Fractionation of selected metals in the sediments of Cochin estuary and Periyar River, southwest coast of India

Cochin estuary is one of the highly polluted aquatic systems of the southwest coast of India. The present study focuses on the assessment of heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu) present in the sediments of Cochin estuary and the adjoining Periyar River. The sediments were analyzed for total metal content and various chemically bound fractions such as exchangeable, carbonate bound, easily reducible, organic, and residual. Total metal content of sediment was found higher than the average values reported from other Indian rivers. The mean concentration of Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu in the sediments was 1,249.44, 9.5, 221.37, and 166.14???g/g, respectively. The results of sequential extraction showed that the concentration of Cd was high in the first two weakly bound fractions (exchangeable and carbonate bound) than the other metals, which are high in residual and organic bound fractions. Risk-assessment code analysis and environmental indices (enrichment factor and pollution load index) suggest that the sediments are highly polluted with metals, especially Cd.     

Concentration and chemical speciation for the determination of Cu,Zn, Ni,Pb and Cd from refuse dump soils using the optimized BCR sequential extraction procedure

The optimized BCR sequential extraction procedure (proposed by the Standards, Measurements and Testing Programme (SM&T) of the European Union) was applied to seven topsoil samples from refuse dump sites for the determination of Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb and Cd. The metals were partitioned into four operationally defined chemical fractions: acid extractable, reducible, oxidizable and residual, and analysed using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry, FAAS. The results were compared with total metal concentrations obtained using HNO₃, HClO₄ and HF digestion procedures. Results for total metal analysis ranged from - 15.55 to 43.45 for Cu, 37.15 to 222.35 for Zn, 5.15 to 12.10 for Ni, 10.30 to 93.05 for Pb and 0.35 to 3.75 for Cd in μgg⁻¹ dry weight. The results of the partitioning study showed that zinc prevailed in the more soluble fractions and was distributed between the acid-extractable (32.4%) and the reducible (40.3%) fractions, whereas Pb was distributed mainly in the reducible fraction. Copper and nickel were predominantly associated with the reducible and residual fractions - 53.4, 33.3 and 51.1, 24.1% respectively. The ranking of the four fractions for the partitioning of cadmium was: reducible > residual > oxidizable > acid extractable. The percentage recovery for all metals when comparing total metal concentration with the fractional sum of the optimized BCR procedure, were of the order: Zn(93%) > Pb(83%) > Cu(78) > Cd > (68%) > Ni(63%).     

西湖和东苕溪沉积物重金属化学形态分析

不同赋存形态重金属的环境行为和生态效应不同,水体沉积物中重金属的迁移转化及其潜在环境危害更大程度上取决于其赋存形态。本研究在西湖和东苕溪设置12个采样点采集沉积物样品,采用改进BCR分步提取法,提取了重金属污染物的4种化学形态,分别为弱酸提取态、可还原态、可氧化态及残渣态。结果表明:沉积物中Cd以弱酸提取态为主,对外界环境的变化极其敏感,并易于发生迁移转化,生态风险较高。Cu离子对有机质表现出极强的亲和力导致Cu的可氧化态含量较高也有一定的生态风险。Pb会被Fe-Mn氧化物所吸附导致Pb的可还原态含量较高,存在较高的潜在生态危害。Mn的弱酸提取态、可还原态和残渣态含量都较高,在迁移的过程中变化地较快,能够逐渐降低Mn对自然环境的危害。其他各重金属(As、Cr、Zn)则都以残渣态为主,潜在危害较低。     

Total Contents and Sequential Extraction of Heavy Metals in Soils Irrigated with Wastewater,Akaki, Ethiopia

