Trace metal speciation in European River waters

Within an EC-study of the relationship between the chemistry of the aquatic system and resulting toxicological effects of heavy metals on micro-organisms, the speciation of trace metals is being assessed. The set-up of a speciation scheme is described, in which surface water is characterised in terms of total metal concentrations, nutrients, general parameters like DOC, pH and conductivity, metal binding properties and in which biologically relevant metal fractions are determined.