Distribution of Cd, Pb and Cu between the dissolved and particulate phase in the Eastern Scheldt and Western Scheldt estuary
Valenta, P.; Duursma, E.K.; Mercks, A.G.A.; Rutzel, H.; Nurnberg, H.W. (1986). Distribution of Cd, Pb and Cu between the dissolved and particulate phase in the Eastern Scheldt and Western Scheldt estuary. Sci. Total Environ. 53(1-2): 41-76. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0048-9697(86)90092-6
|  |
| Auteurs | | Top |
- Valenta, P.
- Duursma, E.K.
- Mercks, A.G.A.
|
- Rutzel, H.
- Nurnberg, H.W.
|
|
| Abstract |
The distribution of the potentially ecotoxic heavy metals Cd, Pb and Cu between the dissolved and the particulate matter phase has been studied in the Oosterscheldt and Westerscheldt estuaries, The Netherlands, in five missions during the spring, summer and winter of 1979–1980. In addition to the metal concentration, other physical, chemical and biological parameters were determined, such as temperature, salinity, pH, particulate matter concentration, chlorophyll, dissolved organic carbon, particulate organic carbon and nutrients (phosphate, nitrate and silicate).The seasonal dependence due to the variable input of river water and biological activity has been followed for all three metals studied. Cadmium prefers, in general, the dissolved phase but an unusually high Cd content in the particulate matter has been found for the phytoplankton bloom period, which indicates an efficient uptake of Cd by living matter. Lead shows a pronounced preference for all types of particulate matter, whereas Cu tends, due to complexation with organic ligands, to approximately equal levels in the dissolved and particulate phases.The focal point of this study was the determination of the distribution of selected elements between the dissolved and the particulate phase, quantitatively described by the distribution coefficient Kd. Its dependence on salinity and its seasonal variation have also been investigated. The mean value of Kd varies between 20 and 40 for Cd up to a maximum value of 70 during the phytoplankton bloom periods; between 40 and 140 for Cu and between 1000 and 3200 for Pb. The competition between complexation of heavy metals in the dissolved phase and their binding to particulate matter is also discussed. |
|