The Akaki River, laden with untreated wastes from domestic, industrial, and commercial sources, serves as a source of water for irrigating vegetable farms. The purpose of this study is to identify the impact of waste-water irrigation on the level of heavy metals and to predict their potential mobility and bioavailability. Zn and V had the highest, whereas Hg the lowest, concentrations observed in the soils. The average contents of As, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, V, and Hg of both soils; and Pb and Se from Fluvisol surpassed the mean + 2 SD of the corresponding levels reported for their uncontaminated counterparts. Apparently, irrigation with waste water for the last few decades has contributed to the observed higher concentrations of the above elements in the study soils (Vertisol and Fluvisol) when compared to uncontaminated Vertisol and Fluvisol. On the other hand, Vertisol accommodated comparatively higher average levels of Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, etc V, and Cd, whereas high contents of Pb and Se were observed in Fluvisol. Alternatively, comparable levels of Co and Hg were found in either soil. Except for Ni, Cr, and Cd in contaminated Vertisol, heavy metals in the soils were not significantly affected by the depth (0–20 and 30–50 cm). When the same element from the two soils was compared, the levels of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Se, Zn, V, Cd at 0–20 cm; and Cr, Ni, Cu, Cd, and Zn at 30–50 cm were significantly different. Organic carbon (in both soils), CEC (Fluvisol), and clay (Vertisol) exhibited significant positive correspondences with the total heavy metal levels. Conversely, Se and Hg contents revealed perceptible associations with carbonate and pH. The exchangeable fraction was dominated by Hg and Cd, whereas the carbonate fraction was abounded with Cd, Pb, and Co. conversely, V and Pb displayed strong affinity to reducible fraction, where as Cr, Cu, Zn, and Ni dominated the oxidizable fraction. Cr, Hg, Se, and Zn (in both soils) showed preference to the residual fraction. Generally, a considerable proportion of the total levels of many of the heavy metals resided in non residual fractions. The enhanced lability is generally expected to follow the order: Cd > Co > Pb > Cu > Ni > Se > V and Pb > Cd > Co > Cu > Ni > Zn in Vertisol and Fluvisol, respectively. For the similar wastewater application, the soil variables influence the status and the distribution of the associated heavy metals among the different soil fractions in the study soils. Among heavy metals that presented relatively elevated levels and with potential mobility, Co, Cu, Ni (either soil), V (Vertisol), Pb, and Zn (Fluvisol) could pose health threat through their introduction into the food chain in the wastewater irrigated soils.     

Heavy metal distribution and chemical speciation in tailings and soils around a Pb-Zn mine in Spain

Soil pollution by lead, zinc, cadmium and copper was characterized in the mine tailings and surrounding soils (arable and pasture lands) of an old Spanish Pb-Zn mine. Sixty soil samples were analyzed, determining the total metal concentration by acid digestion and the chemical fractionation of Pb and Zn by the modified BCR sequential extraction method. Samples belonging to mine waste areas showed the highest values, with mean concentrations of 28,453.50 mg kg(-1) for Pb, 7000.44 mg kg(-1) for Zn, 20.57 mg kg(-1) for Cd and 308.48 mg kg(-1) for Cu. High concentrations of Pb, Zn and Cd were found in many of the samples taken from surrounding arable and pasture lands, indicating a certain extent of spreading of heavy metal pollution. Acidic drainage and wind transport of dust were proposed as the main effects causing the dispersion of pollution. Sequential extraction showed that most of the Pb was associated with non-residual fractions, mainly in reducible form, in all the collected samples. Zn appeared mainly associated with the acid-extractable form in mine tailing samples, while the residual form was the predominant one in samples belonging to surrounding areas. Comparison of our results with several criteria reported in the literature for risk assessment in soils polluted by heavy metals showed the need to treat the mine tailings dumped in the mine area.     

Germination,Growth, and Nodulation of Sesbania rostrata Grown in Pb/Zn Mine Tailings

Sesbania rostrata in pure and amended Pb/Zn tailings. About 90% of seeds of S. rostrata germinated in pure Pb/Zn tailings, which contained high concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cd. Although seedling growth suffered from the adverse environment of Pb/Zn tailings, they became established on tailings stands, in the greenhouse, as well as on the actual tailings dam, and completed their life cycle in 4 months. Dry matter production and nitrogen accumulation was 3200 kg/ha and 69.4 kg/ha, respectively in the actual tailings dam. Applying inorganic fertilizer to Pb/Zn tailings led to no obvious improvement in growth and nodulation of S. rostrata, while tailings amended by river sediment or domestic refuse rich in organic matter improved the growth and nodulation of the species. Azorhizobium caulinodans survived and formed N-fixing stem and root nodules in S. rostrata grown in pure Pb/Zn tailings with a nodule biomass exceeding 300 mg fresh matter per plant.     

