical baselines (RGB) are defined using aluminium as a reference element. Seabed samples recovered in 2002 from four distinct areas of the Portuguese shelf are superimposed on these models to identify and compare possible metal enrichments relative to the natural distribution. Metal enrichments associated with anthropogenic influences are identified in three samples collected nearby the Tejo River and are characterised by the highest enrichment factors (EF; EF Pb < 3, EF Zn < 4). EF values close to 1 suggest a largely natural origin for metal distributions in sediments from the other areas included in the study. Background metal concentrations and their natural variability must be established before assessing anthropogenic impacts.
ISSN:0269-7491
1873-6424
DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2006.12.007