ISSN:
1573-2932
Keywords:
River sediments
;
biofilms
;
organic micropollutants
;
heavy metals
;
temporal variations
;
biosorption
;
accumulation processes
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
Notes:
Abstract In a partly urbanized catchment to the south of Trier, Germany, short term variations in river sediment compounds as well as the bioaccumulation of pollutants on surface associated microbial coatings (biofilms) were investigated weekly during a period of six months. Concentrations of selected heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and for microbial characterisation protein, carbohydrate and uronic acid were analyzed. Sorption processes on biofilms were determined by temporal variations in pollutants and microbial parameters and through the comparison of sorbed substances in biofilms and sediments. The results show, that sorption events on biofilms play an important and dynamic role in spring and summer for transport and accumulation of the investigated pollutants in the aquatic environment. The amount of pollutants sorbed on sediment particles is not only dependent on the particulate bound or solved pollutants in the river water, but is strongly controlled by the changing conditions of the biofilms.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1018384616442
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