Characteristic levels of heavy metals in sediments and dredged sediments of a municipal creek in the Niger delta, Nigeria

Characteristic levels of metal ions in post dredged sediment and dredged sediments materials of a municipal creek in the Niger Delta show that significant concentrations of heavy metals are found to be accumulated more on the surface (0–15cm depth) of the dredged material as compared to the sub surface (15–30cm) and post dredged sediments. The distribution patterns were in the following order Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cd and Fe > Mn > Zn > Pb > Cu > Ni > Cd for the post dredged sediment and dredged sediment materials respectively. The levels of the various metals were far below the EPA screening levels for open water disposal, consequently total levels of heavy metal found in these sediments pose no problem by open-water or upland disposal     

Heavy metal content and distribution in surface sediments of the Seyhan River, Turkey

Chemical fractionation of seven heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) was studied using a modified three-step sequential procedure to assess their impacts in the sediments of the Seyhan River, Turkey. Samples were collected from six representative stations in two campaigns in October 2009 and June 2010, which correspond to the wet and dry seasons, respectively. The total metal concentrations in the sediments demonstrated different distribution patterns at the various stations. Cadmium was the only metal that was below detection at all stations during both sampling periods. Metal fractionation showed that, except for Mn and Pb, the majority of metals were found in the residual fraction regardless of sampling time, indicating that these metals were strongly bound to the sediments. The potential mobility of the metals (non-residual fractions) is reflected in the following ranking: Pb > Mn > Zn > Cu > Ni > Cr in October 2009 and Mn > Pb > Zn > Cu > Ni > Cr in June 2010. The second highest proportion of metals was bound to organic matter/sulfides, originating primarily from anthropogenic activities. Non-residual metal fractions for all stations were highest in June 2010, which may be linked to higher organic matter concentrations in the sediment samples with 1.40% and 15.1% in October 2009 and June 2010, respectively. Potential sediment toxicity was evaluated using the Risk Assessment Code (RAC). Based on RAC classification, Cd and Cr pose no risk, Cu and Ni pose low risk, Pb and Zn were classified as medium risk metals, while the environmental risk from Mn was high. In addition, based on the sediment quality guidelines (SQG), the Seyhan River can be classified as a river with no, to moderate, toxicological risks, based on total metal concentrations.     

Distribution of heavy metals in sediments of Igbede, Ojo and Ojora rivers of Lagos, Nigeria

The distribution of some heavy metals, namely Cd, Pb, Zn, Fe, Cu, Cr and Mn in epipellic sediments of Igbede, Ojo and Ojora rivers of Lagos was studied weekly in the early summer (November) of 2003. The levels of selected trace metals were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (UNICAM 969 AAS SOLAR). Trends in heavy metal burdens in the sediments revealed weekly variations in all the rivers assessed. Statistical analyses also showed different mean levels of trace metals in the aquatic environments, the distribution of which followed the sequence Fe > Zn > Mn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Cd, Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn > Pb > Cr > Cd and Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Cd in Igbede, Ojo and Ojora rivers respectively. Fe recorded the highest concentration levels (1,582.95 ± 96.57 μ g/g–1,910.34 ± 723.19 μ g/g) in all the sediments investigated while the Cd levels (0.06 ± 0.10 μ g/g–0.47 ± 0.36 μ g/g) were the lowest. Expectedly, trace metal concentrations in fine grain muddy sediments of the Igbede and Ojo coastline were much higher than those of Ojora which consist of coarse and sandy deposits covering the near shore area. Generally, the results obtained fell within tolerable limits stipulated by World Health Organization (WHO).     

Trace metals in river bed sediments: An assessment of their partitioning and bioavailability by using multivariate exploratory analysis

In this study, river bed sediments were submitted to a BCR sequential extraction, together with three bioavailability tests: a weak acid elutriate (HCl), a physiologically based extraction test (PBET) and a toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP). The most remarkable features of the BCR procedure were: i) Mn and Zn showed the highest proportion of the F1 exchangeable fraction; ii) in addition to Fe, Pb and Zn were the metals with the higher percentages in the F2 reducible fraction; iii) Fe and Cu were the elements with the highest proportion of the F3 oxidizable fraction; iv) the application of Principal Component Analysis to the metals in each of the three fractions did not show clear associations between metals and sediment components considered as metal scavengers, v) considering the sum of the three BCR fractions, the elements showed a decreasing availability of: Fe > Pb > Zn > Cu > Mn > Ni > Cr. The single extractions followed a decreasing extractability order of: HCl > PBET > TCLP and they were far from the extractability deduced from the sum of fractions in the BCR extraction.     

