Organic Matter in the Hydrosphere

Abstract

Organic matter appears in all compartments of the hydrosphere of both natural and more and more anthropogenic origin. Aquatic organic matter exhibits a high structural diversity and corresponding physico-chemcial properties. Marine and terrestrial surface water bodies including their corresponding sediments as well as groundwater are affected by natural compounds of autochthonous origin from aquatic species, in particular from phyto- and zooplankton, and autochthonous material from terrestrial biota. Anthropogenic pollutants are released to aquatic ecosystems mainly as the result of municipal, industrial, agricultural emissions as well as shipping activities. Dominant factors controlling the fate and distribution of organic compounds in the hydrosphere are partition processes between water phase and particulate matter separating more or less hydrophilic from lipophilic substances. With respect to hydrocarbon chemistry an enhanced geoaccumulation of non functionalized aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons in the benthic systems has to be stated. , Abstract: Organic matter appears in all compartments of the hydrosphere of both natural and more and more anthropogenic origin. Aquatic organic matter exhibits a high structural diversity and corresponding physico-chemcial properties. Marine and terrestrial surface water bodies including their corresponding sediments as well as groundwater are affected by natural compounds of autochthonous origin from aquatic species, in particular from phyto- and zooplankton, and autochthonous material from terrestrial biota. Anthropogenic pollutants are released to aquatic ecosystems mainly as the result of municipal, industrial, agricultural emissions as well as shipping activities. Dominant factors controlling the fate and distribution of organic compounds in the hydrosphere are partition processes between water phase and particulate matter separating more or less hydrophilic from lipophilic substances. With respect to hydrocarbon chemistry an enhanced geoaccumulation of non functionalized aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons in the benthic systems has to be stated.