The Belgian Coastal Zone (BCZ) in the Southern Bight of the North Sea is a highly dynamic and optically complex area. This is due to high non-algal particles (NAP) and coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM) content which in spring adds together with undesirable blooms of the haptophyte Phaeocystis globosa. There is a need for improving the algorithms for chlorophyll a (chl a) retrieval in these highly turbid waters and for developing algorithms for species detection in order to attempt to create an early warning bloom system. This information will contribute to the knowledge of the extent and magnitude of the P. globosa bloom in Belgian waters. In this study, pure cultures of the main taxa present in the BCZ, diatoms and P. globosa, were combined with field measurements of light absorption of total particles, phytoplankton and dissolved material, pigment determination and phytoplankton counts to address the main objectives. Sampling was performed during 8 cruises covering winter, spring, summer and late summer, and along nearshore-offshore gradients from 2003 to 2006. The area is characterised by a high spatio-temporal variability of IOPs due to the high dynamics of the area in terms of currents, salinity gradients and biological production. During spring the presence of P. globosa modulates the IOPs across all the area, the particle absorption is significantly higher than summer and there is no significant coast-offshore variability for phytoplankton and CDOM. The design of chl a retrieval algorithms assumes negligible absorption of NAP and CDOM in the near infrared (NIR) and the use of a fixed value of specific phytoplankton absorption. It is shown that neglecting the NAP and CDOM absorption in the NIR will have a significant overestimation impact in retrieval of chl a. On the other hand, the specific phytoplankton absorption was found to be highly variable (0.015 „b 0.011 m2 mg chl a-1). Both results will affect directly the retrieved chl a. The spatial variability of CDOM was significant varying between 0.20-1.31 m-1 in the marine area and between 1.81-4.29 m-1 in the Scheldt estuary. CDOM was found to be related to salinity with conservative mixing within the Scheldt estuary and during some seasons in the BCZ, however deviations from conservative mixing suggest other inputs to the CDOM pool. Analyses of the spectral slope of the CDOM absorption curve revealed two main CDOM pools in the area, an allochthonous one delivered by the Scheldt estuary and an autochthonous one associated with the phytoplankton spring bloom decomposition. Algorithms for CDOM retrieval will be affected if the variability in the relation between CDOM and salinity is not taken into account. The optical characterisation of diatoms and P. globosa from the BCZ in pure cultures revealed that the main differences in the phytoplankton absorption spectra were found at 467 and 500 nm corresponding to the absorption of the pigments chlorophyll c3 (chl c3) characteristic of P. globosa and fucoxanthin, respectively. Accordingly, both the absorption at 467 nm and the ratio 500/467 nm were successfully used to discriminate the two taxa in cultures and field samples. This latter indicator was not preserved in the reflectance signal due to degradation of the signal when passing from absorption to reflectance, and thus could not be used for algorithm development. The spectral feature at 467 nm was later used as the basis for the development of a flag-type algorithm to detect chl c3 using either absorption or water-leaving reflectance data. Also, the correlation between the algorithm¡¦s retrieved chl c3 and P. globosa cell number allowed the quantification of the bloom. The main findings of this thesis highlight the importance of the IOPs characterisation for the improvement and development of ocean colour retrieval algorithms in these highly complex waters.

