Biogeochemistry of Pb–Zn gossans,northwest Queensland,Australia: Implications for mineral exploration and mine site rehabilitation

The concentration and distribution of metals were studied in metallophytes, growing on and in the vicinity of Pb–Zn gossans, NW Queensland. The study investigated the accumulation of metals in plant species and assessed their potential use as indicators in geobotanical and biogeochemical prospecting and as metal excluders in mine site rehabilitation. Plant species colonising the gossans tolerate high concentrations of metals. Total mean metal concentrations of soils ranged from minima of 14 ppm Cu, 28 ppm Pb and 34 ppm Zn in background areas to maxima of 660 ppm Cu, 12000 ppm Pb and 2100 ppm Zn over mineralised soils. Over the gossans, the grass species Eriachne mucronata forma, Enneapogon lindleyanus and Paraneurachne muelleri replace the characteristic grass Triodia molesta where the soils have high Pb and Zn concentrations. Of the 16 plant species identified, 3 of them, Hybanthus aurantiacus, Clerodendrum tomentosum and Bulbostylis barbata, were confined to the gossan sites. B. barbata appears to be of particular use in geobotanical prospecting as it indicates base metal mineralisation in the region.     

长江沉积物环境地球化学特征及生态风险评价

为了进行长江流域沉积物生态风险评价,对长江流域干流以及主要支流的沉积物统一进行采样分析。首先对其元素的组成特征及重金属元素的富集特征进行分析。常量元素含量在流域空间上的变化主要受其携带矿物含量变化的影响;Cu、Pb、Cd、As、Hg 5种微量元素富集程度较大,存在异常。同时采用潜在生态风险指数法对长江沉积物Cr、Mn、Co、Ni、Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、As、Hg 10种元素进行了评价研究。结果表明,潜在生态风险指数较大的地区分布在湖南湘江、安徽铜陵等地区,中等的地区分布在四川、重庆及江西等地区,这些潜在污染指数与矿产的开采冶炼以及工业的布局有一定的关系,很大程度上是由人为因素造成的。从元素的潜在污染程度看,长江流域Cd、As、Hg污染程度较重,Cu、Zn、Pb次之,而Cr、Mn、Co、Ni基本没有污染。本研究为探讨长江流域沉积地球化学过程和环境保护提供了科学依据。     

An assessment study of heavy metal distribution within soil in upper course of Zarqa River basin/Jordan

Levels of heavy metals are found in soils and waters of the major tributary valleys of the Jordan Valley. Heavy metal content in soils irrigated by treated waste water were measured for a 40 km reach of Zarqa River. Soil samples from eight different sites along the upper course of this river were analyzed to determine the concentration of selected heavy metals (CO, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn). Silt forms the major component of the soils with an average of 54%. Clay fractions show an increase with depth from 17 to 41%. Trends in particle size distribution and metal contents were compared across sample sites. Samples contained moderate to considerable levels of Pb and Ni. Concentrations of Cu and Cr ranged between 33–59 and 65–90 ppm, respectively. These values represent a slight to moderate class of pollution. The concentration of Cr shows a decrease with depth and distance from the waste water plant. Cu, Zn, and Ni show increasing concentrations with depth but Pb and CO do not. The concentrations of the measured heavy metals increases near the waste water treatment plant but decreases with distance from the plant due to precipitation in the stream bed and dilution with stream water. This decline in metal content with distance from the treatment plant suggests that most metals reaching floodplain soils may derive from the same source. Although current metal concentrations are low to moderate, floodplain surface soils in this area should be regarded as a potential source for future heavy metal pollution downstream.     

Dissolved Trace Metal–Organic Complexes in the Lot–Garonne River System Determined Using the C18 Sep-Pak System

