The Seine-Aval scientific programme

8 - 8 - Metal contamination

Final receptacle of waters originating from a highly urbanised and industrialised drainage basin, the Seine Estuary is contaminated to a large extent by some trace metals. These contaminants reach the estuary mainly associated with the suspended particles, but natural solubilisation phenomena occur in presence of saltwater, making them more available for the living organisms. As a consequence, these metals are transferred to the first levels of the food chain, and bio-concentrated in the coastal molluscs, at the mouth of the estuary.