A study of indication of trace metal pollution of marine areas by analysis of salt marsh soils

Salt marsh soils from the mean water level and from different levels above the mean water level at two Danish coastal lagoons, which differ in water pollution due to differences in the character of the surrounding land use, were analysed for EDTA extractable Pb, Cu, Zn and Ni and for organic matter and cation exchange capacity. From the results a positive correlation was apparent between the trace metal loading of the soils, expressed by the trace metal concentration in relation to the content of soil organic matter, and the mean trace metal concentration of the lagoon water, submerging the salt marsh at high water. This opens up the possibility of using analyses of salt marsh soils in the indication of trace metal pollution of protected coastal waters.