Trace Metals in Sediments of the St. Jones and Murderkill Rivers, Delaware

摘要

The metals Cu, Cd, Cr, Zn, Fe, Mn, Pb were analyzed from surface sediments from 47 locations in the Murderkill and St. Jones Rivers, Delaware. Prior to 1976, the St. Jones received domestic sewage from the City of Dover, Delaware. A regional sewage plant began operations in 1976 and discharged the combined wastes from Dover and surrounding area into the Murderkill. Results of the 1982 metals survey were compared with data obtained by the same authors at the same locations in 1973. The analyses suggest that Cu, Cd, and Pb are increasing in the sediments from the Murderkill while Fe, Mn, and Cr are not. Pb, Cd, and Zn are decreasing in the St. Jones sediments, perhaps because they are being leached from the sediments or because they are being buried and diluted with clean materials.