The Role of Chemical Speciation in Processes Governing the Environmental Fate and Effects of Trace Metals in Estuarine and Coastal Environments
Abstract
LONG TERM GOALS. The long term goals of our research are to: 1) Continue developing and evaluating highly sensitive analytical techniques for determining the concentrations of bioactive trace metals in seawater and to determine the extent of their complexation or chelation by natural organic ligands. 2) Further our basic understanding of the role of chemical speciation with respect to both trace metal toxicity and biolimitation of phytoplankton within coastal and estuarine environments for a suite of bioactive trace metals - Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and Cd. This includes the influence of organic complexation on the reactivity of these trace metals, as well as gaining insight into the production and fate of the metal chelating organic ligands. This research is particularly complementary to that of Bill Sunda, another Harbor Processes PI, by providing the field data needed to evaluate the applicability of his laboratory studies examining the effects of these trace metals. OBJECTIVES As a result of numerous well defined laboratory studies, a free ion concentration model has evolved which characterizes the toxicity or availability of these metals to microorganisms as a function of their free metal ion concentration in seawater.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA634811
Entities
People
- Kenneth W. Bruland
Organizations
- University of California, Santa Cruz