Distribution of heavy metals in Gove Harbour, Northern Territory, Australia

The concentration of four metals in waters and eight metals in oysters and sediments from Gove Harbour, Northern Territory, were determined during the dry season of 1987. The measured concentrations of zinc, cadmium, copper and lead in unfiltered waters were: 1.10-7.28, 0.10-2.20, 0.25-3.45 and 0.15-2.87 micrograms l-1, and zinc, cadmium, copper, lead, aluminium, nickel, manganese and iron in oysters, 60.1-970, 0.14-4.07, 3.77-30.67, ND-0.46, 6.50-1123.0, 0.02-0.44, 0.24-2.04 and 4.28-981.3 micrograms g-1 wet weight, and in sediments, 0.09-22.24, ND-0.45, ND-5.95, ND-2.98, 229.98-16053.5, 0.21-7.70, 13.77-50.24 and 759.5-2659.6 micrograms g-1 dry weight. Concentrations of zinc, aluminium and cadmium were higher in the oysters. The level of cadmium exceeded the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recommended limit. In general, levels of these and other metals were higher near a bauxite treatment plant.