Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of monitoring stream sediment to assess chronic highway-generated metals contamination. Concentrations of cadmium, lead, and zinc in the sediments of six small softwater streams were measured for a period of two years following the opening of a new highway. Metals concentrations at highway sites (H) averaged two (Zn) to five (Cd) times greater than at upstream reference sites (U) or downstream sites located ⩾ 200 m downstream (D). However, three of the six streams did not consistently demonstrate the H > U=D pattern. Metals concentrations were generally low at all sites on these streams; interstream variation at highway sites was more strongly related to distance of the stream from the road surface, stream velocity, and organic content of the sediment, than to traffic volume. Temporally, H/U ratios of metals concentrations peaked after one year and declined in the second year, concurrent with an increase in precipitation. These findings indicate that interstream, intrastrearn, and temporal variations of metals concentrations in sediments are high, but also suggest sampling designs to effectively assess metals contamination from highways by monitoring this component of the aquatic ecosystem.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson RV, Brower JE (1978) Patterns of trace metal accumulation in crayfish populations. Bull Environ Contain Toxicol 20:120–127
Atchison GJ, Murphy BR, Bishop WE, McIntosh AW, Mayes RA (1977) Trace metal contamination of bluegill from two Indiana lakes. Trans Amer Fish Soc 106:637–640
Benes P, Cejchanova M, Havlik B (1985) Migration and speciation of lead in a river system heavily polluted from a smelter. Water Res 19:1–6
Daines RH, Motto H, Chilko DM (1970) Atmospheric lead: Its relation to traffic volume and proximity to highways. Environ Sci Technol 4:318–323
Feltz HR (1980) Significance of bottom material data in evaluating water quality. In: Baker RA (ed) Contaminants and sediments, volume 1. Ann Arbor Science Publishers, Ann Arbor, MI, pp 271–287
Forstner U (1980) Cadmium in polluted sediments. In: Nriagu JO (ed) Cadmium in the environment, part 1. John Wiley and Sons, NY, pp 305–363
Getz LL, Haney AW, Larimore RW, McNurney JW, Leland HV, Price PW, Rolfe GL, Wortman RL, Hudson JL, Solomon RL, Reinbold KA (1977) Transport and distribution in a watershed ecosystem. In: Boggess WR, Wixon BG (eds) Lead in the environment. Natl. Sci. Foundation, US Govt Print Office, Washington, DC, pp 105–134
Houba C, Remacle J, Dubois D, Thorez J (1983) Factors affecting the concentrations of cadmium, zinc, copper, and lead in the Vesdre River. Water Res 17:1281–1286
Jennett JC, Effler SW, Wixson BG (1980) Mobilization and toxicological aspects of sedimentary contaminants. In: Baker RA (ed) Contaminants and sediments, Volume 1. Ann Arbor Science Publishers, Ann Arbor, MI, pp 429–444
Lagerwerff JV, Specht AW (1970) Contamination of roadside soil and vegetation with cadmium, nickel, lead, and zinc. Environ Sci Technol 4:583–586
Laxen DPH, Harrison RM (1977) The highway as a source of water pollution: An appraisal with the heavy metal lead. Water Res 11:1–11
Mombeshora C, Osibanjo O, Ajayi SO (1983) Pollution studies on Nigerian rivers: The onset of lead pollution of surface waters in Ibadan. Environ Int 9:81–84
Motto HL, Daines RH, Chilko DM, Motto CK (1970) Lead in soils and plants: Its relation to traffic volume and proximity to highways. Environ Sci Technol 4:231–237
Pagenkopf GK, Newman DR (1974) Lead concentrations in native trout. Bull Environ Contain Toxicol 12:70–75
Paul AC, Pillai KC (1983) Trace metals in a tropical river environment—distribution. Water Air Soil Pollut 19:63–73
Perkin Elmer Corporation (1976) Instructions-model 460 atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Norwalk, CT
Rodriguez-Flores M, Rodriguez-Castellon E (1982) Lead and cadmium levels in soils and plants near highways and their correlation with traffic density. Environ Pollut (B) 4:281–290
Smith WH (1976) Lead contamination of the roadside ecosystem. J Air Pollut Control Assoc 26:753–766
Tada F, Suzuki S (1982) Adsorption and desorption of heavy metals in bottom mud of urban rivers. Water Res 16:1489–1494
Van Hassel JH, Ney JJ, Garling DL (1980) Heavy metals in a stream ecosystem at sites near highways. Trans Amer Fish Soc 109:636–643
Ward NI, Brooks RR, Roberts E, Boswell CR (1977) Heavymetal pollution from automotive emissions and its effect on pasture species in New Zealand. Environ Sci Technol 11:917–920
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mudre, J.M., Ney, J.J. Patterns of accumulation of heavy metals in the sediment of roadside streams. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 15, 489–493 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01056560
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01056560