Copper Contamination in the Sediments of Salt River Mouth, Taiwan

This study was conducted using the data collected at the mouth of Salt River to investigate and analyze copper (Cu) contained in the sediments, and to evaluate the accumulation of Cu and the degree of its potential risk. The results show that samples collected at all monitoring stations near the mouth of Salt River contain 286–895 mg/kg of Cu with average of 501±243 mg/kg. The spatial distribution of Cu reveals that the Cu concentration is relatively high in the river mouth region, and gradually diminishes toward the harbor region. This indicates that upstream industrial and municipal wastewater discharges along the river bank are major sources of pollution. The accumulation factor and potential ecological risk index indicate that the sedimentation at Salt River mouth has the most serious degree of Cu accumulation and the highest ecological potential risk.