The distribution and geochemistry of some trace metals in the Bermuda coastal environment

Results of the analyses of the water column and sediments of the Bermuda Platform for Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn are presented. The major process controlling the water column concentrations is physical mixing of open ocean waters with inshore waters, which are polluted by a wide range of diffuse inputs. Sedimentation within the inshore waters plays a lesser, but significant, role as do fluxes from the sediments of Fe and Mn and possibly phytoplankton uptake of Zn. Concentrations within the sediments are controlled by the formation of trace metal enriched clay/organic particles in the inshore areas and their subsequent redistribution by sediment resuspension, except for Fe and Mn which are largely associated with clay lattices.