Inadequacy of NASQAN Data for Assessing Metal Trends in the Nation's Rivers

Herbert L. Windom; James T. Byrd; Ralph G. Smith; Feng Huan

doi:10.1021/es00018a019

Inadequacy of NASQAN Data for Assessing Metal Trends in the Nation's Rivers

Herbert L. Windom, James T. Byrd, Ralph G. Smith, Feng Huan

Earth and Environmental Studies

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

130 Scopus citations

Abstract

Results of our analyses of dissolved Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in east coast North American rivers are considerably lower than those reported by the U.S. Geological Survey, National Stream Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN) for samples collected at similar locations during a similar time period. These results along with recent literature suggest that the NASQAN dissolved trace metal data are unreliable for the purpose of establishing water quality trends in the Nation's rivers. Dissolved trace metal concentrations in east coast rivers are probably controlled more by river chemistry than by anthropogenic inputs. Trace metal concentrations on suspended particles may provide a better index of anthropogenic influences.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1137-1142
Number of pages	6
Journal	Environmental Science and Technology
Volume	25
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/es00018a019
State	Published - 1 Jun 1991

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title = "Inadequacy of NASQAN Data for Assessing Metal Trends in the Nation's Rivers",

abstract = "Results of our analyses of dissolved Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in east coast North American rivers are considerably lower than those reported by the U.S. Geological Survey, National Stream Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN) for samples collected at similar locations during a similar time period. These results along with recent literature suggest that the NASQAN dissolved trace metal data are unreliable for the purpose of establishing water quality trends in the Nation's rivers. Dissolved trace metal concentrations in east coast rivers are probably controlled more by river chemistry than by anthropogenic inputs. Trace metal concentrations on suspended particles may provide a better index of anthropogenic influences.",

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AU - Windom, Herbert L.

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AU - Smith, Ralph G.

AU - Huan, Feng

PY - 1991/6/1

Y1 - 1991/6/1

N2 - Results of our analyses of dissolved Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in east coast North American rivers are considerably lower than those reported by the U.S. Geological Survey, National Stream Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN) for samples collected at similar locations during a similar time period. These results along with recent literature suggest that the NASQAN dissolved trace metal data are unreliable for the purpose of establishing water quality trends in the Nation's rivers. Dissolved trace metal concentrations in east coast rivers are probably controlled more by river chemistry than by anthropogenic inputs. Trace metal concentrations on suspended particles may provide a better index of anthropogenic influences.

AB - Results of our analyses of dissolved Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in east coast North American rivers are considerably lower than those reported by the U.S. Geological Survey, National Stream Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN) for samples collected at similar locations during a similar time period. These results along with recent literature suggest that the NASQAN dissolved trace metal data are unreliable for the purpose of establishing water quality trends in the Nation's rivers. Dissolved trace metal concentrations in east coast rivers are probably controlled more by river chemistry than by anthropogenic inputs. Trace metal concentrations on suspended particles may provide a better index of anthropogenic influences.

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Inadequacy of NASQAN Data for Assessing Metal Trends in the Nation's Rivers

Abstract

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