J. Phys. IV France 107 (2003) 871
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:20030436

Changes in sediment-associated trace element concentrations in the Seine river basin (1994-2001)

M. Meybeck¹, A.J. Horowitz², C. Grosbois³ and Y. Gueguen<sup>1

1</sup>  Université Pierre et Marie Curie, UMR Sisyphe, 4 place Jussieu, 75252 Paris cedex 05, France
²  U.S. Geological Survey, Peachtree Business Center, Suite 130, 3039 Amwiler Road, Atlanta, GA 30360, U.S.A.
³  Laboratoire de Géologie, Université de Limoges, 123 avenue A. Thomas, bâtiment Les Dryades, 87000 Limoges, France

Abstract
In the 1980's, based on the concentrations of particulate-associated Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn relative to very low natural background levels, the Seine River Basin was one of the most impacted in die world. Over the past 20 years, there has been a general decline in these elevated concentrations that parallels declines in Paris sewage sludge trace element levels. Within the basin, marked differences in spatial and temporal geochemical patterns have been observed: (1) between major tributaries, (2) between trace elements, and (3) with stream order and population density, all of which illustrate the complexity of the geochemical processes ongoing in the basin.

© EDP Sciences 2003