Effects of Terrestrial Organic Matter on the Speciation of Cu and Cd in Coastal Waters

Complexation of metals by organic ligands decreases their rate of uptake by aquatic organisms and may affect their removal to sediments by particle scavenging. To understand the fate and ecotoxicological effect of pollutant metals in coastal waters, it is necessary to understand their interactions with organic matter, especially the changes in these interactions as metals are transported from terrestrial to oceanic environments. This study will significantly improve our ability to predict the fate and biological effects of complex metals in coastal environments.