Urban Aquatic Sediments

Poleto, Cristiano; Charlesworth, Susanne M.; Laurenti, Ariane

doi:10.1002/9781444317114.ch5

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 90 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…As a consequence, it is likely that urban centres will put increasing pressure on water resources, which will have implications for human water security and aquatic biodiversity (Vörösmarty et al 2010). The urban sedimentary system is attracting increasing interest because of its role in influencing air and water quality (for reviews see : Taylor 2007;Taylor and Owens 2009;Poleto et al 2010). The role of fine-grained sediments (<63 μm) derived from the urban environment in contributing contaminants to fresh and coastal waters is now well established (Foster and Charlesworth 1996;Owens et al 2001;Meharg et al 2003;Walling 2002, 2003;Carter et al 2006;Schafer et al 2009;Xu et al 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Total and size-fractionated mass of road-deposited sediment in the city of Prince George, British Columbia, Canada: implications for air and water quality in an urban environment

et al. 2011

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose The urban sedimentary system is attracting increasing interest because of its role in influencing air and water quality. A large amount of road-deposited sediment (RDS) lies on the road network of Prince George, a city of about 80,000 people, in British Columbia, Canada. The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine the total mass of RDS within the city, and how this varied over time and space; and (2) to determine the temporal and spatial variations in the particle-size fractions of the RDS. Materials and methods Samples of RDS were collected using a grid network during two different time periods in the snow-free season in 2009. Composite samples for each grid (n=46) were fractionated into five grain-size classes (>500, 250-500, 125-250, 63-125, <63 μm) using stainless steel sieves. Fractionated sediment samples were weighed to obtain a mass for each size class for each grid cell. Results and discussionThe total amount of RDS (all particle-size fractions) in the city of Prince George was estimated to be 746×10 3 and 204×10 3 kg for the summer and fall 2009 sampling periods, respectively. Based on a total road length of 1,030 km within the sampled area of the city, this equates to an average of 724 and 198 kg per km of road, for the summer and fall sampling periods, respectively. The RDS was dominated by the >500-μm fraction, and there was a trend of decreasing amounts (by mass) for the finer particle-size fractions. In terms of the most important particle-size fraction from an air and water quality perspective, the <63-μm particle-size fraction accounted for, on average, 6.5% and 4.8% of the total RDS mass for the summer and fall 2009 sampling periods, respectively; it is estimated that an additional approximately 2% was lost to the air during sample collection, and thus values may be closer to 9% and 7%, respectively. This equates to averages of between 47-61 and 10-13 kg per km of road for the summer and fall periods, respectively. Total amounts of RDS were greatest in the city centre, compared to the outlying areas, reflecting the greater density of roads in the former, although there were some hotspots which may reflect land use activities such as light-industry and pulp and paper mills. Conclusions These findings have implications for air and water quality in the city and surrounding area, including the role of RDS in contributing to airborne fine particulates (i.e. PM 10 and PM 2.5 ) and the fine-grained sediment (<63 μm) transported within storm sewers to receiving waterways, such as the Fraser and Nechako Rivers.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Total and size-fractionated mass of road-deposited sediment in the city of Prince George, British Columbia, Canada: implications for air and water quality in an urban environment

et al. 2011

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…As a result of the polluted nature of many urban sediment sources (Scholes et al ., ; Taylor and Owens, ; Poleto et al ., ), sediments accumulating within urban rivers often display elevated concentrations of metals as well as other contaminants including nutrients, coliforms and organic compounds (hydrocarbons, PCBs and PAHs). Additionally, metals and other contaminants in the dissolved phase can bind with substrates and accumulate in the particulate form, adding to the sediment associated contaminant load (Luoma and Rainbow, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of vegetation in the retention of fine sediment and associated metal contaminants in London's rivers

Gibbs

Gurnell

Heppell

et al. 2014

Earth Surf Processes Landf

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Many urban rivers receive significant inputs of metal-contaminated sediments from their catchments. Restoration of urban rivers often creates increased slack water areas and in-channel vegetation growth where these metal-contaminated sediments may accumulate. Quantifying the accumulation and retention of these sediments by in-channel vegetation in urban rivers is of importance in terms of the planning and management of urban river restoration schemes and compliance with the Water Framework Directive. This paper investigates sediment properties at four sites across three rivers within Greater London to assess the degree to which contaminated sediments are being retained. Within paired restored and unrestored reaches at each site, four different bed sediment patch types (exposed unvegetated gravel, sand, and silt/clay (termed 'fine') sediments, and in-channel vegetated sediments) were sampled and analysed for a range of metals and sediment characteristics. Many samples were found to exceed Environment Agency guidelines for copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) and Dutch Intervention Values for Cu and Zn.At all sites, sediments accumulating around in-channel vegetation were similar in calibre and composition to exposed unvegetated fine sediments. Both bed sediment types contained high concentrations of pseudo-total and acetic acid extractable metal concentrations, potentially due to elevated organic matter and silt/clay content, as these are important sorbtion phases for metals. This implies that the changed sediment supply and hydraulic conditions associated with river restoration may lead to enhanced retention of contaminated fine sediments, particularly around emergent plants, frequently leading to the development of submerged and emergent landforms and potential river channel adjustments.High pseudo-total metal concentrations were also found in gravel bed sediments, probably associated with iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) oxyhydroxides and discrete anthropogenic metal-rich particles.These results highlight the importance of understanding the potential effects of urban river restoration upon sediment availability and channel hydraulics and consequent impacts upon sediment contaminant dynamics and storage.

show abstract

Sediments of the Anthropocene

Gałuszka¹,

Migaszewski²

2015

Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Urban Aquatic Sediments

Cited by 4 publications

References 90 publications

Total and size-fractionated mass of road-deposited sediment in the city of Prince George, British Columbia, Canada: implications for air and water quality in an urban environment

Total and size-fractionated mass of road-deposited sediment in the city of Prince George, British Columbia, Canada: implications for air and water quality in an urban environment

The role of vegetation in the retention of fine sediment and associated metal contaminants in London's rivers

Sediments of the Anthropocene

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About