Abstract
The concentrations of, and deposition rates for, the pollutant metals (Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, and Cd) and the rare earth elements are reported for the sediments and settling particulates in a large, remote lake (Lake Opeongo) in the Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario. Using a mass conservation model based on the rare earth elements, it is estimated that only 40 to 60% of pollutant metals getting into the lake is retained by the sediments. The low retention anada rate may explain the widely reported intra-basin and intra-lake differences in metal contents of sediments and casts some doubt on the use of pollutant metal profiles in retrospective assessment of the human contribution to the metal flux into many lake basins.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Carignan, R. and Nriagu, J. O.:1985, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 49, 1753.
Carignan, R. and Tassier, A.: 1985, Science 228, 1524.
Chambers, R.L. and Eadie, B.J.: 1981, Sedimentotogy 28, 439.
Charlton, M.N.:1983, J. Great Lakes Res. 9, 201.
Croeket, J.H. and Kabir, A.: 1981,J. Great Lakes Res. 7,455.
Dillon, P.J. and Smith, P.J.:1984, ‘Environmental Impact of Smelters’, J.O. Nriagu (ed.), Wiley, New York, pp. 375–416.
Evans, H.E. and Dillon, P.J.: 1983, Can. J. Fish. Aquatic Sci. 40, 570.
Evans, R.D. and Rigler, F.H.: 1985, Water, Air & Soil Pollut. 24, 141.
Forstner, U.: 1977, Arch. Hydrobiol. 80, 172.
Forstner, U. and Wittman, G.T.W.: 1981,‘Metal Pollution in the Aquatic Environment’, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 486 pp.
MARC: 1985, Historical Monitoring, MARC Report No. 31, Monitoring and Research Assessment Centre, University of London, 320 pp.
Norton, S.A., Hess, C.T. and Davies, R.B.:1981 Atmospheric Pollutants in Natural Waters’ S.J.Eisenrieh (ed.), Ann Arbor Sci. Inc., Michigan, p. 409.
Nriagu, J.O., Kemp, A.L.W., Wong, H.K.T. and Harper, N.: 1979, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 43, 247.
Nriagu, J.O., Wong, H.K.T. and Coker, R.D.: 1982, Environ. Sci. Technol. 16, 551.
Olmez, I. and Gordon, G.E.: 1985, Science 229, 966.
Robbins, J.A.: 1978,‘The Biogeochemistcy of Lead in the Environment’ J.O. Nriagu (ed.), Elsevier, Amsterdam, p 285.
Rosa, F., Nriagu, J.O. and Wong, H.K.T.: 1983, Chemosphere 12, 1345.
Salomons W, and Forstner, U.: 1984,‘ Metals in the Hydrophere’ Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 340 pp.
Shaw, D.M., Dostal, J. and Keays, R.R.: 1976, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 40, 73.
Williams J.D.H. and Pashley, A.E.: 1979, J. Fish Res. Board Can. 36, 241.
Won, H.K.T., Nriagu, J.O. and Coker, R.D.: 1984, Chem. Geol. 44, 187.
Wong H.K.T. and Nriagu, J. O.: 1985, Proc.' Trace Substances and Environmental Health 19, 388.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nriagu, J.O., Wong, H.K.T. What fraction of the total metal flux into lakes is retained in the sediments?. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 31, 999–1006 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00284246
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00284246