An 11-month observation of dissolved and particulate organic matter, chlorophyll a(Chl a), C18 Sep-Pak extractable hydrophobic dissolved organic matter (hDOM) fraction and associated dissolved trace metals (Cd, Cu, V, Co, Ni, Mo, U) was performed in the Lot–Garonne River system. This system includes the Riou Mort, the Lot River and the downstream reaches of the Garonne River and represents the fluvial transport path of trace metals between the major point source of polymetallic pollution, located in the Riou Mort watershed and the Gironde estuary. Spatial and temporal variations of dissolved and particulate organic carbon and Chl areflect the presence of different types of organic matter and their relation with the hDOM fraction. Maximum Chl a/POC ratios (up to 0.03), indicate intense phytoplankton production from March to May. In the Lot River (Temple), DOC and POC concentrations were clearly higher and mean Chl a concentration (2.8 mg g⁻¹) was about three times higher than those of the other sites. High Chl a/POC ratios suggest high phytoplankton activity with maxima in spring and late summer. In the Riou Mort River, very high POC concentrations of up to 40 (mean: 20) occurred, whereas Chl a concentrations were relatively low indicating low phytoplankton activity. High, strongly variable DOC and POC concentrations suggest important natural (Carboniferous soils, forests) or anthropogenic (e.g., former coal mines, waste areas, agriculture, sewage) carbon sources within the small Riou Mort watershed. Despite high DOC concentrations in the Riou Mort River, hDOM metal fractions were generally lower than those at the other sites. The general order of decreasing binding strength between metals and the organic hydrophobic phase (Cu, U > Co, Ni > V, Mo > Cd) at all four sites was in good agreement with the Irving–William series of transition element affinity towards organic ligands. Accordingly, the role of the hydrophobic phase in dissolved Cd transport appeared to be negligible, whereas the hDOM–Cu fraction strongly contributed to dissolved Cu transport.     

长江中游鄂东南铜矿集区土壤铜环境地球化学特征

对鄂东南铜矿集区的山间谷地、长江冲积平原和低山丘陵三种地形土壤的系统测定表明：（1）土壤母质是影响土壤全量铜的主要因素，土壤有效态铜总体上受土壤全量铜的制约；在相同地理和气候条件下，土壤pH值是控制铜垂向分布的重要条件之一；中生代含铜花岗闪长岩是长江中游沿江铜矿庥区内区域土壤铜污染的主要自然源。（2）矿集区内土壤铜污染主要有自然污染和人为污染两类，两类土壤污染在土壤全量铜、有效态铜和铜含量垂向分布及土壤pH、R（电导）等理化性质方面有着明显的区别。     

Tree ring based Pb and Zn contamination history reconstruction in East China: a case study of Kalopanax septemlobus

To reconstruct trace metal contamination history in the Yangtze River Delta region, annual growth rings of native hardwood species, Kalopanax septemlobus, were studied as the potential archive of the past Pb and Zn pollution events. Wide distribution of K. septemlobus trees in the study area and clear annual tree rings are advantages of this potential geochemical archive. In this research, tree ring increments for 48 years, from 1960 to 2007, were analyzed for Pb and Zn concentrations. Trees were sampled in two sites, Xiaoyingpan, a contaminated area around a mine (Pb, Zn, Ag) in the Yangtze River Delta region, and a reference site 19 km away. The results show that: (1) distinct Pb and Zn concentrations increasing from 1960 to 1974 in the polluted site were coincident with increasing historical open mining activities; (2) from 1974 to 1986, Pb and Zn concentrations dramatically decreased during a conversion from above-ground exploitation to below-ground extraction; and (3) after 1992, the concentration of Zn decreased gradually, but Pb concentrations initially increased with automobile traffic from 1986 to 2004, then decreased when the number of automobiles was controlled from 2004 to 2007. In particular, Pb and Zn concentrations in tree rings had no effect on K. septemlobus growth. Pb and Zn concentrations in tree rings were linearly related with those in soils. Growth rings of K. septemlobus around the Pb, Zn, Ag mine accurately recorded historical changes in Pb and Zn deposition.     

Temporal and spatial variations of trace metal concentrations in oysters from the Patuxent River, Maryland

Concentrations of copper (Cu), silver (Ag), and cadmium (Cd) in eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) from the upper Patuxent River estuary analyzed since 1986 (Cd since 1991) were high relative to concentrations in other sites in the United States analyzed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Status and Trends program. Patuxent River oysters had above average concentrations of Ag and Cu, and unusually high concentrations of Cd. Metal concentrations were highest in summer, a period in which oyster meat condition index was relatively low. Copper values were highest in 1986–1987, likely elevated by erosion from Cu-Ni alloy condensers at a local power plant. Silver and Cd values exhibited more year-to-year variation. A number of factors were examined as candidates to explain the interannual differences, including river flow, salinity, and oyster condition, but none was able to explain the high and low years. Samples collected in spring and late summer of 1996 at a number of oyster bars located along the length of the Patuxent River showed that concentrations of all three metals increased with distance up-river. For Cd, the upstream increase was linear with distance, while for Ag and Cu, there was a secondary maximum near river km 16. A close correlation was observed between Ag and Cu for individuals at each site, with a poorer correlation between Cd and either Ag or Cu.     

