Chemical partitioning of sediment contamination by heavy metals in the San Pedro River, Sonora, Mexico

Authors: Gómez-Álvarez, Agustín; Valenzuela-García, Jesús L.; Aguayo-Salinas, Salvador; Meza-Figueroa, Diana; Ramírez-Hernández, Jorge; Ochoa-Ortega, Gabriel

Source: Chemical Speciation and Bioavailability, Volume 19, Number 1, April 2007 , pp. 25-35(11)

Publisher: Science Reviews 2000 Ltd

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Abstract:

The present work describes the chemical forms of six heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn) and their space distribution on the San Pedro River sediments, by using a sequential extraction method. Obtained results indicate a metal increase for the nearest stations to the contamination sources (mining exploitation and urban areas). Both fractions, residual and the Fe and Mn oxides, were the most important phases for the six metals on these sediments. In the non residual fraction, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn were associated with the Fe and Mn oxides fraction, whereas Cd and Pb were associated with the residual fraction. Copper showed high affinity for the organic phase. For most of the sampling stations the heavy metals concentrations (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) detected on the non residual fraction were higher than the values established by sediment quality criteria. This shows that the sediments studied are related to polluted areas, anthropogenic in nature, and probably related to the acid drainage coming from the tailing pond ``Concentradora Vieja'' as well as the wastewater discharges from the city of Cananea, Sonora, Mexico. This represents a potential risk since the San Pedro River is a transboundary river, considered the main source of water supply for a number of activities (namely human settlements, agriculture, livestock and industry) carried out along the Sonora (Mexico) and Arizona (USA) border.

Keywords: heavy metals; sequential extraction; chemical forms; sediment; San Pedro River

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3184/095422907X198013

Affiliations: 1: Institute of Engineering. University of Baja California

Publication date: 2007-04-14

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Chemical Speciation & Bioavailability covers a rapidly expanding area in environmental science.
Research on the interactions between the chemical forms and behaviour of toxic compounds and their subsequent biological uptake, metabolism and ecological fate involves many scientific fields. These studies are often published in discipline-specific journals, leading to inadequate review and information scatter. This situation hinders both the development of an international community of experienced colleagues and the open flow of information and discussion. Additionally, the importance of speciation and bioavailability research to the development of pollution law and control technologies is being increasingly appreciated by environmental regulatory agencies throughout the world.
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Chemical partitioning of sediment contamination by heavy metals in the San Pedro River, Sonora, Mexico

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