Effect of urban emissions on the horizontal distribution of metal concentration in sediments in the vicinity of Asian large cities

Abstract

Metal contents of sediments in Manila Bay - Laguna Lake watershed in the Philippines were measured and detailed horizontal distribution was obtained. The distribution of zinc and lead concentration in Manila Bay clearly shows the effect of anthropogenic contamination and it was explained by the diffusion of lead and zinc rich anthropogenic particles discharged from Pasig River. The sediments in Laguna Lake were mostly natural particulate matters from surrounding mountains and they contained 20 mgPb/kg and 100 mgZn/kg, while the sediment taken at the heavily polluted branches of the Pasig River contained as high as 88 mgPb/kg and 310 mgZn/kg. The lead and zinc concentrations in the sediments of Manila Bay - Laguna Lake watershed were compared with those in the mouth of the Tama River, Tokyo, where the faster deposition of coarser natural origin particles and slower deposition of lead and zinc rich anthropogenic particles determined the sediment concentration. The comparison was also made with Hanoi City, Vietnam. In spite of the difference in time when leaded gasoline was prohibited, the difference in the lead concentrations of roadside deposits and sediments was not obvious in the vicinity of these three target cities. This is probably due to dilution by a large amount of suspended solids conveyed by the Pasig River in the case of the Philippines. Storm water runoff containing roadside deposits and discharge of untreated wastewater were identified as factors increasing zinc and lead concentrations of sediments in receiving waters based on the measurements on roadside deposits and the estimation of the contribution of untreated wastewater.