Baseline Metal Concentrations in Coastal Labrador Sediments

Levels of Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, and Zn in surface sediment from the Voisey’s Bay area of coastal Labrador showed no evidence of recent anthropogenic input of metals. Metal concentrations in surface sediments, normalized to Li, fell within the 95% confidence limits of the background levels. Further analysis showed that the Li-metal regression lines from the surface sediments and sediments from 30-cm depth had the same slope and intercepts, suggesting that there was no difference in the metal content of the sediments at the two depths. Li–metal relationships can be used as a measure of the natural variability of the metal concentrations for the region and will serve as a baseline against which future anthropogenic affects may be assessed.