Risk assessment of heavy metals in topsoil along the banks of theYangtze River in Huangshi,China

High concentrations of heavy metal in farmland threatens food production and human health. Our study assesses soil quality and the distribution of Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, Pb and Ni, to identify possible sources of heavy metals along the banks of the Yangtze River in Huangshi. Heavy metal concentrations of 22 topsoil samples were measured using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry instrument and data was analyzed by multivariate statistic approaches. Heavy metal contamination risk assessment was performed using a combination of the Nemerow multi-factor index method, the Hakanson potential ecological risk index method and the Muller index of geo-accumulation method. These methods determined similar results indicating that cadmium (Cd) poses a health risk to residents at the study site while Cr, Cu, Zn, Pb and Ni do not. The Nemerow multi-factor index method demonstrated that 18 samples were heavily polluted, three moderately polluted and one lightly polluted. The Muller index of geo-accumulation method found ten samples were moderately to strongly polluted by Cd, five were moderately polluted, six were lightly to moderately polluted and one was lightly polluted. The Hakanson potential ecological risk index method proved six samples were strongly polluted, seven were moderately polluted and nine were lightly polluted. Since our sampling sites were all in agricultural lands, we recommend the potential ecological risk index method as the most effective given it not only considers the range of pollutants contributing to soil pollution but factors in heavy metals toxicity. We are apt that the source of the high concentrations of Cd found in topsoil is derived from alluvial sediments upstream of the Yangtze River with a high percentage of residual speciation and a low percentage of exchangeable speciation distribution of Cd. This in turns indicates that a high concentration of Cd in soil had little impact on the natural environment. However, 31.9% of the iron-manganese oxides bound speciation indicating that such levels of Cd in soil would be potentially hazardous to the crops, particularly if exposed to a reductive condition.     

Identification of Cu and Ni indicator plants from mineralised locations in Botswana

Plant species that accumulate high levels of metals in proportion to the metal content in the soil are of considerable interest in biogeochemical and biogeobotanical prospecting. This study was aimed at investigating copper and nickel accumulation in the plants Helichrysum candolleanum and Blepharis diversispina, to assess their potential use as mineral indicators in biogeochemical prospecting. Soils and plants were collected from copper–nickel mineralised areas in Botswana. Analyses of the soils and the respective plant parts (roots, stem, leaves and flowers) were carried out using ultrasonic slurry sampling electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS), which allowed rapid determination of copper and nickel in small amounts of the samples.The metal concentration in the soil was in the range ≈ 40 μg/g–4% (w/w) for Cu and ≈ 60 μg/g–0.3% (w/w) for Ni. The concentration ranges of the elements in the plant parts were ≈ 6 μg/g–0.2% Cu and ≈ 3–210 μg/g Ni. At high soil metal content (greater than 2.5% (w/w) Cu and 0.1% (w/w) Ni), high levels of both nickel and copper were found in the shoots (leaves and flowers) of H. candolleanum. Concentrations as high as 0.2% (w/w) Cu were found in the leaves and flowers of H. candolleanum, indicating hyperaccumulation for this plant. For B. diversispina, the metal concentrations did not exceed 100 μg/g for any plant part, for both metals. Both plant species tolerate high concentrations of metals and should therefore be categorized as metallophytes. In order to evaluate metal translocation from the soil to the shoots, metal leaf transfer coefficients (ratio of metal concentration in the leaf to metal concentration in the soil) were calculated. Our data suggest that the two plant species have different metal uptake and transport mechanisms, which needs to be investigated further. The present work also suggests that H. candolleanum may be used as a copper/nickel indicator plant in biogeochemical or biogeobotanical prospecting.     

