Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026

Clean Sampling and Analysis of River and Estuarine Waters for Trace Metal Studies
Published on: July 1, 2016
A preliminary study on metal and nutrient concentrations in running water systems in southern New Caledonia
Christophe Migon1, Chiaki Motegi, Xavier Mari
1Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, UMR 7093, 06230 Villefranche-sur-Mer, France. migon@obs-vlfr.fr
Abstract:
Metal and nutrient concentrations were measured in five running water sampling sites of New Caledonia. Metal concentrations were homogeneous (Ni; 22.7-50.6 μg L(-1)) or not (Fe; 37-749 μg L(-1)). Concentrations of Ni, Cr, Fe were high, including high dissolved fractions (up to 47.8, 70.8 and 417 μg L(-1), respectively). Concentrations of anthropogenic metals (Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, V, Zn) were low (maximum: total Cu, 0.6 μg L(-1)). The contamination of waters is presumably due to soil weathering and mining activities. Metal concentrations and phosphate depletion (<0.04 μmol L(-1)) suggest constrained conditions for the development of aquatic life.
Related Concept Videos
Testing Water Quality
Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles
Quality of Water

