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Metal Concentrations in Sediments of the Tamsui River, Flows Through Central Metropolitan Taipei

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Abstract

This work analyzed metal concentrations and potential sources of sediment pollutants in the Tamsui River, Taiwan, by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The Tamsui River, the second longest of Taiwan’s three major rivers, flows through metropolitan Taipei City in northern Taiwan and is renowned for its preserved mangrove wetlands. In total 11 elements Al, As, Br, Cs, Fe, La, Mg. Mn, Na, Sc, and Ti were identified in 24 samples taken from three sites upriver, the mangrove area and estuary during the spring of 2004. Specifically, the most abundant Al metal concentration was 15.6–0.92 mg/g adopted as standard reference in this study. Only few sites had As at the statistical meaning (>DL). Furthermore, arsenic concentrations fluctuated at roughly 0.67 ± 0.09 mg/kg based on variations in background counts in various γ-ray spectra. Elemental concentrations of these elements were compared with those in other nations, and discussed in the context of enrichment factors calculated for elements using the earth crust of various sediments as references, based on elemental values of Al.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the staff members of the zero-power reactor at LungTan for their supports of this work without reservation, and also thank the National Science Council for financially supporting this research under Contract No. NSC 89-2212-E-014-022.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Medicine, School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, 40201, Taiwan

    Dong-Shang Lai

  2. School of Medical Imaging and Radiology Science, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, 40201, Taiwan

    Jye-Bin Lin & Chien-Yi Chen

  3. Department of Radiation Oncology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 40201, Taiwan

    Wen-Shan Liu

  4. Graduate Institute of Radiological Technology, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Takun, Taichung, 40609, Taiwan

    Lung-Kwang Pan & Kuang-Hua Chu

  5. Cardiovascular Center, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, 40705, Taiwan

    Kuang-Hua Chu

  6. School of Medical Laboratory and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, 40201, Taiwan

    Ding-Bang Lin

  7. Clinical Laboratory, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 40201, Taiwan

    Ding-Bang Lin

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  1. Dong-Shang Lai
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  2. Jye-Bin Lin
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Correspondence to Ding-Bang Lin.

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Lai, DS., Lin, JB., Liu, WS. et al. Metal Concentrations in Sediments of the Tamsui River, Flows Through Central Metropolitan Taipei. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 84, 628–634 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-010-9959-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-010-9959-2

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