Evaluation of diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGTs) as a monitoring tool for the assessment of the chemical status of transitional waters within the Water Framework Directive

N Montero; M J Belzunce-Segarra; J-L Gonzalez; J Larreta; J Franco

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.10.028

Evaluation of diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGTs) as a monitoring tool for the assessment of the chemical status of transitional waters within the Water Framework Directive

Mar Pollut Bull. 2012 Jan;64(1):31-39. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.10.028. Epub 2011 Nov 17.

Authors

N Montero¹, M J Belzunce-Segarra², J-L Gonzalez³, J Larreta², J Franco²

Affiliations

¹ AZTI-Tecnalia, Marine Research Division, Herrera Kaia, Portualdea s/n, 20110 Pasaia, Spain. Electronic address: nmontero@azti.es.
² AZTI-Tecnalia, Marine Research Division, Herrera Kaia, Portualdea s/n, 20110 Pasaia, Spain.
³ IFREMER, Département Biogéochimie et Ecotoxicologie, B.P. 330 Zone Portuaire de Brégaillon, 83507 La Seyne/mer cedex, France.

PMID: 22099960
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.10.028

Abstract

In this contribution, the potential use of diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGTs) for the chemical evaluation of transitional water bodies within the Water Framework Directive (WFD) has been studied. The water metal concentration has been evaluated in 13 estuaries in the southeastern Bay of Biscay. The DGTs were deployed in triplicate at two stations in each estuary, delimiting the tidal influence. The DGT results were in the ranges of 2-1570 ng L(-1) for cadmium, 66-515 ng L(-1) for copper, 30-3650 ng L(-1) for nickel and 0.8-95.5 μg L(-1) for zinc. The DGTs provided reliable average labile metal concentrations in highly dynamic systems that were comparable with DGT measurements in coastal and estuarine waters worldwide. In addition, it was possible to discriminate those estuaries more susceptible to environmental impacts, being consistent with the historical contamination of each estuary. Based on the obtained results, a sampling strategy for the monitoring of transitional water bodies using DGTs is proposed.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Environmental Monitoring / instrumentation
Environmental Monitoring / legislation & jurisprudence
Environmental Monitoring / methods*
Environmental Policy
France
Legislation as Topic
Metals / analysis
Seawater / chemistry*
Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*
Water Pollution, Chemical / statistics & numerical data

Substances

Metals
Water Pollutants, Chemical