The Nature and Distribution of Metals in Soils of the Sydney Estuary Catchment, Australia

Abstract

Total topsoil 50th percentile Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations (n=491) in the Sydney estuary catchment were 23 μgg −1 , 60 μgg −1 and 108 μgg −1 , respectively. Nine percent, 6% and 25% of samples were above soil quality guidelines, respectively and mean enrichment was 14, 35 and 29 times above background, respectively. Soils in the south-eastern region of the catchment exhibited highest metal concentrations. The close relationship between soil metal and road network distributions and outcomes of vehicular emissions modelling, strongly suggested vehicular traffic was the primary source of metals to catchment soils. Catchment soil and road dust probably make an important contribution to contamination of the adjacent estuary. The concentration of soil metals followed the land use trend: industrial> urban>undeveloped areas. A high proportion (mean 45%, 62% and 42%, for Cu, Pb and Zn, respectively) of metals in the soils may be bioavailable.

Historic change in catchment land use and metal loading to Sydney estuary, Australia (1788–2010)

“…Extensive research within the estuary shows surface sediment metal concen-large stormwater canals, and concentrations of particulate and dissolved-phase metals in stormwater are highly elevated (Birch and Taylor 1999, 2002Birch and Rochford 2010). These results identify stormwater as the dominant source of metals to Sydney estuary (Birch et al 2010a;Beck and Birch 2012a, b).…”

“…Although extensive research has been carried out on sediments in Sydney estuary (McCready et al 2006a, b, c;Birch et al 2008) and the status of the catchment (479 km 2 ) is reasonably well known (Snowden and Birch 2004;Birch et al 2010a), no data exists on the historic supply of 'natural' and anthropogenic metals to this estuary. The history of metal contamination in estuaries has been researched previously using dated sedimentary cores (Deely and Fergusson 1994;Smith et al 2009); however, historic metal loading to estuaries based on temporal change in catchment land use has not been attempted previously.…”

Modelling drivers and distribution of lead and zinc concentrations in soils of an urban catchment (Sydney estuary, Australia)

“…Previous studies have investigated contaminant distributions within a city through sampling and interpolation of chemical data (Birch et al, 2011;Bourennane et al, 2006;Cattle et al, 2002;Lark and Scheib, 2013;Manta et al, 2002). Most investigations have observed heavy metals as they are able to remain in the soil for extended periods and so present a greater risk in urban areas years after the source has ceased (Wang et al, 2005).…”

The Distribution of Toxic and Essential Metals in the Florida Everglades

“…and 6,156 ug/g, which became the major components of metal pollutions to Sydney estuary catchment soils (Birch et al 2011). Turer et al (2001 Aircraft emissions containing toxic metals can potentially harm both the environment and animal health .…”