Statistical comparisons of heavy-metal concentrations in river sediments

Abstract

Statistical t tests were used to determine lead, copper, and chromium enrichment in sediments from the Lower Branch of the Rouge River in southeast Michigan, USA. Both absolute metal concentrations and ratios of trace metal to conservative metal concentrations were used to compare sampled sites along the Lower Branch of the Rouge River to background sites in the headwaters region. Concentration ratios were used to reduce the effects of certain chemical and physical characteristics on the level of metal contained in a given sediment. Results from the comparison of sample sites to the background reveal metal enrichment at several sites, particularly along the highly urbanized, downstream section of the river. This section of the Lower Branch of the Rouge River exhibits significant lead and copper contamination, as well as measurable chromium enrichment when using either concentrations alone or ratios as methods of comparison. The areas of metal enrichment appear to coincide closely with areas of known anthropogenic activities. Of particular interest, however, is the enrichment of lead and copper at two upstream sites where the statistical tests suggest an anthropogenic source for the enrichment, but where no previously known cultural activities existed. These data prompted a historical search of records, which discovered several abandoned landfills immediately upstream of the metal enrichment sites.