Metal concentrations in tissues of Spartina alterniflora (Loisel.) and sediments of Georgia salt marshes

The concentrations of eleven metals (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, V and Zn) were determined in salt marsh sediments from seven locations in two industrial/port cities and one relatively unimpacted region of the Georgia coast. In addition, six of these elements (Al, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn and Zn) were measured in the above- and below-ground tissues of the salt marsh plants Spartina alterniflora from the same locations and in Spartina cynosuroides at one site. The sedimentary metal concentrations of Cr, Cu, Hg, V and Zn were higher in the industrial/port sites by less than a factor of ten relative to the other areas, and the remaining elements had similar sedimentary concentrations at all locations. Tissue concentrations of elements in S. alterniflora varied little between sites. Elemental ratios and concentration factor calculations for plant tissues indicated that Al and Fe were not actively taken up, but that internal concentrations of Cu and Hg appeared to be controlled by the plants.