Dr Miriam Reid , BSc (Hons) Geography, Brunel
Visiting Research Fellow
School of Geography
Queen Mary, University of London
Mile End Road, London E1 4NS
Phone: 020 7882 5429
Fax: 020 8981 6276
Email: m.reid@qmul.ac.uk
Research interests:
I completed my PhD entitled “An investigation of the spatial distribution and partitioning of metals in estuarine sediments” at QMUL in Sept 2008.
My research focuses on the factors which influence the distribution of metals in the estuarine environment, both in terms of their spatial distribution and also their distribution between different sediment fractions (partitioning). The Medway Estuary, Kent was used as a study area for my PhD research. Total metal concentrations in samples taken from various sites in the estuary showed minimal to moderate enrichment of a number of metals, particularly in the upstream area, but also in proximity to roads and industrial areas. Statistical analysis of the dataset demonstrated that the most important control on the spatial distribution of metals was grain size, followed by the influence of anthropogenic sources, environmental conditions and sediment composition.
Sites in the Medway Estuary showing high EFs (Enrichment Factors) for a number of metals (map adapted from Spencer, 1999). The enrichment factor level is indicated by the height of the bar graph.
Part of my PhD research focused on development of a microwave assisted sequential extraction procedure to obtain information about metal partitioning. Sequential extraction procedures work by exposing the sediment to successively harsher reagents which aim to destroy specific fractions of the sediment. Using a modification of the Tessier et al. (1979) method, 5 fractions can be considered
- Exchangeable
- Acid soluble
- Reducible
- Oxidisable
- Residual.
The partitioning of metals in estuarine sediments can provide more information on their source and behaviour. The sequential extraction data from the Medway Estuary demonstrated that the partitioning of metals was strongly controlled by either their anthropogenic or natural source, with metals that were predominantly natural in origin showing a greater proportion of total metal concentration in the residual fraction. Source discrimination in macro-tidal estuaries is difficult due to the well mixed conditions. Preliminary research indicated that the partitioning of metals may be capable of discriminating between sediments collected in proximity to different contaminant sources, although the influence of environmental parameters and sediment composition was also shown to have a significant effect on partitioning. Therefore my current research is concentrating on this area.
Publications:
Reid M.K. and Spencer K.L. (in press) Use of principal components analysis (PCA) on estuarine sediment datasets: The effect of data pre-treatment, Environmental Pollution
Reid M.K., Shotbolt L. and Spencer K.L. (in prep) An appraisal of microwave assisted Tessier and BCR sequential extraction methods for the analysis of metals in sediments and soils.
Reid M.L. and Spencer K.L. (in prep) The use of metal partitioning for source discrimination in estuarine sediments.
Presentations
Reid M.K. and Spencer K.L. (2008) (presented by Spencer) Partitioning as a geochemical fingerprint for discriminating contaminant sources in well-mixed estuaries, 10th International estuarine biogeochemistry symposium, China
Reid M.K. and Spencer K.L. (2004) A comparison of conventional and microwave assisted sequential extraction methods for Cu, Pb and Zn in estuarine sediments, ECSA symposium, Rouen
Reid M.K. and Spencer K.L. (2004) A comparison of conventional and microwave assisted sequential extraction methods for Cu, Pb and Zn in estuarine sediments, Speciation and Toxicity Conference, The Mineralogical Society London.