Publication Abstract

Total arsenic in sediments from the western North Sea and the Humber estuary

C. Whalley, S.M. Rowlatt, M. Bennett and D. Lovell

Previous surveys of North Sea sediments have tended to omit arsenic from the range of metals analysed. This study analysed archived samples and incorporated recent data from the Dogger Bank to examine total arsenic in sediments from the western North Sea and Humber Estuary. Historically, the Humber has received a large point discharge of arsenic, so there is interest in investigating the extent of any contamination from this source. Normalisation of arsenic to the clay analogues aluminium or rubidium was not statistically appropriate for the whole of the surveyed area. However, normalisation to iron, representing iron (oxy-)hydroxide coatings with which arsenate has a high affinity, did show strong relationships for sediments from the region. This procedure showed relatively high arsenic concentrations in sediments from the outer Thames and off north east Norfolk, while those from the Humber were within the expected range. Although arsenical waste disposal could explain high arsenic concentrations in sediments from the outer Thames, causes for those off Norfolk are as yet unclear.