ABSTRACT
Both estuaries of interest, the Authie and the Seine, are participants in the French Mussel Watch Programme (RNO 1995; Claisse et al. 2006) and their levels of chemical contamination have been well documented through quarterly analysis of samples for more than 30 years. However, in order to link exposure to contaminants, incorporation into tissues of organisms, and responses of the biota, it was necessary to acquire chemical and biological data precisely at the same place and at the same moment, taking into account temporal changes within each year and between successive years. In addition, it was necessary to investigate the presence of emergent contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and brominated flame retardants as well as alkylphenol polyethoxylates for which no data were available for the Authie site.
