| A total of grab samples of Delaware River sediments were collected from the head of Delaware Bay to the confluence with Schuylkill River. The samples mainly consisted of fine particles. The range of volatile solids content was 0.54 to 10.25% on a dry weight basis. Simple linear regression analyses were performed to investigate relationships among sand, silt, clay, sulfur, heavy metals, volatiles, extractables, non-extractables, total hydrocarbons, aliphatics, aromatics, halogenated pesticides, and aroclors of the sediments. The coefficient of determination, ;No heavy metal (Pb, Ni, Cu, Cd, Zn, Cr, Mn, and Fe) showed a correlation with sulfur. All metals had an inverse relationship to sand, and a proportional relationship to silt, clay, and volatile solids. These statistical results suggested that the main factor controlling the adsorption of metals was the organic matter content in sediments. The results also suggested that metal concentrations in sediments had an inverse relationship to particle size.;Volatile solids, extractables, total hydrocarbons, aliphatics, and aromatics showed an inverse relationship to sand and a proportional relationship to silt and clay. Total hydrocarbons, aliphatics, and aromatics showed a proportional relationship to the extractables and non-extractables. The extractables defined by this method may include organic compounds of biogenic origin and other organic compounds that are extractable and elute in the appropriate fractions. It is expected that the hydrocarbons tend to associate with the less hydrophilic organic matter.;All the halogenated pesticides showed an inverse relationship to sand and a proportional relationship to silt, clay, extractables, and volatile solids. Aroclors also showed a relationship to the organic fraction. The reasons are similar to those noted for hydrocarbons. Significant interrelationships of DDT and its degradation products were also observed.;A decrease in sulfur, heavy metals, volatile solids, extractables, non-extractables, total hydrocarbons, aliphatics, aromatics, polar compounds, specific aromatics, pesticides, and aroclors as a function of distance down-stream was also observed. |
