Arsenic, Chromium and Mercury in Surface Sediment of Songkhla Lake System, Thailand
Songkhla Lake, a tropical estuarine lagoon system in southern Thailand, is located between latitudes 7°08¢ and 7°50¢ N and longitudes 100°07¢ and 100°37¢ E. The system has four interconnected water bodies, namely Thale Noi, Inner Lake, Middle Lake and Outer Lake, ranging from fresh to saline water. The system receives runoff, wastewater and sediments from surrounding watershed and drains into the Gulf of Thailand. Seventy-four surface sediment samples from the whole lake system were determined for As, Cr, Hg, Fe, Mn, Al, organic carbon and textural characteristics. Total concentration of As in Thale Noi, Inner & Middle Lake, and Outer Lake are 8.2 ± 1.7 (5.7-10.8), 5.9 ± 1.5 (3.7-10.8) and 10.7 ± 5.5 (5.1-25.7) mg kg-1, respectively. Total concentration of Cr in Thale Noi, Inner & Middle Lake, and Outer Lake are 45.2 ± 5.0 (36.0-55.2), 36.6 ± 9.2 (23.7-73.3) and 29.6 ± 9.2 (7.9-48.2) mg kg-1, respectively. Total concentration of Hg in Thale Noi, Inner & Middle Lake, and Outer Lake are 89.1 ± 14.9 (63.4-113.1), 38.4 ± 11.1 (24.3-68.0) and 49.3 ± 15.2 (26.6-110.3) mg kg-1, respectively. In most part of the lake, As and Cr concentrations are at or near natural levels, except at station 57. The concentration of Hg may be natural or influenced to some degree by anthropogenic sources. Thale Noi, the most natural part of the lake system which contains high organic content, has the highest concentrations of Cr and Hg. Diagenetic processes involving iron oxides and aluminosilicate appear to be the most important factor controlling the behaviour of As, Cr and Hg in sediments. Organic matter and clay size particles seem to have less direct influence on the geochemistry of the metals.
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