Metal contamination of riverine sediments below the Avoca mines, south east Ireland

Abstract

The River Avoca is severely polluted by discharges of acid mine drainage (AMD) from the abandoned sulphur and copper mines at Avoca. The riverine sediments were studied during a low flow period to establish the degree of contamination and to identify the major processes affecting sediment metal concentrations. pH plays a major role in the regulation of zinc adsorption and desorption in sediments, showing a significant correlation (p&0.001). The zinc concentration in the sediment falls below background levels after the input of AMD. However, the metal precipitated when the pH increased downstream of a fertiliser factory (pH≫8.0), some 7 km below the mine. In contrast Cu and Fe significantly increased (p≫0.001) both in the sediment (0--30 mm depth) and the surface ochre immediately below the mixing zone. Copper removal appears to be primarily by co-precipitation. Higher sediment enrichment factors for all metals were obtained in the surface sediment layer (ochre) deposited on larger stones and in floc material collected in sediment traps, compared with the subsurface sediment. Cadmium was not recorded in any of the sediment collected at the detection limit used (0.01 μg g-1). Metal deposition in the sediments was found to be spacially variable, so sub-sampling is required, although replicates show little variation. Results indicate that short term variation in metal inputs is identified by sampling the surface layer only, whereas sampling of the subsurface layer (<63 μm fraction) is more suitable for identifying long-term trends in sediment quality. The implication of sediment analysis in assessing environmental impact is discussed.