Abstract
© 2018 Ceramic fragments and fractionated (<2 mm) sediment have been sampled from two beaches in southwest England, along with sediment from a control beach where ceramic waste was lacking. Analysis of the glazed ceramic surfaces by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry returned concentrations of Pb up to 729,000 mg kg−1, while XRF analysis of sediment samples revealed high but heterogeneous concentrations of Pb at the two sites impacted by ceramic waste (median = 292 and 737 mg kg−1) compared with the control beach (median ~ 20 mg kg−1). These observations are attributed to the disposal of contemporary and historical ceramic products, and the subsequent attrition of material and contamination of local sediment. Extraction of a milled ceramic composite (Pb = 2780 mg kg−1) by 1 M HCl, revealed a high (34%) environmental mobility and availability of Pb; extraction in a solution of protein, however, suggested a low (0.1%) bioaccessibility to sediment-ingesting invertebrates.
DOI
10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.11.013
Publication Date
2019-01-01
Publication Title
Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume
138
ISSN
0025-326X
Embargo Period
2019-11-23
Organisational Unit
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
First Page
171
Last Page
176
Recommended Citation
Turner, A. (2019) 'Lead pollution of coastal sediments by ceramic waste', Marine Pollution Bulletin, 138, pp. 171-176. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.11.013
