Heavy metals in the Ventspils Harbour: normalization based on a multi-parameter dataset

摘要

Heavy metals were investigated in the sediments of the Ventspils Harbour located in north-west Latvia (eastern Baltic Sea). Sediment samples were analysed for major and trace metals by ICP-AES, supplemented by inorganic and organic carbon as well as grain-size distributions. Principal component analysis of the data resulted in two main parameter clusters associated with Ca- and Al-rich material and indicated differing behaviour of Pb, Cu, Zn, N and P. Normalization with respect to Ca and Al by least absolute values regression removed the spatial pattern of sediment metal content in the harbour. High residual concentrations at individual sites were associated with local contaminations, whereas the overall concentration pattern was governed by the transport of riverine fine material. Dilution with coarser, quartz-rich marine sediments led to a pronounced heavy metal concentration drop towards the harbour gates. High mixing was an important feature of sediment dynamics in the Ventspils Harbour, hampering contaminant source identification and sediment monitoring.