Sediment accumulation rate and radiological characterisation of the sediment of Palmones River estuary (southern of Spain)

Chemical analyses and radioecological methods were combined in order to estimate the sediment accumulation rate in the upper 20 cm depth of the Palmones River estuary. Organic matter, total carbon, C:N and 137Cs vertical profiles showed changes at 13 cm depth. These changes could be associated with...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of environmental radioactivity 2003, Vol.65 (3), p.267-280
Main Authors: Rubio, L., Linares-Rueda, A., Dueñas, C., Fernández, M.C., Clavero, V., Niell, F.X., Fernández, J.A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
137Cs, 210Pb, sediment
Applied sciences
Brackish
Cesium Radioisotopes - analysis
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics
Environmental Monitoring
Exact sciences and technology
Freshwater
Geologic Sediments - chemistry
Lead Radioisotopes - analysis
Organic matter
Palmones estuary
Pollution
Pollution sources. Measurement results
Pollution, environment geology
Potassium - analysis
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds - analysis
Radiological characterisation
Sedimentation rate
Sodium - analysis
Soil and sediments pollution
Spain
Water - chemistry
Water Pollutants, Radioactive - analysis
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Summary:Chemical analyses and radioecological methods were combined in order to estimate the sediment accumulation rate in the upper 20 cm depth of the Palmones River estuary. Organic matter, total carbon, C:N and 137Cs vertical profiles showed changes at 13 cm depth. These changes could be associated with the decrease in river input since 1987 when a dam situated in the upper part of the estuary started to store water. Using 1987 as reference to date the sediment, accumulation rate was 1.2 cm yr −1. As alternative method, two layer model of 210Pb xs vertical distribution showed a sedimentation rate of 0.7 cm yr −1 with a surface mixing layer of 7 cm thickness. The high ammonium, potassium and sodium content in pore water and the strong correlation between 137Cs activities and organic matter in dry sediment suggests that 137Cs (the only anthropogenic product detected) is mainly accumulated in the estuary associated with the particulate organic material from the catchment area.
ISSN:0265-931X
1879-1700
DOI:10.1016/S0265-931X(02)00102-9