
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Gangaiya, Philomena 
A1  - Tabudravu, Jioji 
A1  - South, Robin 
A1  - Sotheeswaran, Subramanium 
T1  - Heavy metal contamination of the Lami coastal environment, Fiji
JF  - The South Pacific Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences
JO  - S. Pac. J. Nat. App. Sci.
Y1  - 2001
VL  - 19
IS  - 1
SP  - 24
EP  - 29
KW  - Heavy metals, coastal, contamination, enrichment factor, sediment, Fiji
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/SP01005 
N2  - Contamination of the coastal environment of small island countries is of concern because people&#39;s livelihoods in these countries are intimately linked to the resources of the coastal zone. The Lami estuary in Fiji is located downstream of an industrial area and is used extensively for fishing and other recreational activities. Sediment samples from twenty-nine sites within the area were analysed for copper, lead and zinc to determine whether the area is contaminated with heavy metals. Within the estuary, significant enrichment is evident, with heavy metal concentrations exceeding some of those from other known contaminated sites in the country. Although copper contamination appears to be restricted to a few sites within the estuary, contamination with lead and zinc seems to be spreading to areas further away from the shore. Metal distribution patterns clearly indicate adjacent factories to be the main source of contamination. The results show that contrary to popular belief, highly contaminated sites do exist in the relatively pristine coastal environments of island countries like Fiji. 
ER  -