Short- and longer-term effects of the willow root system on metal extractability in contaminated dredged sediment

Willow (Salix spp.) stands are often proposed as vegetation covers for the restoration and stabilization of contaminated and derelict land. Planting willows on dredged sediment disposal sites for biomass production can be an alternative to traditional capping techniques. However, with the introduction of willow stands on dredged sediment disposal sites, the possibility of increased contaminant availability in the root zone must be acknowledged as it can increase the risk of leaching. Two trials investigated the availability of Cd, Zn, Cu, and Pb in the root zones of willows grown on contaminated sediment. To assess the effects of willow root growth on metal extractability and mobility, bulk and rhizosphere sediment samples were extracted with deionized water, ammonium acetate at pH 7, and ammonium acetate-EDTA at pH 4.65. A rhizobox experiment was used to investigate the short-term effect of willow roots on metal availability in oxic and anoxic sediment. Longer-term effects were assessed in a field trial. The rhizobox trial showed that Cd, Zn, and Cu extractability in the rhizosphere increased while the opposite was observed for Pb. This was attributed to the increased willow-induced oxidation rate in the root zone as a result of aeration and evapotranspiration, which masked the direct chemical and biological influences of the willow roots. The field trial showed that Cu and Pb, but not Cd, were more available in the root zone after water and ammonium acetate (pH 7) extraction compared with the bulk sediment. Sediment in the root zone was better structured and aggregated and thus more permeable for downward water flows, causing leaching of a fraction of the metals and significantly lower total contents of Cd, Cu, and Pb. These findings indicate that a vegetation cover strategy to stabilize sediments can increase metal availability in the root zone and that potential metal losses to the environment should be considered.     

Prediction of zinc, cadmium, lead, and copper availability to wheat in contaminated soils using chemical speciation, diffusive gradients in thin films, extraction, and isotopic dilution techniques

To predict the availability of metals to plants, it is important to understand both solution- and solid-phase processes in the soil, including the kinetics of metal release from its binding agent (ligand and/or particle). The present study examined the speciation and availability of Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu in a range of well-equilibrated metal-contaminated soils from diverse sources using several techniques as a basis for predicting metal uptake by plants. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was grown in 13 metal-contaminated soils and metal tissue concentrations (Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu) in plant shoots were compared with total soil metal concentrations, total soluble metal, and free metal activities (pM2+) in soil pore waters, 0.01 M CaCl2-extractable metal concentrations, E values measured by isotope dilution, and effective metal concentrations, C(E), measured by diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT). In the DGT technique, ions are dynamically removed by their diffusion through a gel to a binding resin, while E values represent the isotopically exchangeable (labile) metal pools. Free metal activities (Zn2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+) in soil pore waters were determined using a Donnan dialysis technique. Plant Zn and Cd concentrations were highly related to C(E), while relationships for Zn and Cd with respect to the other measures of metals in the soils were generally lower, except for CaCl2-extractable Cd. These results suggest that the kinetically labile solid-phase pool of metal, which is included in the DGT measurement, played an important role in Zn and Cd uptake by wheat along with the labile metal in soil solution. Plant Pb concentrations were highly related to both soil pore water concentrations and C(E), indicating that supply from the solid phase may not be so important for Pb. Predictions of Cu uptake by wheat from these soils by the various measures of Cu were generally poor, except surprisingly for total Cu.     

