RedN NAWQA
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Red River of the North Basin
National Water-Quality Assessment Program
Brigham, M.E. and Tornes, L.H., 1996, Trace elements and organic contaminants
in stream sediments from the Red River of the North Basin, 1992-95: North
Dakota Water Quality Symposium Proceedings, March 20-21, 1996, Bismarck, North
Dakota, North Dakota State University Extension Service, p. 135-144.
Abstract
Erratum: Europium data were determined to be in error. All europium data are
now reported as less than 2 micrograms per gram.
To assess the presence and distribution of a variety of hydro-phobic chemicals in streams in the Red River of the North Basin, bottom sediments were analyzed for trace elements, organochlorines, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Glaciolacustrine clays and carbonate minerals are common in fine sediments of the region, and can help explain the distribution of many elements. Aluminum (Al), an indicator of glaciolacustrine clay minerals, correlates strongly (r>0.75, p<0.05) with Cr, Co, Fe, La, Li, K, Sc, and Ti; and moderately (0.55<r<0.75) with Ce, Cu, Ga, Nd, Ni, Th, V, and Y. Excluding the tributary Pembina River Basin, Eu, Nb, Ce, La, Nd, and Ni also have strong correlations with Al. Al correlates negatively with major elements associated with carbonate minerals (Ca, Mg, and inorganic carbon). No significant correlations with Al, Ca, or Mg were observed for As, Pb, Mn, Hg, Se, or Ag, which implies that these elements have different environmental sources or behaviors than glaciolacustrine clays or carbonate minerals. Reduction-oxidation processes may influence Mn distribution. Lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) are known to be anthropogenically enriched in the environment--their distribution may indicate environmental enrichment in Red River of the North Basin streams. Organochlorines detected are limited to traces of DDT and its metabolites (mostly p,p'-DDE). Fourteen PAHs, which are constituents of fossil fuels and of combustion byproducts, were detected in at least half the sediment samples; pyrene and fluoranthene were detected in about 90 percent of samples. The contaminants detected in this study were present at low levels, likely indicative of diffuse or remote sources; they occur widely in the environment.
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U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey