Particulate Cd and Hg fluxes to the sediment in the marennes#x2010;oleron bay: Origin and evolution

摘要

The location of one of the largest oyster centres in France in the Marennes#x2010;Ol#xE9;ron Bay instigated the study of two toxic metals: cadmium and mercury, most likely originated from the Charente Estuary. Analyses of particulate metallic inputs in sediments (60 kg Cd and 35 kg Hg/yr) and radiochron#xF3;logical data showed that outputs from the Charente river (20 kg Cd and 12 kg Hg/yr) alone could not account for the high metallic contents recorded in the bay. This metallic input could be due to the presence of an exterior source to the bay.