The lower part of the Coatzacoalcos River has great industrial development in which high pollution has been reported. Surface sediments of this area were studied over a year to observe spatial and seasonal sedimentological and chemical variations. Higher metal concentrations were found during the dry season, Pajaritos Dock and Teapa sampling points showing the highest values. Ni (182 ppm) and Co (37 ppm) concentrations are elevated relative to other estuarine areas. Metal normalization against Al 2 O 3 content shows contaminant input in areas where urban and industrial discharges exist. A cluster analysis of the data separates sediment samples from the different sampling trips, suggesting the dynamic nature of the sediments. Through the statistical t-test, metal enrichment of Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn was evaluated and compared with metal concentration in sediments of the river higher parts. The percentage of bioavailable metals is a function of the physicochemical characteristics of the system.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.