Mercury concentrations in surface waters of the English channel: A cooperative study

A cooperative research study was carried out by laboratories of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) and the Institut français de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer (IFREMER) to determine mercury concentration levels in the surface waters of the English Channel. Samples were collected at stations close to the English and French coasts and on transects between Southampton and Caen and between Brighton and Fécamp. Total mercury concentrations in unfiltered samples were within the range 0.2 to 4.1 ng l−1, the highest occurring associated with highly turbid inshore waters, especially near the Baie de la Seine and in the Solent. Concentrations of dissolved mercury in the two latter areas ranged from 0.3 to 0.5 ng l−1, similar to those found in unfiltered surface water from offshore areas. Suspended offshore particulate material contained higher mercury concentrations than near-shore particulates.