A cadmium budget for the German Bight in the North Sea

Abstract

For the German Bight a cadmium budget has been set up, compiling data from several interdisciplinary experiments during the last years (ZISCH, PRISMA, KUSTOS and TUVAS). The largest pools are contained in the sediments of the German Bight. The advective transports carry large amounts of cadmium through the German Bight. It seems that less cadmium leaves the area than enters, thus increasing the sediment load. During the production season the phytoplankton may absorb cadmium in an amount of the total dissolved cadmium in the water. After settling, e.g. after the spring bloom, the phytoplankton provides the sediment with new contaminated particulate matter. As the estimates involve great uncertainties, it cannot be decided whether the budget is closed.