In 1972 bottom samples and suspended matter were collected in the southern North Sea along the East Anglia coast and in the German Bight. The samples were collected in such a way that material of different origin (Rhine, Thames, Elbe and Humber) might be distinguished. Therefore the contents of Fe, Co, Ni, Cz, Cu, Zn, Cd, Mn and Pb was determined. The amount of trace metals in suspended matter appeared to be much higher than in the bottom material: this can be due to the smaller grainsize of the suspended matter and to a possible difference in composition of the finer size fractions in comparison with the larger fractions. The samples from the German Bight contained more trace metals than those collected along the East Anglia coast. When a standard for treatment of the samples will have been developed, the results will be more reproducible and better comparable.
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