Phosphorus forms with respect to sediment characteristics, such as grain-size, and major chemical elements, were studied in French coastal marine areas (the Bay of Seine and the Loire and Gironde Estuaries).In the three areas, Fe/Al-bound phosphate (Fe/Al-P) and exchangeable phosphate (exch-P) were significantly related to the proportion of fine fraction (< 63 mum). The special association of these forms with fine particles, as well as the relationships between exch-P, Fe/Al-P and Fe showed that adsorption processes on Fe oxides had taken place. However, for similar Fe concentrations, Bay of Seine sediments showed Fe/Al-P concentrations which were four to five times higher than those found in the Loire and Gironde Estuaries. This was attributed to... |