<p>Conventional end-of-pipe solutions for wastewater treatment have been criticized from a sustainable view-point, in particular regarding recycling of nutrients. The integration of hydroponic cultivation into a wastewater treatment system has been proposed as an ecological alternative, where nutrients can be removed from the wastewater through plant uptake; however, cultivation of plants in a temperate climate, such as Sweden, implies that additional energy is needed during the colder and darker period. Thus, treatment capacity, additional energy usage and potential value of products are important aspects considering the applicability of hydroponic wastewater treatment in Sweden.</p><p>To enable the investigation of hydroponic wastewater treatment, a pilot plant was constructed in a greenhouse located at Överjärva gård, Solna, Sweden. The pilot plant consisted of several steps, including conventional biological processes, hydroponics, algal treatment and sand filters. The system treated around 0.56-0.85 m3 domestic wastewater from the Överjärva gård area per day. The experimental protocol, performed in an average of twice per week over a period of three years, included analysis and measurements of water quality and physical parameters. In addition, two studies were performed when daily samples were analysed during a period of two-three weeks. Furthermore, the removal of pathogens in the system, and the microbial composition in the first hydroponic tank were investigated.</p><p>Inflow concentrations were in an average of around 475 mg COD/L, 100 mg Tot-N/L and 12 mg Tot-P/L. The results show that 85-90% of COD was removed in the system. Complete nitrification was achieved in the hydroponic tanks. Denitrification, by means of pre-denitrification, occurred in the first anoxic tank. With a recycle ratio of 2.26, the achieved nitrogen removal in the system was around 72%. Approximately 4% of the removed amount of nitrogen was credited to plant uptake during the active growth period. Phosphorus was removed by adsorption in the anoxic tank and sand filters, natural chemical precipitation in the algal step induced by the high pH, and assimilation in plants, bacteria and algae. The main removal occurred in the algal step. In total, 47% of the amount of phosphorus was removed. Significant recycling of nitrogen and phosphorus through harvested biomass has not been shown. The indicators analysed for pathogen removal showed an achieved effluent quality comparable to, or better than, for conventional secondary treatment. The microbial composition was comparable to other nitrifying biological systems. The most abundant phyla were Betaproteobacteria and Planctomycetes.</p><p>In Sweden, a hydroponic system is restricted to greenhouse applications, and the necessary amount of additional energy is related to geographic location. In conclusion, hydroponic systems are not recommended too far north, unless products are identified that will justify the increased energy usage. The potential for hydroponic treatment systems in Sweden lies in small decentralized systems where the greenness of the system and the possible products are considered as advantages for the users.</p>

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is present in all forested catchments and can be important in binding metals, absorbing UV, and the transport of nutrients (C, N, S, P). DOM is extremely heterogeneous in time and space, making it difficult to characterize. New techniques have been developed to determine &#948;34S and &#948;18O in DOM. These techniques have been applied to samples from Harp and Plastic Lake catchments (45??23'N, 79?? 08'W, 45??11'N, 78?? 50'W) in order to obtain information about sources and sinks of DOM within forested catchments on the Canadian Shield. In conjunction with sulphate and DOC concentrations, this new data provides valuable insight into sulphur cycling and DOM alteration within these catchments. Data generated for &#948;34S-DOM and &#948;18O-DOM appears to be the first data reported in the literature for DOM. The inorganic (&#948;34S-SO42-) and organic S (&#948;34S-DOM) differs by environment in both catchments. The range of &#948;34S-SO42- is between 3. 3&#8240; and 10. 3&#8240;, and the range of &#948;34S-DOM is from 3. 4&#8240; to 8. 7&#8240;. Sulphate in the Harp Lake catchment in most samples is subject to some sort of cycling within the watershed, since &#948;34S-SO42- differs from precipitation. In the Harp Lake catchment, upland &#948;34S-SO42- is influenced by historical precipitation. The &#948;34S-DOM is derived from leaching and microbial activity of DOM from organic horizons in the soil. The &#948;34S-SO42- and &#948;34S-DOM of wetland streams is extremely variable, controlled by hydrology. The &#948;34S-SO42- provides information on oxidation-reduction dynamics in the wetland, and &#948;34S-DOM provides information about sources of DOS in the wetland. The &#948;34S-SO42- and &#948;34S-DOM are possibly related in Harp Lake. Mineralization of DOS as evidenced by &#948;34S-DOM and DOS concentrations could be a small input of SO42- into Harp Lake. It is possible &#948;18O-DOM could be an indicator of DOM alteration. The range of &#948;18O-DOM is between 8. 2&#8240; and 14. 4&#8240;. The &#948;18O-DOM in the Harp Lake catchment is highly correlated with relative molecular weight, which has been shown to decrease with increasing alteration. Wetland streams show the largest range in &#948;18O-DOM, while uplands, groundwater, and Harp Lake are the least varied. The highest &#948;18O-DOM values are from sources of DOM such as leaf leachates (representative of forest floor litter) and wetlands. The most depleted samples are from groundwater and Harp Lake which typically contain highly altered DOM. The &#948;34S-DOM and &#948;18O-DOM can provide valuable information on sources of DOM and DOM alteration within the catchment. The &#948;18O-DOM could also allow the separation of autochthonous and allochthonous DOM in lakes.

