[Distribution pattern of chemicals in surface waters as a reflexion of entry pattern--heavy metals]

The concentrations of the heavy metals lead, cadmium and mercury were measured in surface water samples of an industrialized city and its surroundings. All but one value of Cd (particular) were less than 0.5 microgram l-1, 30% of the lead (particular) values were less than 0.5 microgram l-1, 70% 0.5 ... 10 micrograms l-1, 86% of the total mercury less than 0.1 and 14% 0.1 ... 0.5 microgram l-1. By applying the differential-diagnostic assessment method it could be found that the highest values were found in the vicinity of a metal-using factory. On a sampling point near such an enterprise the part of particularly bound lead was very low, that means a recent input, whereas on another sampling point with a high total lead level 95% were particularly bound which refers to a continuous input.