Levels of Heavy Metals in Sediment Samples from Select Creeks in Metro Vancouver, BC, Canada

Forty-seven samples collected from 23 creeks in Metro Vancouver, BC, Canada were analyzed to assess how different land use activities affect physicochemical properties in surface water and metal concentrations in sediments. The pH, total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity in surface water samples ranged from 5.50 to 8.27, 14.0 to 410.0 ppm, and 19.0 to 903.0 µS/cm, respectively, with no discernible relationship between the surrounding land use and the parameters. However, land use influenced metal concentrations in the sediments with arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, silver, and zinc at some locations exceeding the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment sediment quality guidelines. Creeks closer to highways with heavy vehicular activities reported significantly higher concentrations of metals. Principal component and cluster analyses revealed anthropogenic and natural processes enrich the sediments with metals. It is therefore important to put measures in place to curb increase in metal concentrations in creek sediments.

Author dc:creator

• Gampson, Enoch, Kofi

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Dodd, Matt

• School of environment and sustainability

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Identifier URI

https://doi.org/10.25316/IR-19247

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:null:10613/27573