No abstract

The chemical comPosition of marine particulate matter from the Southern Baltic has been studied using ICP atomic emission spectrometry. The samples were collected on polycarbonate 0.4 #m, cellulose acetate and glass fiber 0.45 #m filters, and on polycarbonate filters of 0,2, 0.4, 0.6, and 1.0 #m pore size. The suspensions were analyzed for the major elements Ca, Mg, AI, Fe, and P, and for the minor and trace constituents: Mn, Mo, Zn, Cu, Co, Cd, Cr, As, Se, Sb, Ag, and S. The concentrations of metals calculated on dry weight basis were higher when polycarbonate filters were used while the values for cellulose acetate and glass fiber filter were comparable. The determination &net mass particulate matter was the main reason for these differences. A comparative study of the chemical composition of suspensions from the Southern Baltic and from other areas showed a similar range of concentrations of particulate elements in coastal waters.