title: A preliminary study on metal and nutrient concentrations in running water systems in southern New Caledonia.
abstract: Metal and nutrient concentrations were measured in five running water sampling sites of New Caledonia. Metal concentrations were homogeneous (Ni; 22.7-50.6 μg L(-1)) or not (Fe; 37-749 μg L(-1)). Concentrations of Ni, Cr, Fe were high, including high dissolved fractions (up to 47.8, 70.8 and 417 μg L(-1), respectively). Concentrations of anthropogenic metals (Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, V, Zn) were low (maximum: total Cu, 0.6 μg L(-1)). The contamination of waters is presumably due to soil weathering and mining activities. Metal concentrations and phosphate depletion (<0.04 μmol L(-1)) suggest constrained conditions for the development of aquatic life.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, UMR 7093, 06230 Villefranche-sur-Mer, France. migon@obs-vlfr.fr
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Migon
authors.forename: Chiaki
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Motegi
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Mari
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dufour
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weinbauer
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D009510:New Caledonia; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D010710:Phosphates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D009584:Nitrogen