Levels of organochlorine pesticides in natural water along the Yangtze River,from headstream to estuary,and factors determining these levels

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), including hexachlorocyclohexane and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, were monitored in 37 samples of water collected along the Yangtze River, the third longest river in the world (6,300 km). The total concentration of OCPs (∑OCPs) in the river water ranged from 0.11 to 27.37 ng/L. It was interesting to discover that, except for some sites near industrial cities, levels of OCPs in the water samples were very similar along the whole river. Significantly, OCPs were detected in Tuotuo River (the origin of Yangtze River) even though OCPs have never been used in this area because of its 4,540 m height above sea level. Furthermore, it was found that ∑OCPs was related to temperature and altitude along the river. We assume OCPs are transported along the Yangtze River, and the factors affecting this process are discussed.     

Ability of corals to accumulate heavy metals,Northern Red Sea,Egypt

The concentrations of six heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, Pb and Zn) were studied in 11 hard and 4 soft common coral species collected from Hurghada, Wadi Al-Gemal and Gola’an along the Red Sea coast to assess the differential abilities of corals to concentrate and assimilate the heavy metals inside soft coral tissues and hard coral skeletons. These results reveal the order of Fe > Zn > Ni > Pb ≥ Mn > Cu. Fe recorded significant high concentrations in mushroom (funnel) forms of the soft corals at the different sites; 125.19, 101.71 and 90.44 ppm at Gola’an, Hurghada and Wadi Al-Gemal, respectively. The soft coral species recorded the highest average concentration of Mn, Ni, Cu and Zn than the hard corals, which were 13.22, 16.05, 13.08 and 148.17 ppm, respectively. Generally, soft corals show higher metal concentrations than the hard ones; moreover, Hurghada recorded a higher trend of metal concentrations in soft and hard corals than the other sites. The study concluded that many biological and local environmental factors influenced the metal occurrences and uptakes in both coral forms such as, the exposed surface area for metal uptake, turbidity, overlying mucus thickness and the ability of metals to substitute inside the crystal lattice of the hard corals.     

Influence of the Yangtze River and grain size on the spatial variations of heavy metals and organic carbon in the East China Sea continental shelf sediments

Bulk heavy metal (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd), Al, organic carbon and carbonate concentrations, grain sizes, and δC¹³ of the organic carbon distributions were studied in sediments collected throughout the East China Sea continental shelf and the Yangtze River Delta. The results demonstrated that terrigenous sediments from the Yangtze River is a dominating factor controlling the spatial variations of heavy metals and organic carbon concentrations on the East China Sea continental shelf. In addition, grain size and recent anthropogenic influences are also major factors modifying the spatial and vertical variations of heavy metals.Large spatial variations with a band type distribution of heavy metals, grain size, organic carbon and carbonate were observed. Higher concentrations of heavy metal and light δC¹³ of the organic carbon were found primarily in the Deltaic and inner shelf sediments. The band type distribution generally followed the coastline with little variations in the north–south direction. Away from the Delta and inner shelf (west–east direction), most heavy metal concentrations decreased rapidly with the exception of Cd where high concentrations of Cd were also found in the carbonate-rich shelf break sediments. Coarse-grained relict sediments and biogenic carbonate are two primary diluting agents for the fine-grained aluminosilicate sediments from the Yangtze River with high concentrations of heavy metals.Unusually high concentrations of Cu, Pb, and Cd showed both spatially and vertically that more pollution prevention measures are needed in the Yangtze River drainage basin in order to prevent further heavy metal pollution of the East China Sea inner continental shelf.     

Distribution and abundance of grapsid crabs (Grapsidae) in a mangrove estuary: Effects of sediment characteristics,salinity tolerances,and osmoregulatory ability

