SPECIATION STUDIES OF TRACE-METALS IN THE GULF OF ELEFSIS, GREECE

A method for differentiating trace metal species on the basis of relat ive lability has been applied for Pb, Cd, Zn, in microenvironments of the Gulf of Elefsis. Species are classified as ''very labile'', ''mode rately labile'', ''slowly labile'' and ''inert'' depending on the char acteristic time scale of the measuring technique using differential pu lse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) and the retention on Chelex-1 00 resin in successive column and batch procedures. The results show t hat in two extremely different microenvironments (with S of about 17 p arts per thousand and similar to 45 parts per thousand) the slowly lab ile and inert fractions prevail particularly at the surface layer, whe reas in the main water body of the gulf the very labile fraction is th e predominant one. However at the thermocline and below it the ''inert '' fraction increases considerably paralleling, broadly, the particula te metal distributions.