Relation of sediment characteristics to trace metal concentrations: a statistical study

Twenty six geographically and hydrologically diverse sediment samples were collected from major rivers in eastern China and analyzed for sediment characteristics (grain size distribution, iron, manganese and their oxyhydroxides, aluminum, total organic carbon, surface area and surface site density) and Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations. The relation of sediment characteristics to trace metal concentrations was statistically studied by Kendall rank and partial rank correlation analysis. Although a variety of sediment characteristics showed apparent correlations with trace metal concentrations, most of them were caused by the interrelation among the characteristics themselves. The partial correlation analysis indicated that trace metal concentrations of the relatively uncontaminated sediments can be better interpreted by the sediment surface area (an integrated characteristic) and aluminum content (an indication of the local geochemical processes).