Crabs (Grapsidae,Sesarma) are the dominant macrofaunal group of mangrove forest soils in northern Australia. Little is known about the ecology of these crabs or the factors that influence their distribution in mangrove forests. Pitfall traps were used to sample grapsid crabs in the Murray River estuary in north Queensland. Sampling was conducted at five sites along a salinity gradient from <1‰ at upstream sites to >35‰ at the river mouth. At each site, trapping was done in both low and high intertidal forests. We characterized the sediments at each site by measuring percent sand, silt, clay and organic matter, Eh, pH, and soil pore-water salinity. Four species of grapsids dominated the crab fauna along the Murray River (Sesarma semperi-longicristatum, S. messa, S. brevicristatum, andS. brevipes). Distinct zonation patterns were found along the salinity gradient and between high and low intertidal forests.S. messa was dominant in high intertidal, downstream forests, high and low intertidal forests in the middle to downstream portion of the river, and in low intertidal forests in the central reach of the river.S. brevipes was dominant in both low and high intertidal zone forests at low salinity upstream sites.S. brevicristatum was most abundant in the central reaches of the river and only in the high intertidal zone.S. semperi-longicristatum was found only in the low intertidal zone, downstream forest. Subsequently, tests of salinity tolerances of these crabs were carried out in the laboratory. These indicated very wide tolerances over salinities from completely fresh to hypersaline (60‰). The osmoregulatory abilities of the crabs were also found to vary. However, neither their salinity tolerance nor osmoregulatory ability adequately explain the zonation patterns were measured in the field. For example,S. brevicristatum had the most restricted distribution, but it had the second broadest salinity tolerance and osmoregulatory ability. Sediment characteristics explained a significant amount of the variation in abundance for two of the crab species. Pore-water salinity provided no explanatory power for any of the species. Individual species abundances are probably influenced by additional factors such as interspecific competition and predation.     

Mercury pollution in two gold mining areas of the Brazilian Amazon

Gold has been exploited intensively in the Brazilian Amazon during the past fifteen years using garimpo methods (small-scale gold mining). In this study, two gold mining areas were investigated, the municipalities of Pocone and Alta Floresta located in the state of Mato Grosso. Central Brazil. The elemental mercury (Hg) used in amalgamating the gold, the final stage of the ore dressing process, has caused abnormal Hg concentrations in waterways. This has occurred principally in the Amazon region, where most of the ore prospected is alluvial. Background levels of metals were determined by analyzing sediments and soils located upstream of the anthropogenic inputs and unaffected by mining activities. The study aimed to evaluate the pollution level in sediments and soils, taking into account drainage waters directly affected by gold mining. ‘Geoaccumulation indexes’ (Igeo) of Hg in sediments from both study areas were used to assesses the pollution level in the aquatic environment. The geoaccumulation indexes of Hg in sediments of the Bento Gomes River in Pocone indicate a relatively high degree of pollution at some sites, even reaching class 4 (1.85 mg/kg). However, when the river reaches the Pantanal swamp, Hg concentrations drop considerably to 0.30 mg/kg. This drop seems to be due to accumulation of metals in the sediments of a lake (sampling site PG-24), which retains most of the sediments transported by the Bento Gomes River. Accumulation of metals in the lake also occurred for Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe and Mn. In the region of Alta Floresta, total Hg concentrations in sediments of the Teles Pires River were studied in the grain size fractions < 74 μm and > 74 μm. Hg concentrations in bottom sediments of this river were higher than those found in the Pocone region, with increases of 1.5 to 30 times the background, and thus reaching an Igeo up to class 5.     

Ecological risk assessment of heavy metals sampled in sediments and water of the Houjing River,Taiwan

The Houjing River flows through Kaohsiung, the most industrialized city in southern Taiwan. In this study, heavy metal concentrations in water and sediments from samples along the river were investigated to illustrate metal contamination levels and call for the awareness of industrial pollution prevention. The heavy metal concentrations in the water samples were low and appear to pose little direct risk to aquatic life and irrigation, but heavy metal concentrations in the sediments are locally very high and present an environmental risk. Cadmium, Cu, and Zn were found in higher concentrations in the river sediments than those recommended in some sediment quality guidelines and findings of river sediments in similar studies worldwide. Hence, the ecological risk of heavy metal contamination in sediments was assessed using the pollution load index (PLI) and potential ecological risk index (RI). Three of the eleven sites sampled were found to have PLI values higher than 1 and 8 of them had ‘considerable’ to ‘very high’ RI values, suggesting a considerable ecological risk. These findings provide an insight into elemental metal contamination of the Houjing River and present a baseline data set, which will be critical for future development and environmental protection plans devised for the region.     

The elemental composition of suspended particles from the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers

The elemental composition of suspended particles from the Yellow River is similar to those of the loess terraces and the world's average soils. The contents of Zn, Cu, Ni, Co and Pb in the suspended particles are higher in the Yangtze River than in the Yellow River, indicating pollution inputs or the high-side of natural variability.     

