Natural trace metal concentrations in estuarine and coastal marine sediments of the southeastern United States

Tabulated and graphical data are presented on the concentrations of trace metals in over 450 sediment samples from estuaries and coastal waters of southeast U.S.A. in areas remote from sources of pollution. A map showing sampling locations is included. Concentrations of several metals covaried significantly with the concentration of aluminium, suggesting that natural aluminosilicate minerals were the dominant natural metal-bearing phases. The covariance of metals with aluminium could be used to identify and compare anthropogenic inputs to coastal and estuarine sediments in this region. Results are presented from the application of this approach to sediments from Savannah river, Ga., Biscayne bay, Fla., and Pensacola bay, Fla.