Micro contaminants in surface sediments and macrobenthic invertebrates of the North Sea

Trace metal concentrations (copper, zinc, cadmium and lead) were measured in the silt fraction (grainsize < 63 µm) of surface sediment of the North Sea. The concentrations varied in different areas of the Dutch continental shelf of the North Sea. The trace metal concentrations were highly related with the fine grain-size fraction. High concentrations, especially of cadmium and lead, were related with a low percentage of the silt fraction. In the Southern Bight enhanced levels of copper and zinc and particularly high values of cadmium and lead were measured. The concentrations of copper, zin... Mehr ...