Skip to main content
Log in

Trace metal composition and speciation in street sediment: Sault Ste. Marie, Canada

Water, Air, and Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Street sediment collected in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario was examined for trace element composition (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Hg, Ni and Zn) and the metal partitioning to various sediment properties was determined by sequential extraction. Total Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb concentrations exceeded the lowest effect levels specified in the Ontario Provincial Sediment Quality Guidelines for Metals (Environment Ontario, 1992) and derived from bioassay studies. According to these Guidelines, the disposal of such sediment has to be guided by environmental considerations. A significant fraction of these metals was extractable in 0.5 N HCl over a 12-hour period and considered as potentially bioavailable. The major accumulative phases of toxic metals in this sediment are exchangeable, carbonate, Fe/Mn oxides and organic matter but the relative importance of each phase varied for individual metals. Approximately 20% of the total extractable Cd is found in each of these four fractions. Pb, Zn and Mn are predominantly bound to carbonates, Fe/Mn oxides and organic matter. Cu shows a high affinity for organic matter and to a lesser extent for carbonates. Elevated levels of Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Mn and Cr in the exchangeable and/or soluble phase suggest that sediment associated metals, mobilised from streets in Sault Ste. Marie during runoff and snowmelt, would adversely impact water quality in the receiving waters. However, large fractions of the total metal load are associated with coarser particles which are unlikely to be transported through the drainage system into receiving waters.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Burt, A. J., McKee, P. M., Hart, D. R., and P.B. Kauss, P. B.: 1991,Hydrobiologia 219, 63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biggins, D.E. and Harrison, R.M.: 1980,Environ. Sci. Tech. 14(3), 1378.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chao, T.T.: 1984,J. Geochem. Explor. 20, 101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chester, R. andHughes, M.: 1967,Chem. Geol. 2, 249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, B.J. and Revitt, D.M.: 1982,Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 17, 87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Environment Canada: 1979, Analytical Methods Manual, Inland Waters Directorate, Water Quality Branch, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

  • Environment Canada: 1988,Upper Great Lakes Connecting Channels Study, Volume 2 (Final Report) 626 pp.

  • Environment Ontario: 1992,Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Toronto, Ontario (ISBN 0-77299248-7).

  • Forstner, U.: 1982a, Amstutz, G. (ed.),Ore Genesis, Springer-Verlag, New York, p. 191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forstner, U.: 1982b,Hydrobiologia.91, 269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forstner, U. and Wittmann, G.T.W.: 1979,Metal Pollution in the Aquatic Environment, Springer-Verlag, New York, p. 486.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, M.J. and Farmer, J.G.: 1984,Sci. Tot. Environ. 33,49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, E.: 1954,J. of Geol. 62, 249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grim, R.: 1968,Clay Mineralogy, 2nd edition, New York, McGraw-Hill, p. 596.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, R. S., Revitt, D.M. and Warren, R.S.: 1984,Sci. Tot. Env. 33, 59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, R.M., Laxen, D.P. and Wilson, S.J.: 1981,Environ. Sci. and Tech.15(11), 1378.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horowitz, A.J.: 1974,Marine Geology.17, 103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horowitz, A.J.: 1986,A Primer on Trace Metal-Sediment Chemistry. U.S.G.S. Water-Supply Paper 2277, p. 67.

  • Horowitz, A.J. and Elrick, K.A.: 1988,Chemical and Biological Characterization of Sludges, Sediments, Dredge Spoils and Drilling Muds, ASTM STP 976. Philidelphia, p. 114.

  • Irvine, K.N., Drake, J.J., and James, W.: 1992,Environ. Technol. 13, 221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenne, E.: 1976,Symposium on Molybdenum V.2, New York, p. 425.

  • Jonasson, I.R.: 1977,Fluvial Transport of Sediment-Associated Nutrients and Contaminants, pp. 255–271.

  • Kersten, M. and Forstner, U.: 1987,Mar. Chem. 22, 299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinniburgh, D.G, Jackson, M.L., and Syers, J.K.: 1976,Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 40, 796.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klemetson, S.L.: 1985,J. Water Poll. Control Fed. 57, 390.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krauskopf, K.: 1956,Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 9, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luoma, S.N. and Jenne, EX: 1977,Biological Implications of Metals in the Environment, ERDA Symp. Ser.42, 213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luoma, S.N. and Bryan, G.W.: 1982,Est. Coast. Shelf. Sci. 15, 95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lum, K.R., Betteridge, J.S., and MacDonald, R.R.: 1982,Environ. Technol. Lett. 3, 57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsalek, J.: 1990,Water Sci. Tech. 22(10/11), 23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsalek, J. and Ng, H.Y. F.: 1989,J. Great Lakes Res. 15(3), 444.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsalek, J. and Schroeter, H.O.: 1988,Water Poll. Res. J. Canada. 23(3), 360.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsalek, J., Barnwell, TO., Geiger, WE, Grottker, M., Huber, W.C., Saul, A.J., Schilling, W., and Torno, H.C.: 1993,Water Sci. and Tech. 27(12), 31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrison, G.M.P., Revitt, D.M., Ellis, J.B., Stevenson, G., and Balmer, P.: 1984,Environ. Technol. Lett. 7, 313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mudroch, A. and Duncan, G.:1986,J. Great Lakes Res. 12(2), 117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nriagu, J. and Coker, R.: 1980,Environ. Technol. Lett. 14, 443.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramlan, M.N. and Badri, M.A.: 1989,Environ. Tech. Lett. 10, 435.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reinertsen (1981).: 2nd International Conference of Urban Storm Drainage, Urbana, Illinois, USA, p. 107.

  • Salomons, W. and Forstner, U.: 1984,Metals in the Hydrocycle, Springer-Verlag, New York, 486 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sartor, J.D. and Boyd, G.B.: 1972, USEPA-R2-72-081, p. 236.

  • Sharma, M., Marsalek, J., and McBean, E.: 1994,J. Environ. Management (in press).

  • Tessier, A., Campbell, P.G.C., and Bisson, M.: 1979,Analyt. Chem. 51(7), 844.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tessier, A., Campbell, P.G.C., and Bisson, M.: 1980,Can. J. of Earth Sci. 4, 90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tessier, A. and Campbell, P.G.C.: 1988,Metal Speciation: Theory, Analysis and Application, Lewis Publishers, p. 183–199.

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,: 1974,Proposed guidelines for determining acceptability of dredged sediments disposal in EPA Region VI., Dallas, Texas.

  • Vermette, S.J., Irvine, K.N., and Drake, J.J.: 1987,Environ. Technol. Lett. 8, 619.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stone, M., Marsalek, J. Trace metal composition and speciation in street sediment: Sault Ste. Marie, Canada. Water Air Soil Pollut 87, 149–169 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696834

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696834

Keywords

Navigation