A major uncertainty in soil carbon studies is how inputs of fresh plant-derived carbon affect the turnover of existing soil organic matter (SOM) by so-called priming effects. Priming may occur directly as a result of nutrient mining by existing microbial communities, or indirectly via microbial population adjustments. Soil type and conditions may also influence the intensity and direction of priming effects. However the mechanisms are poorly understood. The objectives of this study were (1) to investigate how additions of labile C4 substrate affected SOM turnover in two contrasting unplanted C3 soils (clayey fertile from Temple Balsall, Warwickshire (TB) and sandy acid from Shuttleworth, Bedfordshire (SH) using13 C isotope shifts; (2) to investigate the influence of rhizodeposition from plant roots on SOM turnover in the same two soils planted with a C4 grass; (3) to assess an automated field system for measuring soil temperature, moisture and photosynthesis sensitivities of SOM turnover in the same two soils over diurnal to seasonal time scales. I used a combination of laboratory incubation, glasshouse and field experiments. In the soil incubation experiment, I made daily applications of either a maize root extract or sucrose to soil microcosms at rates simulating grassland rhizodeposition, and followed soil respiration (Rs) and its δ13 C over 19 days. I inferred the extent of priming from the δ13 C of Rs and the δ13 C of substrate and soil end-members. There were positive priming effects in both soils in response to the two substrates. In the SH soil there were no differences in priming effects between the substrates. However in the TB soil, sucrose produced greater priming effects than maize root extract, and priming effects with sucrose increased over time whereas with maize root extract declined after the first week. I explain these effects in terms of the greater fertility of the TB soil and resulting greater microbial nitrogen mineralization induced by priming. Because the maize root extract contained some nitrogen, over time microbial nitrogen requirements were satisfied without priming whereas with sucrose the nitrogen demand increased over time. In the glasshouse experiment, I planted C4 Kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) in pots with the same two soils. The extent of rhizodeposition by the plants was altered by intermittently clipping the grass in half the pots (there were also unplanted controls) and priming effects were inferred from the δ13 C of Rs and the δ13 C of plant and soil end-members. Unclipped plants in both soils generated positive priming effects, while clipping reduced priming in TB soil and produced negligible PEs in SH soil. Microbial nutrient mining of SOM again explained the observed PEs in this experiment. Photosynthesis was a major driver of priming effects in the planted systems. In the third experiment, I found that the tested automated chamber system provided reliable measurements of Rs and net ecosystem exchange (NEE), and it was possible to draw relations for the dependency of Rs and NEE on key environmental drivers. Collectively, the results contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of priming effects and highlight possibilities for further research. The methods developed here will allow high temporal and spatial resolution measurements of Rs and NEE under field conditions, using stable isotope methods to separate fluxes into plant- and soil-derived components. Keywords: Soil respiration, soil moisture, soil temperature, Isotope ratio, maize root, flux chamber, climate change, organic matter, rhizodeposition.

A loss of soil organic matter (SOM), whether through natural means or management practices, results in soil degradation. Biochar as a soil amendment can alter soil properties, ultimately affecting the availability of nitrogen and water to plants and thus crop growth. The effects of biochar are not definitive, and often dependent on both the soil type and the biochar applied. Biochar properties can change according to the feedstock and production parameters, thus for their effective use further investigation is required to link biochar properties to its effects in soil. A high-temperature (600˚ C) biochar from a mixed-hardwood feedstock was investigated. The biochar increased the soil water retention, as demonstrated by a water release curve and field trials. This retention was predominant at higher water potentials, which was attributed to the greater number of meso (storage) pores in the biochar. Biochar did not affect the soil’s saturated hydraulic conductivity; this is thought to be due to the low number of macro (transmission) pores in the biochar. Thus there was no effect on the transmission rate in the soil. Biochar reduced gross ammonium levels in the soil via adsorption, but resulted in increased non-exchangeable ammonium levels, possibly due to physical entrapment. Where carbon was already abundant in the organically managed soil, the adsorbed ammonium reduced nitrification through lower substrate availability. The range of carbon fractions added as a result of the biochar amendment increased the total organic carbon (TOC) content of the soil, but this supplementary carbon was released by the microorganisms as carbon dioxide. Microorganisms in the relatively carbon poor conventionally managed soil (with lower TOC), assimilated the additional labile carbon increasing microbial biomass. The higher microbial biomass, combined with improvements in pH and the higher ammonium levels (as a result of the ammoniacal fertiliser) increased nitrification. These changes in water and nitrogen availability did not alter crop yields as measured in the glasshouse and field trials. The effects of this biochar in a sandy agricultural soil depended on the type and level of carbon and nitrogen present in the soil, thus consideration of these factors should be taken when applying.

