THE TRACE-METAL RECYCLING COMPONENT IN THE NORTH-WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN

Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations were measured in a north-western Medi terranean area in three different reservoirs (atmosphere, marine surfa ce microlayer and subsurface seawater) with the aim of comparing their respective metal contents. Although the surface microlayer is strongl y enriched in trace metals, enrichment factors normalized to sodium in dicate that the recycling component (i.e. sea-salt particles emitted b y the sea surface and re-introduced into the atmosphere) are negligibl e compared with direct atmospheric loadings, which are very high in th e north-western Mediterranean. The importance of the recycling compone nt decreases in the sequence Cd > Ph > Cu > Zn. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scie nce Ltd. All rights reserved.