Contaminated Sediments Database for Long Island Sound and the New York Bight U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 03-241, Inorganics Table

Contaminated Sediments Database for Long Island Sound and the New York Bight, USGS Open-File Report 03-241

Inorganics Table

Introduction to the Inorganics Table

The Inorganics Table in the Long Island Sound and New York Bight Contaminated Sediments Database is a MS Excel 2000 document containing descriptive and quantitative information for sediment samples collected within the region. Unique Identification Numbers (Unique ID#) allow the user to access additional information from other tables in the database. The Inorganics Table contains columns for data source, the year of publication or date collected, analytical laboratory, methods used, replicates for laboratory quality control, 31 major/minor/trace elements, 22 other inorganic parameters, as well as qualifier and detection limit fields (See Data Dictionary).

The Inorganics Table can be used independently to assess data quality examining the qualifiers given with each analysis. It is VITAL that this quality assurance step be taken prior to using data for scientific and interpretive purposes! Once the user is satisfied with quality of data selected, the inorganic contaminant data tables may be used in conjunction with information from the Station table (e.g. latitude and longitude) to illustrate and study the distribution contaminant concentrations. Examples of plots and graphs describing the inorganic are displayed below.

Inorganics Table Plots and Graphs

Concentrations: These maps demonstrate how the data may be used to show the distribution of samples geographically, by element and by concentration. Lead, mercury, copper, and zinc concentrations are shown with the red dots indicating highest concentrations and the green indicating lowest concentrations. Where possible, the samples were binned by 'Effects-Range Low (ER-L) and Effects Range-Medium (ER-M)'. The ER-L and ER-M values were taken from NOAA's (PDF format) sediment quality guidelines indicating toxicity levels in sediments.

Sample Populations: These histograms show the distribution of the data contained in the database for lead, mercury, copper, and zinc. These serve as examples of the graphs used in the Quality Assurance phase of the database compilation where a normal distribution is sought and outliers are identified and corrected as necessary.

Concentrations

Lead	Mercury	Copper	Zinc

Sample Populations

Lead	Mercury	Copper	Zinc

Download/view the Table of Inorganics Information Filename: Inorganics.txt (Tab Delimited Text) File Size: 1825 KB To view files in PDF format, download free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader.