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The Significance of Coarse Sediments in Metal Pollution Studies in the Coastal Zone

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Abstract

The role of coarse material (sand fraction) in the distributionof metals in polluted marine sediments was investigated in theharbors and the coastal zone of Mytilene, island of Lesvos,Aegean Sea. It was found that sand fraction contains a relatively significant proportion of the anthropogenic metalsand therefore it cannot be neglected in metal pollution studiesof coastal sediments. Also the distribution of the anthropogenicmetals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) in both silt+clay and sand fractionsfollow the same pattern indicating similar pollution sources. In the bulk sediment (clay + silt + sand fraction) all anthropogenic metals had a significant amount (> 50%) in theacid-extractable (and potentially bio-available) fraction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Studies, University of the Aegean, Karadoni 17, 81100, Mytilene, Greece

    Maria Aloupi & Michael O. Angelidis

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  1. Maria Aloupi
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  2. Michael O. Angelidis
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Aloupi, M., Angelidis, M.O. The Significance of Coarse Sediments in Metal Pollution Studies in the Coastal Zone. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 133, 121–131 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012975912904

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