Maata, Matakite and Singh, S. (2008) Heavy metal pollution in Suva harbour sediments, Fiji. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 6 (2). pp. 113-118. ISSN 1610-3653
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
In Fiji, contamination of the coastal environment by heavy metals is proving to be a real concern. This work reports for the first time analyses carried out on an extensive basis, to ascertain the extent of anthropogenic contamination by heavy metals in the <0.063 mm surface sediments of Suva harbour. Sediment samples from 40 sites selected within the harbour were collected and analysed for five heavy metals. The levels of the metals range from 21.4 to 143.0 ± 0.1 mg/kg Cu, 1.40 to 4.87 ± 0.07 wt.% Fe, 22.1 to 93.5 ± 0.3 mg/kg Pb, 40.2 to 269.0 ± 0.3 mg/kg Zn and 1.1 to 2.6 ± 0.2 mg/kg Sn. With reference to the pristine area of the Great Astrolabe, in Kadavu, the acquired data from the harbour are indicative of heavy metal pollution. This could be attributed to the numerous industrial and commercial activities at Wailada and Walu Bay industrial areas, the municipal dump located at the Suva foreshore and the Suva wharf. The pollution is further compounded by the high population density in Suva city.
| Item Type: | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | Q Science > QD Chemistry |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) > School of Biological and Chemical Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Ms Neha Harakh |
| Date Deposited: | 11 Jan 2008 00:14 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Jul 2012 03:00 |
| URI: | http://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/199 |
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