Authors / CoAuthors
Lech, M.E. | de Caritat, P.
Abstract
This study aims to determine whether element excesses or deficiencies exist in the regolith of the Riverina region, and how this may impact plant, animal and/or human health. Top (0-10 cm depth) and bottom (~60-90 cm) overbank sediment samples were collected near the outlet of 142 catchments and the composition of the <180 m fractions determined. Total concentrations of As (0.8-159.8 mg/kg), Ba (189-1263 mg/kg), Br (<1-89.5 mg/kg), Cd (<0.1-2.33 mg/kg), Cr (29-200 mg/kg), F (150-610 mg/kg), Ga (6.3-26.1 mg/kg), Sb (0.37-10.8 mg/kg), U (1.26-8.49 mg/kg) and V (31-145 mg/kg) are locally elevated above guidelines and these elements therefore have potential for health concerns. At least half of the samples were above the guidelines for Ba, Cr, F, Ga and V. Most elements are unlikely to cause harm due to their low plant uptake or their ability to adsorb onto clays, however Cd and U in particular require follow up investigations. Co (2.96-34.2 mg/kg) and Mo (0.5-1.9 mg/kg) are potentially deficient in parts of the region but, once identified, are easy to remedy with the application of appropriate fertilisers. There are few Australian guidelines on maximum tolerable element concentrations in soils. Guidelines based on appropriate geological, climatic and landscape conditions that also include estimates of elemental bioavailability are needed. Keywords: floodplain sediment; geochemical mapping; geomedicine; overbank sediment
Product Type
nonGeographicDataset
eCat Id
63922
Contact for the resource
Custodian
Point of contact
Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
ACT
2601
Australia
Keywords
-
- External PublicationScientific Journal Paper
- ( Theme )
-
- environmental
- ( Theme )
-
- geochemistry
- ( Theme )
-
- AEM
-
- AU-NSWAU-VIC
- Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)
-
- Earth Sciences
-
- Published_Internal
Publication Date
2005-01-01T00:00:00
Creation Date
Security Constraints
Legal Constraints
Status
Purpose
Maintenance Information
unknown
Topic Category
geoscientificInformation
Series Information
Lineage
Unknown
Parent Information
Extents
[-38.0, -32.0, 142.0, 148.0]
Reference System
Spatial Resolution
Service Information
Associations
Downloads and Links
Source Information
Source data not available.