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Requirements for modeling trace metal partitioning in oxidized estuarine sediments

January 1, 1983

The fate of particulate-bound metals is of particular importance in estuaries because major biological energy flows involve consumption of detrital particles. The biological impact of particulate-bound metals is strongly influenced by the partitioning of metals among sediment components at the oxidized sediment-water interface. Adequate methods for directly measuring this partitioning are not available, thus a modeling approach may be most useful. Important requirements for such a model include: (1) determinations of metal binding intensities which are comparable among sediment components important in oxidized sediments; (2) comparable determinations of the binding capacities of the several forms of each component; (3) operational determinations of the abundance in natural sediments of components of defined binding capacity; (4) assessments of the influence of particle coatings and multicomponent aggregation on the available binding capacity of each substrate; (5) consideration of the effect of Ca and Mg competition on binding to different components; and (6) determinations of the kinetics of metal redistribution among components in oxidized sediments.

Publication Year 1983
Title Requirements for modeling trace metal partitioning in oxidized estuarine sediments
DOI 10.1016/0304-4203(83)90078-6
Authors Samuel N. Luoma, J.A. Davis
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Marine Chemistry
Index ID 70011376
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Toxic Substances Hydrology Program