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An assessment of heavy metal contamination in surface sediment using statistical analysis

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Abstract

The distribution and accumulation of heavy metals in the sediments, especially those nearest of wastewater discharges of south of Spain, were investigated. Sediment samples from 14 locations were collected and characterised for metal content (e.g. Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr, Pb, Mn, Cd and Hg), organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorous, n-hexane-extractable material, carbonates and grain size. Concentration data were processed using correlation analysis and factor analysis. The correlation analysis of concentrations data showed important positive correlations among organic carbon, total phosphorus, Cu, Zn, Cd and Hg, otherwise weak correlations among Mn, Cr, Ni and CO3 2 − , indicating that these metals have complicated geochemical behaviours. The use of statistical factor analysis also confirmed these results. Sediments pollution assessment was carried out using geoaccumulation and metal pollution indexes (MPI8). The results revealed that sediments of Cádiz bay and Sancti Petri channel were uncontaminated with the studied metals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Food Technologies and Environmental Technologies, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cadiz, Polígono río San Pedro s/n, 11510, Puerto Real, Spain

    M. R. Rodríguez-Barroso, J. L. García-Morales, M. D. Coello Oviedo & J. M. Quiroga Alonso

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  1. M. R. Rodríguez-Barroso
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  2. J. L. García-Morales
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  3. M. D. Coello Oviedo
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  4. J. M. Quiroga Alonso
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Correspondence to M. R. Rodríguez-Barroso.

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Rodríguez-Barroso, M.R., García-Morales, J.L., Coello Oviedo, M.D. et al. An assessment of heavy metal contamination in surface sediment using statistical analysis. Environ Monit Assess 163, 489–501 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-0852-6

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