Detection of heavy metals and VOCs in streambed sediment indicates anthropogenic impact on intermittent streams of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

ABSTRACT: Global surges in industrialization and human development have resulted in environmental contamination. Streambed sediment contamination threatens ecological and human health due to groundwater leaching and downstream contaminant mobilization. This is especially true in the wider Caribbean region, where streambed sediment contamination is understudied. In the current study, we assessed human impact on intermittent streams by measuring heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in streambed sediment on St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), where intermittent streams receive limited conservation and research attention. In contrast to our hypothesis that streambed sediment pollutant concentrations would be higher in developed, compared to undeveloped areas, contaminant

SUBMITTER: Lancellotti BV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10567703 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature