Investigation of Cd, Cu, Ni and 234Th in the colloidal size range in the Gulf of Maine

Size-fractionated seawater samples were collected from the Gulf of Maine to determine the fraction (fc/d) of total dissolved (< 1 μm) Cd, Cu, Ni and 234Th in the colloidal size range (1,000 nominal molecular weight, NMW, to 1 μm) using cross-flow filtration. Colloidal Cd, Cu and Ni represents < 1–7% of the total dissolved concentration in these shelf waters and increases with an increase in particle concentration. By comparison, results obtained for particle-reactive 234Th indicate that < 1–47% of total dissolved is associated with the colloidal size fraction. A revised relationship between the concentration of colloids (Cc) and suspended particles (Cp) is reported (log Cc = 0.66 log Cp −2.01 kg L−1) and used to examine the dependence of fc/d for these metals on the concentration of suspended particles for Cp = 0.01–100 mg L−1. Results indicate that a significant fraction (˜ 10–30%) of Cd, Cu, Ni and 234Th in the traditionally defined ‘dissolved’ fraction may exist in the colloidal size range in regions characterized by high particle concentrations (Cp > 1–10 mg L−1), such as in near-shore and estuarine waters.