Cadmium concentrations in limed and partly reacidified lakes in Telemark, Norway

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) concentrations were measured in water and sediments from eight lakes in the acid stressed area of western Telemark, Norway. The lakes were either not limed (group I, n =2), limed once in 1992 (group II, n=4) , or regularly since 1982 (group III n=2). Cd concentrations in the lake surface water were generally low as only one sample exceeded the detection limit (0.05 mg/l). The Cd levels in the bottom water were higher and highest in the unlimed lakes. The Cd concentrations in the sediments averaged 1.06, 1.79, and 2.52 mg/g in group I, II , and III respectively, but with much variation within the groups. The Cd levels of the sediment samples, which were collected from the deepest part of the lakes, increased with the depth and with the Fe content in sediments.