A history of the ‘Zambian copper flower', Becium centraliafricanum (B. homblei)

This contribution is a short history of the Zambian copper flower, Becium homblei (recently renamed B. centraliafricanum that has attracted attention as a plant associated with Cu-rich soils. It has a peculiar discontinuous distribution in Central Africa which has been explained in terms of biotype depletion. A field investigation into the ecology of the species shows that it is able to tolerate soil Cu concentrations of up to 15,000 μg/g (ppm), and soil nickel concentrations of nearly 5000 μg/g. B. homblei is also found on areas where soil metals are in trace quantities, and where soil bases, particularly Ca, are low. In spite of its tolerance to a wide range of edaphic conditions, the distribution of the species is very restricted in Zimbabwe, and this is almost certainly due to severe interspecific competition with a closely related species, B. obovatum, which is common on soils not unusually enriched in heavy metals. Pioneering work on geobotanical prospecting by use of Becium homblei was carried out by the late G. Woodward and others in the 1950s and 1960s. This species was used successfully for geobotanical prospecting for Cu. This present report is a brief history of these pioneering studies     

攀西大梁子铅锌矿区水系沉积物重金属地球化学特征及源解析

长江上游是整个长江经济带的重要生态屏障。以长江上游攀西大梁子铅锌矿区水系沉积物为研究对象,查明了重金属元素含量的空间分布特征,分析了重金属来源,探讨了在不同pH条件下重金属的淋滤规律,并进行了生态风险评估。研究结果显示:攀西大桥河流域水系沉积物中重金属的空间分布极不均匀,其含量明显要高于长江水系沉积物中重金属的平均含量;重金属生态风险属于很强风险,Hg和Cd呈高度富集、严重污染;Pb和Zn呈中度富集、中等污染。淋滤实验结果表明Pb、Zn、Cd在酸性和中性条件下淋滤浓度先快速下降,后逐渐趋于平衡,而As在快速下降后又有缓慢升高的趋势。大桥河流域水系沉积物中As、Cd、Pb、Zn主要来源于大梁子铅锌矿的采选活动,Hg为岩石风化和土壤剥蚀来源,而Cu和Cr主要为农业和工业活动来源。综合对比发现,攀西成矿带铅锌矿周边土壤富Cd而贫Cr,此外Cd、Pb、Zn、Hg是主要潜在污染物,且生态风险程度较高。     

The distribution of heavy metal in surface soils and their uptake by plants along roadside slopes in longitudinal range gorge region,China

Metal distributions (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the soils and plants were investigated in roadside surface soils and grass herbage collected from two study sites adjacent to Mangshi–Ruili and Dali–Baoshan highways. At each study site, soil and plant samples were collected along two roadside slopes with distances of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 m away from the highway. Results show that the enrichment of heavy metals in the surface soils and plants along the road is caused by the highway, and it decreases with the increasing distance from the road. Metal concentrations in the soils and plants along the downslope are higher than those in the upslope along the road. The six types of metals investigated in this research mainly distributed within 200 m from the highway. Four types of relationships between metal uptake by plants from soils and the distance were found and their clear distinctions of Cr, Cu, Pd, Ni and Zn uptake by plants were also investigated.     

Recent changes in heavy metal storage in flood-plain soils of the Lahn River,central Germany

Between 1995 and 2007, the concentrations of Pb and Zn in floodplain soils increased along a 60-km reach of the Lahn River, Germany, suggesting that the storage of some metals in the fluvial system is out of phase with recent declines in the release of metals to the environment. Re-sampling of surface soils to 5 cm along five transects perpendicular to the river indicated that the concentration of Pb increased between 1995 and 2007 along two transects and was statistically unchanged at the other three. The concentration of Zn increased at three of five transects and was statistically unchanged at two transects over the same time period. Between 1995 and 2007, concentrations of Cu were statistically equal along four of five transects and declined at the other transect. The increase in Pb and Zn was greater in a more rural than in a more urbanized reach of the Lahn River. Soil texture and organic matter content had virtually no impact on the concentration of metals. The increase in Pb concentration suggests a lag between the decline in Pb releases to the environment and its movement through the fluvial system. Increased Zn storage may result from the high solubility of the metal and the relative ease with which it moves through the environment. Environmental controls appear to have slowed Cu storage along the Lahn River, but are not yet reflected in Pb and Zn storage.