J. Phys. IV France 107 (2003) 475
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:20030344

Antimony in aquatic systems

M. Filella¹, N. Belzile², Y.-W. Chen², C. Elleouee³, P.M. May⁴, D. Mavrocordatos⁵, P. Nirel⁶, A. Porquet⁷, F. Quentel¹ and S. Silver<sup>1

1</sup>  Department of Inorganic, Analytical and Applied Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
²  Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario P3E 2C6, Canada
³  Laboratoire de Chimie Analytique, UMR 6521 du CNRS, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, 6 avenue V. Le Gorgeu, 29285 Brest, France
⁴  Chemistry, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
⁵  Particle Laboratory, Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
⁶  Service Cantonal de l'Écologie de l'Eau, DIAE, 23 avenue Sainte-Clotilde, 1211 Genève 8, Switzerland
⁷  Department Microbiology & Immunology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 835 South Wolcott, Chicago, IL 60612-7344, U.S.A.

Abstract
Antimony is ubiquitous in the environment. In spite of its proven toxicity, it has received scant attention so far. This communication presents an overview of current knowledge as well as the early results of a concerted, multidisciplinary effort to unveil antimony behaviour and fate in natural aquatic systems.

© EDP Sciences 2003