Wilhelmsburg –one of the largest river islands in Europe
Does it still hold the memory of an industrial history in the sediments?
Susanne Heise, Judith Angelstorf, Maximilia Kottwitz & Peich Hsu, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany

Abstract
On the river island Wilhelmsburg, industry has been in close proximity to urban settlement and agriculturalactivity for a long time. Here, metal contamination of suspended matter in drainage channels was examined toestimate the recent impact of historic contamination on the ecological quality of Wilhelmsburg waters.
Sedimentation bottles were used to collect suspended matter monthly for half a year in different channels
around the island. Chemical analysis of anorganics showed a distinctive pattern of suspended sedimentcontamination which reflects current pollution deriving from highway/road run-off and probably fromatmospheric deposition around the largest European copper plant. It also reflects historic contamination
probably from former deposition around the copper plant and from industrial legacies. Fish samples from thechannels exceeded the Biota-EQS for mercury up to ten-fold. Ecotoxicity, however, was not enlarged due tothe relatively low concentration of SPM in the channels. Finkenriek was an exception with partly high toxicities,
which do not reflect heavy metal concentrations but may be due to pesticides from agricultural areas.

NorthSea

Tidal
Elbe

Hamburg

Fig. 1: Elbe Estuary

Introduction to the river island Wilhelmsburg
o With 35.3 km² one of Europe’s largest river islands
o 48000 inhabitantso biggest district of Hamburgo In close vicinity: Industrial legacies, active industrial facilities, agricultural land, nature protection areas, urban sites, smalltrades and allotmentso Europe’s largest producer of coppero disposal site “Georgswerder”, famous for its hazardous waste, now contained

Wilhelmsburg

Throughout the island, channels (“Wettern”) drain the area and transport water and suspended mattertowards the Elbe. As a consequence of former and current industrial use, contaminants may be transportedwith this water and distributed throughout the island.

Methods
Sedimentation bottles were deployed in 5 different channels, which drain areas of different use and history (see Fig. 2).
SPM was collected monthly for 6 months, lyophilized and heavy metals determined by AAS. Ecotoxicity was measured
with bacterial contact test and luminescence bacteria test in the wet samples, enriched in SPM by a factor of 20.
Fishes were caught close to Finkenriek and metals determined in muscle tissue.
Fig. 2: Wilhelmsburg with sampling stations

Results and Discussion
Overview: Metals

Per Station(O)GW
GeorgswerderContamination:

As Pb Cr Cu Ni Cd Hg

Site adjacent to Europes biggest copper plant Still high deposition of As in the vicinity of up to 230 µg/(m2 d)(BSU- Monitoring) Additional legacies / soil contamination assumed
REG
Rainwater drain

Contamination:

AsPb Cr Cu Ni Cd Hg

REG receives run-off from several highways and roads According to McKenzie et al. (2009) likely source of Pb andCu (and Cd) in highway run-offs is tires (and Cd-plated breakrotors. Hg source unknown.
VKIS
Vering Channel
Fig. 3: Contamination of selected metals in SPM collected from the sites shown in fig. 2.
Red line: Environmental target values acc. to ARGE-Elbe 2000 Klassification

Some metals are extremely enriched in SPM when compared to thetarget values for protection of the aquatic community (ARGE-Elbe 2000).
FKFinkenriek

Hg in fish tissue
Hg in µg/kg wet weight (muscle)

Ecotoxicity of SPM
Bacterial contact test

300

Microtox-Test

Contamination:

AsPb Cr Cu Ni Cd Hg

Site in the former industrial centre, receiving water fromlarger surrounding and surface run-off also from lorry
parking space High Pb concentration still signal from leaded fuel?
 Heavy metal contaminated sediment in the catchment of thechannel known, historic source not clear.
Much lower metal-contaminated than other sites (Fig. 3). Highesttoxicity (Fig. 4). Finkenriek receives waters from agricultural areas(as does Götjendorf GO). Imidacloprid and isoproturon have beenfound (not shown), indicating impact of pesticide application.

200Conclusion

100 Partly extremely high metal-contamination in SPM
 Metals are transported and distributed in W‘burg waters
 Extent and pattern of contamination varies among channels
 Clear signals from ongoing (copper smelter, road run-off) andFig. 4: Ecotoxicological Effects: Bioaccumulation of Hg in muscle tissue of fish from channels(left); Toxicity of monthly sampled sediment suspension (20 fold concentrated) on bacteria (right).
historic emissions (Vering channel)
Ecotoxicity low due to low SPM concentration in channels
In most fish tissue, EQS for Hg was exceeded up to 10 fold.
elEeRed-Eym

rea

PeB

rchEQS Biota
0Ecotoxicity was highest in Finkenriek in both bacteria test systems.
Contact: susanne.heise@haw-hamburg.de