For successful restoration of unstable ecosystems in the dumps recreating a fully functioning lan dis needed. Dump substrates often have poor grain composition, extreme pH or are toxic. They also lack important recent organic matter, which improves the overall quality of the soil and is therefore necessary for the development of quality and fertile soil. Therefore, restoration of ecosystems in the dumps is initially very slow. A number of reclamation measures was invented to accelerate this process - for example, heaping up of topsoil to dump substrates. With organic matter present in the topsoil soil formation is faster and often with their physical and chemical properties differ significantly from then developed soils. There has already been number of works written considering development of soils on the Velká podkrušnohorská výsypka so far, none of which, however, did not affect grasslands. The aim of this work was to obtain complete information about the development of chemical and microbial properties of soils that were recultivted by reclaimed topsoil and grassed and then to compare them with developments in the areas of overgrown spontaneous succession. It was found that the total carbon content increases with time only in the reclaimed areas and maximum of the increase is in the depth of...

Ce doctorat s'intègre dans les programmes OPUR et Piren-Seine et a eu pour vocation d'améliorer les connaissances actuelles sur l'influence des rejets urbains de temps de pluie sur la spéciation et la biodisponibilité des métaux dans les systèmes sous forte pression urbaine tel que la Seine. En effet l’impact des métaux lourds dans le milieu récepteur sur les organismes vivants dépend d'une part de leurs teneurs totales mais aussi et surtout de leur biodisponibilité. Il est généralement admis que la forme biodisponible des métaux lourds pour les organismes vivants est la forme dissoute libre. Les RUTP vont donc pouvoir considérablement modifier la teneur et la biodisponibilité des métaux lourds dans le milieu naturel dans la mesure où ces rejets sont fortement chargés en matière organique dissoute (MOD) qui va influencer considérablement, avec la MOD déjà présente dans le cours d'eau, la spéciation des métaux dans le milieu étant donnée sa capacité à complexer ces derniers et sa tendance à diminuer leur biodisponibilité. La compréhension de l'influence de la MOD sur la spéciation et la biodisponibilité des métaux suppose en outre que l'on connaisse précisément sa composition chimique ou plus exactement ses groupements fonctionnels. C'est pourquoi une partie de ces travaux est consacrée à la caractérisation de la matière organique dissoute d'origine naturelle et urbaine par son fractionnement selon le critère de polarité. Une caractérisation plus fine a été réalisée à l'aide des analyses fonctionnelles permettant ainsi de mieux aborder l'influence de la MOD sur la spéciation et la biodisponibilité du cuivre. Parallèlement à l'étude de caractérisation de la MOD, ce travail s'attache à mieux cerner le rôle de la MOD d'origine urbaine en particulier de la MOD hydrophile sur la spéciation et la biodisponibilité du cuivre. Dans cet objectif, la technique potentiométrique à l'aide d'électrode ionique spécifique ainsi que des biotests de toxicité aiguë (Daphnia magna) ont permis :- d'étudier la complexation du cuivre par les MOD afin notamment de fournir des paramètres de complexations des MOD hydrophiles peu connues jusqu'à présent et ainsi mieux prédire le transport des métaux en milieu urbain.- d'évaluer le rôle protecteur de la MOD d'origine urbaine sur la biodisponibilité du cuivre. Les résultats ont montré que la MOD issue des rejets urbains et rejetée dans le milieu récepteur présente des caractéristiques originales à savoir un fort pourcentage de MOD hydrophile, c'est à dire une faible hydrophobicité et un degré d'aromaticité peu marqué soulignant le caractère peu réfractaire de cette MOD. En revanche une plus grande diversité fonctionnelle de la MOD d'origine urbaine par rapport à la MOD naturelle a été mise en évidence notamment par un taux de structures protéiques très important. Les résultats obtenus vis-à-vis des MOD d'origine urbaine ont montré une réactivité particulière vis-à-vis du cuivre. En effet les rejets urbains ont montré une teneur en sites complexant plus élevée que ce qu'il est observé pour des matières organiques naturelles. Le rôle particulier de groupements amines dans la complexation du cuivre a été mis en évidence. L'approche utilisée pour évaluer la biodisponibilité du cuivre a révélé pour l'ensemble des MOD un effet protecteur vis-à-vis du cuivre sur les organismes vivants. Une