Distribution of potentially toxic metals in bed sediments and crayfish of the Upper Wisconsin River

Abstract

The stratigraphic distributions of mercury, cadmium, lead, zinc, and copper in bed sediments of the Upper Wisconsin River from Brokaw to the Lake DuBay Dam (main study area) were studied. Organic content, texture, and cesium-137 profiles in sediment cores were also determined. Mercury was measured in whole crayfish (Orconectes spp.) collected in the same reaches of river. The Rainbow Flowage, located on the Upper Wisconsin River upstream from point discharges of metal-containing effluents, was selected as a reference site.