For the German Eight a cadmium budget has been set up, compiling data
from several interdisciplinary experiments during the last years (ZISC
H, PRISMA, KUSTOS and TUVAS). The largest pools are contained in the s
ediments of the German Eight. The advective transports carry large amo
unts of cadmium through the German Eight. It seems that less cadmium l
eaves the area than enters, thus increasing the sediment load. During
the production season the phytoplankton may absorb cadmium in an amoun
t of the total dissolved cadmium in the water. After settling, e.g. af
ter tbe spring bloom, the phytoplankton provides the sediment with new
contaminated particulate matter. As the estimates involve great uncer
tainties, it cannot be decided whether the budget is closed. (C) 1997
Elsevier Science Ltd.