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Suspended matter and associated contaminants in Danish streams: a national analysis

  • Sediments, Sec 1 • Sediment Quality and Impact Assessment • Research Article
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Abstract

Purpose

Suspended matter (SM) in streams is usually considered of minor importance in Danish environmental management. However, SM has some ecological effects as it may (1) clog fish spawning grounds and (2) act as an important agent for transport and exposure of biota to chemical substances, such as phosphorus and toxic inorganic (e.g. heavy metals) and organic (e.g. pesticides) substances.

Materials and methods

A large national data set of > 100,000 water samples analysed for SM and loss on ignition was investigated for spatial concentration patterns, sediment yields and temporal trends. Moreover, the importance of SM as a transport agent for phosphorus and heavy metals in streams was investigated through a correlation analysis.

Results and discussion

The mean suspended matter concentration (SMC) (including organic matter) amounted to 12 mg l−1, with an organic content of 4.9 mg l−1 (41%). A clear difference in SMC temporal trends over the sampling period was found between geographical regions. Sediment yields were calculated for all major catchments revealing low sediment yields (1–15 t km−2 year−1) compared to neighbouring countries and showed clear geographical patterns. Statistically significant relationships were established between SMCs, suspended sediment concentrations (SSCs) (excluding organic matter) and organic matter concentrations (OMCs) and particulate phosphorus (PP) concentrations, and again spatial patterns appeared. However, it was clearly shown that SMC/SSC/OMC could not be used as a robust, nationwide, indicator for PP concentrations. Analyses of the relationship between SMC and particle-bound heavy metal concentrations generally revealed weak correlations except for Pb and Ni (median R2 > 0.3).

Conclusions

Relatively low SM concentrations and sediment yields were found. SM is, in some geographical regions, an important transport agent for PP. Clear geographical patterns occurred in the relationships between SMC/SSC/OMC and both river water discharge and PP, as well as for sediment yields and for temporal trends in SMC.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Anne Mette Poulsen (Aarhus University) for commenting on the manuscript language and Tinna Christensen (Aarhus University) for the assistance with the graphical work.

Funding

This work was sponsored partly by the Danish Centre for Environment and Energy (DCE) at Aarhus University through a strategic grant and partly by the National Phosphorus Mapping Project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej 25, 8600, Silkeborg, Denmark

    Hans Thodsen, Jes Jessen Rasmussen, Brian Kronvang, Hans Estrup Andersen, Anders Nielsen & Søren Erik Larsen

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  1. Hans Thodsen
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  2. Jes Jessen Rasmussen
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  3. Brian Kronvang
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  4. Hans Estrup Andersen
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Correspondence to Hans Thodsen.

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Thodsen, H., Rasmussen, J.J., Kronvang, B. et al. Suspended matter and associated contaminants in Danish streams: a national analysis. J Soils Sediments 19, 3068–3082 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-019-02320-8

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