Consistent assessment of trace metal contamination in surface sediments and suspended particulate matter: A case study from the Jade Bay in NW Germany

Recently, within the framework of European directives, the importance of marine monitoring programs has increased. In this study, a dense sampling grid was applied for a detailed assessment of the metal contents of surface sediments and suspended particulate matter from the Jade Bay, one of the tidal basins in the southern North Sea. The local lithogenic background was defined and compared with average shale, a common reference material. Based on the calculated non-lithogenic fraction and a cluster analysis, the metals are distributed in two groups: (i) elements of mainly natural origin (Co, Cr, and a major portion of Cd) and (ii) elements associated with anthropogenic activity (As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sn, and Zn). However, even the metals of the second group are enriched by at most a factor of two relative to the local background, suggesting minimal anthropogenic impact. Spatial distribution maps show that the harbor area of Wilhelmshaven may be a particularly important source of metal.