Distribution and Potential Availability of As, Metals and P in Sediments from a Riverine Reservoir in a Rural Mountainous Catchment (NE Portugal).

A geochemical investigation was carried out on the bottom sediments of a riverine reservoir, located in a mountainous rural region (NE Portugal), with the aim of evaluating the contents of As, metals and P and their potential availability. The elements contents were detected in the following ranges (µg g): As (18-64); Cr (32-128); Cu (39-93); Ni (18-80); Pb (49-160); Zn (207-334); P (1705-2681). The reducible fraction is the most significant in the retention of the elements.