Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Statistical comparison of heavy metal concentrations in various louisiana sediments

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The use of statistical ‘t’ tests were used to determine lead, zinc, and cadmium enrichment in various Louisiana sediments. Both absolute metal concentrations and trace metal/conservative metal concentration ratios were used in comparing sampled sites to a 110 m deep background core taken just off the mouth of the Mississippi River. Concentration ratios were used to reduce the effects of certain chemical and physical sediment characteristics on the quantity of metal contained in a given sediment.

Results from the comparison of sample sites to the background reveal metal enrichment at several sites. The University Lake sampling sites exhibit both lead and zinc enrichment when using both the concentration alone and ratio methods of comparison. Additionally, cadmium enrichment is indicated in the sediments of University Lake when using only the ratio method of comparison. Several sampled sediments in and around the New Orleans metropolitan area exhibited lead and cadmium enrichment.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allan, R. J. and Brunskill, G. J.: 1976, ‘Relative Atomic Variation (RAV) of Elements in Lake Sediments: Lake Winnipeg and other Canadian Lakes’, in Interactions Between Sediments and Freshwater.

  • Forstner, U.: 1976, ‘Metal Concentrations in Freshwater Sediments—Natural Background and Cultural Effects’, in Interactions Between Sediments and Freshwater.

  • Forstner, N. and Wittmann, C. T. W.: 1979, Metal Pollution in Aquatic Environment.

  • Kemp, A. L. W., Thomas, R. L., Dell, C. I., and Jaquet, J. M.: 1976, ‘Cultural Impact on the Geochemistry of Sediments in Lake Erie’, J. Fish. Res. Board Canada 33.

  • Knaus, R., Addision, W. W., Arman, A., Bryan, C. F., Gambrell, R. P., and Huner, J. V.: 1977, ‘Lakes Restoration Project’.

  • McClelland Engineers, Inc., Geotechnical Consultants, New Orleans, Louisiana: 1981, ‘Geotechnical Investigation Block 75, Main Pass Area’.

  • Ritter, G. J. et al.: 1976, ‘Comparisons of Sample Preparation Techniques for Atomic Absorption Analysis of Sewage Sludge and Soil’, Atomic Absorption Newsletter 15, No. 1.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Civil Engineering, Louisiana State University, USA

    Kevin D. White & Marty E. Tittlebaum

Authors
  1. Kevin D. White
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Marty E. Tittlebaum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

White, K.D., Tittlebaum, M.E. Statistical comparison of heavy metal concentrations in various louisiana sediments. Environ Monit Assess 4, 163–170 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00398785

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00398785

Keywords

Search

Navigation