Evaluation of Sediments in the Middle Rio Grande, Elephant Butte Reservoir, and Caballo Reservoir as Potential Sources for Toxic Materials

摘要

The distribution of a large number of priority pollutant trace metal and organic species in water and sediments in surface waters in the Middle Rio Grande region of New Mexico has been surveyed. In addition to sediments and water, limnological data was collected on the reservoirs, radionuclide and particle size analysis was performed on the sediments and a limited number of fish were surveyed for trace metals and organics. The sediments carry elevated levels of the metals Hg, Cd, As, Se, and U and fish may be biomagnifying Hg, Pb, and V through the food chain. Detectable levels of 18 different chlorinated organic pesticides were found in samples of water and bottom sediments.