Catchment condition as a major control on the quality of receiving basin sediments (Sydney Harbour, Australia).

The current work aimed to compile existing information to better understand the source, fate and effects of metallic contaminants in one catchment-receiving basin system (Iron Cove) in Sydney Harbour (Australia). Copper, Pb and Zn concentrations of potential source materials, i.e. soils (mean 62, 410 and 340 microg g(-1), respectively) and road dust (mean 160, 490 and 520 microg g(-1), respectively) and in materials being transported to the estuary, i.e. in gully pots (mean 110, 200 and 260 microg g(-1) for Cu, Pb, and Zn, respectively), in bedload (mean 210, 880 and 1700 microg g(-1), respectively) and particulates in canals draining the catchment (mean 325, 290 and 1865 microg g(-1), respectively) were highly enriched. Estuarine sediments in the receiving basin are enriched 20 times over pre-anthropogenic concentrations and are toxic to benthic animals at the canal mouths. Stormwater remediation is required to reduce metal loads to the adjacent estuary.