Reactive sulfide relationships with trace metal extractability in sediments from southern Moreton Bay, Australia

Abstract

Anthropogenic contaminants introduced into the aquatic environment can eventually accumulate in benthic sediments. Sediment quality assessment is therefore an important consideration in ensuring the ecological sustainability of coastal regions. An important research focus associated with sediment quality assessment is determining whether sediments enriched with trace metals actually exert an adverse effect on aquatic ecosystems (Ankley et al., 1994). This issue is complicated because trace metal bioavailability in sediments is controlled by sorption to several solid-phases (such as iron oxyhydroxides, organic matter and reactive sulfide species; Chapman et al., 1998). Furthermore, total metal analysis often provides a poor indication of bioavailability and potential mobility (ANZECC/ARMCANZ, 2000). As such, the use of partial extractions potentially provides a more accurate representation of the concentration of reactive, bioavailable metal species (Burton et al., 2005).