Recent transport of metals in the river severn as recorded by the sediments of chelmarsh reservoir, shropshire, U.K

Abstract

Sediments from a reservoir on the bank of the River Severn show the content of Pb, Zn,Cu, Cd, and Mn transported with sediments in the river back to 1965 when the reservoir was commissioned. The R.Severn is unpolluted as shown by the low levels of metals present in the sediment core; the most recent sediments show a decline in metal content. The chemical partitioning of metals is typical of fluvial sediments. Up to 68% of the Cd was exchangeable, while most of the Cu was present as an organic complex. The lead was in both the organic and residual fractions, and the Zn was in the Fe/Mn oxides and the residual fraction.