Assessment of heavy metal pollutants accumulation in the Tisza river sediments

In this study we have worked on the evaluation of heavy metal contamination in the sediments taken from the Tisza River and its tributaries, and thereby used the sequential extraction method, geochemical normalization, the calculation of the enrichment factor (EF), and the methods of statistical analysis. The chemical fractionation of Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr, Pb, Fe, and Mn, carried out by using the modified Tessier method, points to different substrates and binding mechanisms of Cu, Zn and Pb in sediments of the tributaries and sediments of the Tisza River. The similarities in the distributions of Fe and Ni in all types of sediments are the result of geochemical similarity as well as of the fact that natural sources mainly affect the concentration levels of these elements. The calculated enrichment factors (EF, measured metal vs. background concentrations) indicated that metal contamination (Cu, Pb, Zn and Cr) was recorded in the sediments of the Tisza River, while no indications of pollution were detected in the tributaries of the Tisza River and the surrounding pools. The maximum values of the EF were close to 6 for Cu and Pb (moderately severe enrichment) and close to 4.5 for Zn (indicating moderate enrichment). It can be said that the Tisza River is slightly to moderately severely polluted with Cu, Zn, and Pb, and minorly polluted with Cr. It is concluded that sediments of the Tisza serve as a repository for heavy metal accumulation from adjacent urban and industrial areas.     

柴窝堡湖表层底泥重金属污染评价

研究了乌鲁木齐市柴窝堡湖表层底泥的重金属含量,并采用Hakanson潜在生态危害指数法对底泥中的重金属潜在生态风险进行评价。结果表明:底泥中Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd含量均超出乌鲁木齐市土壤背景值。除湖心区外,Cd在5个监测区域中的潜在生态危害均为中等;其它重金属在5个采样点的潜在生态危害均为轻微。各重金属间的相关性分析表明,Zn与Cu,Pb与Cd、Cu呈显著正相关,说明这4种元素污染源可能相同。柴窝堡湖表层底泥受到Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd污染,需采取相应措施防止重金属由底泥进入水相。     

Metal pollution in sediments of Jamaica Bay,New York,USA—An urban estuary

Calculations of the annual input of heavy metals to Jamaica Bay, New York, USA, reveal that sewage effluent carries the largest quantities of Ni, Zn, Cu, and Cd to the bay. Storm sewers and atmospheric fallout are the main sources of Pb. Atmospheric fallout of Zn, Cu, and Cd, although smaller than the combined input from sewers, contributes a significant fraction of these metals. The metal input from landfill leachate is far smaller than that from other sources. Analysis of available data shows that metal concentrations in the sediment of the bay correlate with each other and with percent total organic carbon (%TOC). This is consistent with the observation that the input of metals is predominantly associated with sewage. It is demonstrated that metal-TOC ratios, rather than metal concentrations, must be used in efforts to detect local intensive sources of metals in solution; metal-TOC ratios in intertidal sediment adjacent to these landfills are elevated by the adsorption of leachate metals, while metal concentrations are not. Subtidal sediment within a few hundred meters from two landfills shows no evidence of the addition of metals from that source, which is consistent with the small input of metals estimated for these landfills. The evidence cited in this study sharply contradicts the implication made in a widely publicized report issued by an environmental advocacy group that a significant link exists between metals found in subtidal sediment of Jamaica Bay and landfill leachate.     

Dissolution kinetics of heavy metals in Dutch carbonate- and sulfide-rich freshwater sediments

In two sulfide-rich freshwater sediments from the Biesbosch and Kromme Rijn River in the Netherlands differing in carbonate content and acid volatile sulfide (AVS) content, metal and sulfide dissolution kinetics were studied at different acid concentrations by varying both the procedure of acid addition and the extraction time. The establishment of equilibrium was monitored by measuring the pH in time, which reached a near constant value. The equilibrium pH was reached quickly when large amounts of acid were added and slowly when small amounts of acid were added. This observation was confirmed by the yield of extracted metals after either a 45-min or 24-h extraction over a pH range from 0 to 5. The pH factor seemed to be of more influence than time for the dissolution of metals. The amount of extracted metals was highly dependent on the metal itself due to its physico-chemical behavior. Although the sediments studied varied in carbonate content, acid volatile sulfide (AVS), and total metal content, the extracted fraction of metals compared with their total content in the sediment was similar for most metals. Finally, the AVS content as well as the ratio of simultaneously extracted metals (SEM; sum of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) to AVS decreased with increasing pH. Because the SEM to AVS ratio may be used to set environmental quality criteria for the sediment compartment, this observation is of significance.     

