Trace metal pollution from a municipal waste disposal site at Pangnirtung, Northwest Territories

Abstract

Water and sediment samples were analyzed for trace metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn). All trace metal concentrations showed a considerable increase below the dump, but only Pb and Fe in samples from the main collector ditch and below the dump exhibited excessive levels. The ratios between easily exchangeable metals and total metals ranged between 0.02 (Fe) and 18.7 (Cu), in accordance with related studies. There was no significant accumulation of any trace metal in the sediments below the disposal site, indicating rapid removal from the intertidal flats and subsequent accumulation in the bottom sediments. -from Author