corrélation positive de cet effet avec la teneur en eaux usées été mise en évidence, notamment pour les MOD des RUTP et plus particulièrement pour la fraction hydrophile (HPI), signalant ainsi la forte influence de la MOD d'origine urbaine sur la biodisponibilité et la toxicité du cuivre / This thesis was carried out on the framework of the OPUR and Piren-Seine programs. The main objectives were to improve the current knowledge on the influence of combined sewer overflows (CSO) on metal speciation and bioavailability in urban aquatic system. Indeed, the impact of heavy metals in the receiving environment on the life of microorganisms depends on a portion of their total concentrations but also and especially of their bioavailability. It is generally recognized that the bioavailable heavy metals to microorganisms is dissolved free. The CSO's will be able to significantly change the content and bioavailability of heavy metals in the environment in so far as these discharges are heavily loaded with dissolved organic matter (DOM) which will considerably influence with the DOM already present in course of water the speciation of metals in the environment given its ability to complex metals and its tendency to decrease their bioavailability. The understanding of the influence of DOM on trace metal speciation and bioavailability required that the chemical composition of DOM, more exactly its binding sites should be well understood. Therefore, one part of this research focused on the characterization of DOM of natural and urban origin by fractionation according to the criteria of polarity. A finer characterization was performed using functional analyses that were of prime importance to better understand the influence of DOM on copper speciation and bioavailability. Alongside the characterization study of the DOM, this work aims to better understand the role of urban DOM in particular hydrophilic fraction on the speciation and bioavailability of copper. To accomplish these objectives, the technique such as potentiometry with ionic selective electrode and bioassay such as an acute toxicity test (Daphnia magna) were performed in order to: - Study the copper binding by DOM in order to give some binding parameters of hydrophilic DOM and to better predict the fate of the trace metal. - Evaluate the protective role of urban DOM on copper bioavailability. Results showed some particular characteristics of urban DOM such as a high proportion of hydrophilic DOM, i.e. a low hydrophobicity and a low degree of aromaticity underlying the low refractory character of this DOM. Nevertheless a higher content of various functional groups was determined in urban DOM than in natural DOM. A very high content of proteinaceous structures was particularly identified in urban DOM. Binding experiments revealed a higher content of binding sites in urban discharges than in natural DOM and these sites are strongly correlated to amino groups. The approach used to evaluate copper bioavailability depicted a protective role of DOM to the organisms Daphnia magna(...)

Le cycle du carbone est régi principalement par les phénomènes de production et de reminéralisation de la matière organique le long de la colonne d'eau. Les acteurs principaux de cette reminéralisation sont les procaryotes hétérotrophes, dont les actions peuvent être mesurées sur l'ensemble de la colonne d'eau via la respiration procaryotique. Au cours de ce travail de thèse, un suivi à long terme et en temps réel des conditions hydrologiques et biogéochimiques (température potentielle, salinité et oxygène dissous, O2) a été mené entre 2008 et 2010 en Méditerranée Nord Occidentale, sur le site ANTARES. Ces observations ont permis de mettre en évidence les influences d'évènements ponctuels (convection hivernale d'eau profonde) par advection sur ces paramètres hydrologiques et biogéochimiques. Ces influences, directes ou indirectes, vont également avoir des incidences sur la concentration en matière organique et donc sur le potentiel reminéralisateur du milieu profond. Le suivi temporel de la concentration d'O2 a également permis de mettre en évidence une diminution de la concentration globale de 2.6 µmol O2 dm-3 a-1, sur une période de trois ans. Le développement au sein du laboratoire et en collaboration avec le Centre de Physique des Particules de Marseille (CPPM) d'un nouvel outil en équipression, le IODA6000 (In situ Oxygen Dynamics Autosampler), mesurant directement et à haute fréquence la dynamique de l'O2 a permis d'obtenir des vitesses de respiration procaryotique à 2000 m de profondeur depuis décembre 2009 sur le site ANTARES. / The carbon cycle is mostly driven by