Showing papers in "Biology and Environment-proceedings of The Royal Irish Academy in 2005"
TL;DR: In this paper, an inventory of selected heavy metal concentrations in riverine sediments was used to assess the health of the river as well as to identify potential contaminated areas and identified areas requiring restoration and protection within the 27 rivers comprising the catchment.
Abstract: The Avoca � /Avonmore catchment contains some of the most polluted stretches of river in Ireland, with acid mine drainage having a profound impact on the lower 15km of river. An inventory of selected heavy metal concentrations in riverine sediments was used to assess the health of the river as well as to identify potential contaminated areas. Results reveal that the abandoned Pb � /Zn mines in the upland catchment cause serious sediment contamination (maxima: Zn 50,352m gg � 1 ; Pb 18,547m gg � 1 ; Cu 426m gg � 1 and Cd 147m gg � 1 ). Sediment enrichment factors were determined using German Sediment Quality Target Values (maxima: 252 Zn, 250 Pb, 123 Cd and 7.1 Cu m gg � 1 ) and catchment background values (maxima: 730 Zn, 1137 Pb and 19 Cu m gg � 1 ). The Cu � /S mine, which releases acid mine drainage into the lower part of the catchment, has comparatively little effect on downstream sediment metal concentrations except for Fe, which results in extensive ochre deposition. Other anthropogenic sources, such as wastewater treatment plants, are also minor point sources of metals into the river system. The inventory has identified areas requiring restoration and protection within the 27 rivers comprising the catchment. Unlike water samples, where metal concentrations are normally below detection limits, sediment inventories provide a reliable assessment of long-time metal contamination in rivers.
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