The role of suspended sediments and phytoplankton in the partitioning and transport of silver in estuaries

Silver sorbs readily at low salinities to both phytoplankton and suspended sediments. As salinity increases, the degree of sorption decreases. Nearly 80% of silver sorbed to suspended sediments at low salinities will desorb at higher salinities, but desorption does not occur when silver is associated with phytoplankton. Thus, silver incorporation onto/into cellular material will increase the retention of silver within the estuary, reducing its rate of transport.