Distribution and speciation of metals, phosphorus, sulfate and organic material in brackish estuary water affected by acid sulfate soils

Miriam Nystrand, Peter Österholm, Yu Changxun, Mats Åström

Tutkimustuotos: LehtiartikkeliArtikkeliTieteellinenvertaisarvioitu

34 Sitaatiot (Scopus)

Abstrakti

Dissolved (<1 kDa) and colloidal (1 kDa-0.45 μm) size fractions of sulfate, organic carbon (OC), phosphate and 17 metals/metalloids were investigated in the acidic Vörå River and its estuary in Western Finland. In addition, geochemical modelling was used to predict the formation of free ions and complexes in these waters. The sampling was carried out during high-water flow in autumn and in spring when the abundantly occurring acid sulfate (AS) soils in the catchment area are extensively flushed. Based on the high concentrations of sulfate, acidity and several metals, it is clear that the Vörå River and its estuary is strongly affected by AS soils. The high dissolved form of metals limits also the existence of fish and other organisms in this estuary, and certainly also in other similar shallow brackish estuaries elsewhere in the Gulf of Bothnia. However, generally already <20% saline sea water reduces the concentration for OC and several elements (Al, Cu, Cr, Fe, Pb, PO4 and U) by half and c. 20–30% saline sea water is needed to halve concentrations of Cd, Co, Mn, Ni and Zn. Consequently, these elements as well as organic matters were rapidly precipitated in the estuary, even after mixing with fairly small amounts of the alkaline brackish sea water. Aluminium, Cu, Fe and U most likely precipitate together with organic matter closest to the river mouth. Manganese is relatively persistent in solution and, thus, precipitates further down the estuary as Mn oxides, which concomitantly capture Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni and Zn. In the inner estuary, the high contents of Al is as important than Fe in removing PO4 and, thus, also reducing the risk of algae blooms in near coastal areas influenced by AS soils in the Gulf of Bothnia. Moreover, the dispersion of metals far out in the estuary is dependent on hydrological conditions, i.e. with high flows the plume of metal-rich water will spread further out in the estuary. Furthermore, the extensive drainage of the catchment and subsequent artificial enlargement of the river channel during recent decades has not only enabled oxidation of sulfidic sediments, but strongly increased flow peaks that reach further out in the estuary.
AlkuperäiskieliEi tiedossa
Sivut264–274
JulkaisuApplied Geochemistry
Vuosikerta66
DOI - pysyväislinkit
TilaJulkaistu - 2016
OKM-julkaisutyyppiA1 Julkaistu artikkeli, soviteltu

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