A comparison of the concentration of dissolved and of particulate heavy metals in the aquatic system indicates that these elements are strongly enriched in the suspended matter. The transfer between the aqueous phase and the solid phase may be due to dissolution-precipitation reactions, adsorption-desorption processes or biological processes. When these processes are identified, it is further possible to develop mathematical models which describe the behaviour of these elements. The enrichment of heavy metals in the particulate phase suspended or deposited and in aquatic organisms constitutes a powerful tool in order to evaluate sources of pollution.
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