Distribution and speciation of mercury
in the Adour estuary and several bays
of the Basque coast
Teodor Stoichev
(1) , Eftim Efremov (1) , Nathalie Molenat (1) ,
Julio C. Wasserman (2> , Alberto De Diego (3> , David Amouroux (1) ,
Gilles Bareille
1 , ( Mivier E.X. Donard (1)
(1) Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, CNRS/LCABIE, Hélioparc Pau-Pyrénées,
64053 Pau, France
(2) Umversity of Federal Fluminense, Dept. of Geochemistry, Niteroi, Brazll
(3) Universidad del Paîs Vasco/EHU, Facultad de Ciencias, 48080 Bilbao, Espana
David.Amouroux@unlv-pau.fr
Abstract
Speciation of mercuty compounds and their distribution between the dissolved and the particulate phases in the Adour estuan' and several areas of
the Basque coast hav r e been investigated. The measurements, most of which
have been carried out in the Adour, indicate a well-pronounced seasonal cycle of mercury biogeochemistry, as well as local contamination sources.
Résumé
La spédation des formes chimiques du mercure ainsi que leur distribution entre les phases dissoute et particulaire dans l’estuaire de Adour et
plusieurs baies de la Côte basque ont été étudiées. 1 £S principaux résultats,
obtenus dans l’Adour, indiquent un cycle saisonnier très marqué pour la
biogéochimie du mercure, ainsi que des sources locales de contamination.
Introduction
The magnitude of the mercury cnntamination along the Basque coast is
not sufficiently known. In the case of the Adour estuary, biological
monitoring (RNO, 1999) has shown that this estuaty could be one of the
most polluted by mercury in h’rance. We present here some preliminary
results on mercury distribution and chemical speciation in surface waters of the Adour estuary and several bays of the Basque coast. Most of
the measurements focused on the Adour estuary, where the samples
have been collected along the salinity gradient and on a seasonal basis.
Methods
All samples have been collected during three cruises on board research
vessels (Côte d’Aquitaine, Côte de la Manche, GNRS/lNSU) and following
clean procedure for water sampling and sample treatment (i.e. filtration,
storage). Surface sediments were taken and immediately frozen. Between
303
in the Adour estuary and several bays
of the Basque coast
Teodor Stoichev
(1) , Eftim Efremov (1) , Nathalie Molenat (1) ,
Julio C. Wasserman (2> , Alberto De Diego (3> , David Amouroux (1) ,
Gilles Bareille
1 , ( Mivier E.X. Donard (1)
(1) Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, CNRS/LCABIE, Hélioparc Pau-Pyrénées,
64053 Pau, France
(2) Umversity of Federal Fluminense, Dept. of Geochemistry, Niteroi, Brazll
(3) Universidad del Paîs Vasco/EHU, Facultad de Ciencias, 48080 Bilbao, Espana
David.Amouroux@unlv-pau.fr
Abstract
Speciation of mercuty compounds and their distribution between the dissolved and the particulate phases in the Adour estuan' and several areas of
the Basque coast hav r e been investigated. The measurements, most of which
have been carried out in the Adour, indicate a well-pronounced seasonal cycle of mercury biogeochemistry, as well as local contamination sources.
Résumé
La spédation des formes chimiques du mercure ainsi que leur distribution entre les phases dissoute et particulaire dans l’estuaire de Adour et
plusieurs baies de la Côte basque ont été étudiées. 1 £S principaux résultats,
obtenus dans l’Adour, indiquent un cycle saisonnier très marqué pour la
biogéochimie du mercure, ainsi que des sources locales de contamination.
Introduction
The magnitude of the mercury cnntamination along the Basque coast is
not sufficiently known. In the case of the Adour estuary, biological
monitoring (RNO, 1999) has shown that this estuaty could be one of the
most polluted by mercury in h’rance. We present here some preliminary
results on mercury distribution and chemical speciation in surface waters of the Adour estuary and several bays of the Basque coast. Most of
the measurements focused on the Adour estuary, where the samples
have been collected along the salinity gradient and on a seasonal basis.
Methods
All samples have been collected during three cruises on board research
vessels (Côte d’Aquitaine, Côte de la Manche, GNRS/lNSU) and following
clean procedure for water sampling and sample treatment (i.e. filtration,
storage). Surface sediments were taken and immediately frozen. Between
303