SEDIMENT, PARAMETERS AND DISTRIBUTION OF METALS IN FINE SEDIMENTS OF THE LOIRE ESTUARY

The station to elevation of six metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn) were studied in the fine sediments of five lateral mud flats of the Loire estuary. Sediment samples were taken at the lower and upper limits of the intertidal zone each season and at spring tide twice a month. The correlation between metal content and various sediment parameters was measured, such as water, carbonate and organic matter content, salinity and mineralogical composition. Metal content was always found to be highest at the top of the mud flat for all sites studied, as were water and organic matter content. However, salinity and carbonate content varied inversely with elevation. Metal content was always higher in summer than in winter. It eis essential to specify sampling location and season as well as the altimetric position at which each sample was taken. © 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers.