Heavy metal accumulation in the sediments of a Washington lake

Conclusions Freshwater and marine sediments are known to be potential sinks for heavy metals discharged into the atmosphere and into water through man's activities. Under natural conditions lake sediments may concentrate heavy metals to a certain extent over surrounding geological material.Wapato Lake is accumulating high levels of certain heavy metals, particularly lead and zinc, in its sediments from street surface contaminants. This situation is probably of widespread occurrence wherever street surface drainage is discharged directly into natural settling basins of this sort.