Distribution of heavy metals in polluted creek sediment.

Sediments affect the water quality substantially. The metal concentrations in sediments often reflect the degree of pollution of the aquatic environment. The sediments of Thane Creek near Bombay were analyzed for nine metals Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn on twenty stations. The average metal concentrations in the sediments were 2.29, 37.25, 39.89, 103.38, 69825.0, 860.15, 105.08, 54.08, and 169.60 μg g(-1) dwt respectively. The metal concentrations at certain stations were relatively higher than those of uncontaminated sediments, possibly due to industrial activity in the former area.