Heavy Metals and Organic Hydrocarbons in Sediments from the Waikareao Estuary, Tauranga Harbour, New Zealand.

The article discusses the study of heavy metals and organic hydrocarbons in sediments from eleven sites in the Waikareao Estuary, Tauranga Harbour in New Zealand in February 1992 by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method. Organic extracts of shell fragments, pumice and stones showed low levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, hopanes and n-alkanes but very high levels of these were detected in black particulate matter which include charcoal, coal and roading asphalt from coarse sand fraction. The levels of copper, lead and zinc in sediments from the sites are lower than the mean values of sediment samples from 24 New Zealand harbors and estuaries. The levels of PAHs were shown to be less than 2000 ng/g dry weight which is considered harmful to aquatic organisms.