New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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Heavy-metal pollution in Porirua Harbour, New Zealand

G. P. GLASBY

New Zealand Oceanographic Institute Division of Water Sciences Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Private Bag, Kilbimie, Wellington, New Zealand

R. L. MOSS

Wellington Regional Council
P.O. Box 11-646, Wellington, New Zealand

P. STOFFERS

Geologisch-Palaontologisches Institut University Kiel
Olshausenstr. 40/60, D-2300 Kiel Federal Republic of Germany

Abstract The <20 urn fractions of 72 sediment samples from Pauatahanui and Porirua Inlets of Porirua Harbour have been analysed for eight elements and the results compared between the two inlets. Co, Ni.Fe, and Mn occur in similar abundances in sediments from the two inlets and show no evidence of contamination. Cr concentration is somewhat higher in sediments from Pauatahanui Inlet and again shows no evidence of contamination. Cu concentration is significantly higher in sediments of Porirua Inlet and two samples taken in the vicinity of Porirua City are in the class uncontaminated to moderately contaminated. Pb and Zn show significantly higher concentrations in sediments from Porirua Inlet. Sediments in the vicinity of Porirua City attain the category moderately to strongly contaminated for Pb and moderately contaminated for Zn. No evidence of heavy-metal contamination is seen in sediments in the vicinity of State Highway 1. Heavy-metal pollution in Porirua Harbour therefore appears to be restricted to Pb, Zn, and, to a lesser extent, Cu, and occurs in Porirua Inlet in the vicinity of Porirua City.

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 1990, Vol. 24:233-237 Crown copyright 1990
Received 19 September 1989; accepted 23 February 1990

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (432K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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