e-Digest Statistics about: Inland Water Quality and Use
Freshwater quality
List II metals
Table 11 gives trends for 1980-2004 in the distribution of annual site mean concentrations across HMS sites for six heavy metals: zinc, copper, lead, nickel, chromium and arsenic. High concentrations of metals can result from naturally occurring mineral deposits or from discharges from industrial activity. These six metals are List II substances under the EC Dangerous Substances Directive which requires Member States to reduce pollution by List II substances.
Table 11 shows that for all of the metals illustrated there is evidence of declining levels at HMS sites between 1980 and 2004. For most HMS sites the mean concentrations for all these metals remained below Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) throughout the period.
In Detail:
Further Information:
Data Tables:
| Table
No. |
Title | Download
file type |
| 11 | Distribution of annual site mean concentrations of certain heavy metals in rivers: 1980-2004, Great Britain |
- Internet Links:
- For national and local information see:
- England and Wales, Water Quality: Environment Agency - Dangerous substances in rivers and coastal waters
- Scotland: Scottish Environment Protection Agency - Harmonised Monitoring Data
- Northern Ireland: Environment and Heritage Service
- Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland
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Page last modified: 31 January 2006
Page published: 7 December 2004