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The South Pacific Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences The South Pacific Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Society
Research and review papers in the area of science, engineering and mathematics
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Distribution and chemical fractionation of arsenic in surficial sediments of the Lami coastal environment in Fiji

Vimlesh Chand, Surendra Prasad and Rajendra Prasad

The South Pacific Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences 28(1) 78 - 81
Published: 10 February 2011

Abstract

A case of arsenic contamination has recently been detected in the Lami coastal environment during the course of a heavy metal monitoring in Fiji's coastal environment. Twenty two surficial sediment samples were sampled during the 2008–2009 period, extracted for arsenic and analysed using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Two sites within the Lami estuary recorded the highest As levels of 334 and 282 mg kg–1 as dry weight in sediments samples, which has greatly exceeded the local and global average background concentrations. Chemical fractionation studies using a standard sequential protocol showed that As is mostly associated with residual (strong acid extractable) phase of the sediments, however significant amounts of As were also detected in bioavailable (exchangeable, water and acid soluble), reducible and oxidisable fractions. Comparison with standard sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) indicate that As levels are likely to be highly toxic to biota, hence further ecotoxicological studies are warranted to evaluate possible environmental effects on the aquatic environment.

Keywords: Arsenic contamination, estuary, coastal, sediments, trace metal monitoring, Fiji.

https://doi.org/10.1071/SP10010

© The University of the South Pacific 2011

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