Significance of groundwater discharge along the coast of Poland as a source of dissolved metals to the southern Baltic Sea.
Fluxes of dissolved trace metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) via groundwater discharge along the southern Baltic Sea have been assessed for the first time. Dissolved metal concentrations in groundwater samples were less variable than in seawater and were generally one or two orders of magnitude higher: Cd (2.1-2.8nmolL(-1)), Co (8.70-8.76nmolL(-1)), Cr (18.1-18.5nmolL(-1)), Mn (2.4-2.8μmolL(-1)), Pb (1.2-1.5nmolL(-1)), Zn (33.1-34.0nmolL(-1)). Concentrations of Cu (0.5-0.8nmolL(-1)) and Ni (4.9-5.8nmolL(-1)) were, respectively, 32 and 4 times lower, than in seawater. Groundwater-derived trace metal fluxes constitute 93% for Cd, 80% for Co, 91% for Cr, 6% for Cu, 66% for Mn, 4% for Ni, 70% for Pb and 93% for Zn of the total freshwater trace metal flux to the Bay of Puck. Groundwater-seawater mixing, redox conditions and Mn-cycling are the main processes responsible for trace metal distribution in groundwater discharge sites.
Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland; USGS Coastal and Marine Science Center, 384 Woods Hole Road,10, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA.
Beata
B
Szymczycha
USGS Coastal and Marine Science Center, 384 Woods Hole Road,10, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA.
Kevin D
KD
Kroeger
Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland.
Janusz
J
Pempkowiak
D061006:Bays / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005618:Fresh Water; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D011044:Poland; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Bay of Puck; Geochemistry; Speciation; Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD); Trace metal fluxes