Heavy metal distribution in bottom sediments of a Mexican reservoir

Abstract

Sediments from the Jose Antonio Alzate Reservoir (México) that receives large amount of industrial and municipal untreated waste water were analyzed in order to explore pollution by heavy metals. Samples from ten locations were analyzed to obtain particle size and concentrations of selected heavy metals in different sieve size fractions. Areas of deposition of fines are illustrated. The analysis of metal concentration by size fraction, the relative presence of metals, the ratio of metal concentrations to sediment particle size and additional information such as anthropogenic inputs, chemical association were used to explain the distribution pattern of heavy metals in the reservoir.