Sorption of hazardous metals from single and multi-element solutions by saltbush biomass in batch and continuous mode: interference of calcium and magnesium in batch mode

Batch studies were performed to determine the interference of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) on the sorption of Cu(II), Cd(II), Cr(III), Cr(VI), Pb(II), and Zn(II) [from CuSO(4), K(2)Cr(2)O(7), Pb(NO(3))(2), Cr(NO(3))(3), ZnCl(2), and Cd(NO(3))(2)] by saltbush (Atriplex canescens) biomass. The results demonstrated that Ca and Mg at concentrations of at least 20 times higher than the concentration of most of the target metals did not interfere with the metal binding. The data show that the batch binding capacity from a multimetal solution at pH 5.0 was (micromol/g) about 260 for Cr(III) and Pb, and about 117, 54, and 49 for Cu, Zn, and Cd, respectively. The use of 0.1M HCl allowed the recovery of 85-100% of the bound Cu, Cr(III), and Pb, and more than 37% of the bound Cd and Zn. The column binding capacity for Pb was about 49 micromol/g from both the single and multimetal solutions, while it was, respectively about 35 and 23 micromol/g for Cr(III). The binding capacity for Cu and Zn from the single and multimetal column experiments was 35 micromol/g and less than 10 micromol/g, respectively. The stripping data from the single column experiment showed that 0.1M HCl allowed the recovery of all the bound Cu and Zn, 90% and 74% of the bound Pb and Cr(VI), respectively, and less than 25% of the bound Cd and Cr(III), while the stripping from the multimetal experiment showed that 0.1M HCl allowed the recovery of all the bound Cu and about 74%, 54%, 43%, and 40% of the bound Pb, Zn, Cd, and Cr(III), respectively.     

Speciation of Cd,Cu, Zn,Fe and Pb in sediments sampled from Lake Victoria basin,Kenya

Speciation studies revealed that the heavy metals in sediments of Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya, are highly bioavailable with % average values of 73.3, 66.9, 65.6, 57.1 and 55.8 for Zn, Pb, Fe, Cu and Cd respectively being recorded. The high percentages were attributed to the anthropogenic sources of these metals upstream and within the shores of Lake Victoria. Large loads of floating organic matter were witnessed on the surface of water, and this most likely contributed to the high % of organic matter of 7.58 recorded in this study. High % of organic matter in sediments contributes significantly to bioavailability of heavy metals in sediments.     

湘中某工业区农田重金属污染的初步研究

通过2年的定点调查,研究了湘中某工业区附近农田土壤、糙米中重金属含量状况;并对重金属在水稻植株中的含量分布,以及影响糙米中重金属含量的土壤因素进行了探讨。     

Metal distribution and stability in constructed wetland sediment

The A-01 wetland treatment system (WTS) is a surface flow wetland planted with giant bulrush [Schoenoplectus californicus (C.A. Mey.) Palla] that is designed to remove Cu and other metals from the A-01 National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) effluent at the Savannah River Site near Aiken, SC. Copper, Zn, and Pb concentrations in water were usually reduced 60 to 80% by passage through the treatment system. The Cu concentrations in the wetland sediments increased from about 4 to 205 and 796 mg kg(-1), respectively, in the organic and floc sediment layers in cell 4A over a 5-yr period. Metal concentrations were higher in the two top layers of sediment (i.e., the floc and organic layers) than in the deeper inorganic layers. Sequential extraction was used to evaluate remobilization and retention of Cu, Pb, Zn, Mn, and Fe in the wetland sediment. Metal remobilization was determined by the potentially mobile fraction (PMF) and metal retention by the recalcitrant factor (RF). The PMF values were high in the floc layer but comparatively low in the organic and inorganic layers. High RF values for Cu, Zn, and Pb in the organic and inorganic layers indicated that these metals were strongly bound in the sediment. The RF values for Mn were lower than for the other elements especially in the floc layer, indicating low retention or binding capacity. Retention of contaminants was also evaluated by distribution coefficient (Kd) values. Distribution coefficient (Kd) values were lower for Cu and Zn than for Pb, indicating a smaller exchangeable fraction for Pb.