natural organic compounds with hydrophobic and surface-active properties 

 Are concentrated, creating a unique biotope of neustonic marine 

 communities (Zaitsev, 1970). The known facts of localization of a 

 number of toxicants in the surface film (Seba, Corcoran, 1969) have been 

 confirmed by our own data (Table 2) obtained upon analysis by gas 

 chromotography and atomic absorption of samples of sea water (film 60- 

 100 ijm thick). 



Table 2. Distribution of certain ingredients between the surface film 

 and sea water (Arcachon Bay, France, summer of 1973). 



Mean concentration, yg/l Coefficient of 

 Ingredients In surface film In upper level accumulation in 

 60-100 um thick down to 50 cm surface film 



10+1 85 



0.10+0.02 950 



0.10+0.02 860 



0.07+0.02 630 



0.10+0.02 1,050 



0.5+0.1 550 



13.5+3.5 2,200 



0.4+0.1 300 



0.3+0.1 800 



22+4 470 



It must be recalled that the organisms of the hyponeuston include 



the stage of early ontogenesis of many hydrobionts, including commercial 



fish, and that this stage is most sensitive to toxic effects 

 (Polikarpov, Zaitsev, 1969). 



Superimposi tion of fields of pollutants and bioproducti vi ty .--The 

 general picture of the distribution of biologic productivity in the 

 World Ocean can be characterized by concentration of living organisms in 

 the surface layer and particularly in the neritic zone and the internal 

 seas. It is in these zones also that the main fluxes and masses of all 

 types of toxicants entering the marine environment are concentrated. 

 Furthermore, the interfaces between the water and atmosphere, water and 

 bottom, water and coast, river water and sea water, where complex 

 physical, chemical and biologic processes occur, determining to a great 

 extent the life of the ocean, are also areas of localization of higher 

 concentrations of pollutants. 



Relative stability of fluxes and levels of toxicity . --In contrast 

 to the situation of strong but one-time local pollution, for example in 

 case of an accident, when the toxicity of the environment, after 



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