Total cadmium concentrations in the water and littoral sediments of Central Ontario Lakes

Abstract

Lakes within 20 km of Sudbury, Ontario, have significantly higher Cd concentrations in surface waters (geometric mean 122 ng L⁻¹; n = 7) than lakes elsewhere in central Ontario (10.8 ng L⁻¹; n = 57). Cadmium concentrations in water from lakes beyond the Sudbury halo were negatively correlated (r = 0.797; p < 0.001) with pH. A weak correlation between fluoride and Cd concentrations leads to speculation that some Cd may be mobilized from watersheds with Al. Cadmium concentrations in littoral sediments are not elevated near Sudbury. The geometric mean Cd concentration of littoral sediments in central Ontario lakes is 0.08 mg Cd kg⁻¹ dry mass (n = 75). Cadmium concentrations in littoral sediments are strongly correlated with sediment loss on ignition (r = 0.860; p < 0.001). After correction for differences in organic content, littoral sediments are less enriched with Cd than profundal sediments, as reported in the literature. The difference between littoral and profundal sediments, and the sensitivity of Cd concentrations in water to pH, may be due to the importance of Cd binding by Fe/Mn hydrous oxides in the profundal zone, while organic matter binds Cd in the littoral zone. The lack of sensitivity of Cd concentrations in littoral sediments to acidification may be due to the incorporation of much of the Cd in those sediments into organic particulates.