Change in pH and release of heavy metals in the polluted sediments of Hamburg-Harbour and the downstream Elbe during oxidation

Change in pH in a sediment-water system and its influence on release of Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd during the suspension of polluted sediments collected from Hamburg-Harbour and the downstream Elbe have been investigated. Heavy metals were released significantly from the anoxic polluted sediment with changes in pH and redox state. During the resuspension at stable pH (7.5) heavy metals in bottom sediment of the river Elbe were released slowly into the solution