production and remineralisation processes which are constraining organic matter concentration along the water column. The main actors of the remineralisation are the heterotrophic prokaryotes, which actions can be measured from surface to deep by the prokaryotic respiration. During this PhD thesis, a long term real time monitoring of hydrological and biogeochemical conditions (potential temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen O2) has been carried out between 2008 and 2010 in the North Occidental Mediterranean Sea, at the ANTARES site. Influence of punctual events has been observed which seem to be related to winter deep sea convection and subsequent advection, changing hydrological and biogeochemical properties observed at the ANTARES site. These direct or indirect modifications will have consequences on the organic matter concentration and therefore on the deep-sea remineralisation potential. The temporal monitoring of O2 concentration has also allow us to estimate the deep water oxygen consumption of 2.6 µmol O2 dm-3 a-1, during a three year period. The development in our laboratory in collaboration with Centre de Physique des Particules de Marseille (CPPM) of a new equipressured tool, the IODA6000 (In situ Oxygen Dynamics Autosampler), measuring directly and at high frequency the O2 concentration, allowed us to measure PR rates at 2000 m depth since December 2009 at the ANTARES site. This unique ongoing time series shows a mean prokaryotic respiration rates higher (0.2 µmol O2 dm-3 d-1) than expected by literature (5.5 10-3 µmol O2 dm-3 d-1), with a high temporal variability (from 8 10-3 to 0.5 µmol O2 dm-3 d-1).

Comparison of two different soil organic matter fractionation methods Soil organic matter (SOM) significantly affects physical, chemical and biological properties of soils and plays also a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. In order to simulate SOM dynamics a number of mathematical models have been developed. These models divide SOM into several theoretical pools according to their stability. Unfortunately, lacking experimental procedure which could measure these pools directly, although for this purpose a wide range of fractionation procedures were developed, that are trying identified empirical fractions with theoretical model pools. An objective of this experiment was to reproduce two fractionation procedures on a set of twenty-seven laboratory-prepared samples: according to Six and according to Zimmermann and to compare their results. Also the relationship between respiration and the amount of carbon in different pools was compared. The most significant differences were found in active pools, where Six's method found twice as much carbon than Zimmermann's one. Finally response of both method results to various environmental parameters (mineral composition, litter type and soil mixing) was compared. According to the results of Zimmermann's method the amount of carbon in different pools was mainly...

Master of Science / Department of Geology / Saugata Datta / Mass poisoning of arsenic (As) has affected roughly 60 million people in the Bengal Basin (Bangladesh and West Bengal, India) and 43 million people alone in West Bengal. Elevated levels of Manganese (Mn) is another alarming issue in the groundwaters of this region (MCLs: As<10µg/L and Mn< 0.4mg/L). Four locations in Murshidabad district (south-central part of Bengal Basin) were chosen for this current study. Among the 4 locations, two of them showed high concentration of As (>50 - 4622µg/L; 2009 survey) and they are Beldanga: 23° 56'N& 88°15'E and Hariharpara: 24°3.68'N & 88° 21.63'E. On the other hand: Nabagram (24°12.08'N & 88°13.29'E) and Kandi (23°58.6'N & 88°6.68'E) demonstrated less dissolved As (<10µg/L) in groundwaters. Study areas were located to the west (Nabagram, Kandi) and east (Beldanga, Hariharpara) of the river Bhagirathi, a tributary of the river Ganges, flowing N-S through the district of Murshidabad. Eastern side of the river is occupied by grey colored Holocene sediments and western side has more oxidized orangish-brown Pleistocene sediments. Comparative study of major water quality parameters between these sites revealed high As (10-1263µg/L) and low Mn (0.1-1.3mg/L) in the areas like Beldanga, Hariharpara while low As (0-15µg/L) and higher Mn (0.2-4.2mg/L) in Nabagram and Kandi. The pH range for high and low As areas were 4.5-7.8 and 5.1-8.2 respectively. Phosphates showed values <0.04-2.21mg/L in high As areas and <0.08-2.52mg/L in low areas whereas Cl- values were higher within low As areas (29-200mg/L) and lower within high As areas (3.9-78.4mg/L). Fe(t) and Fe2+ values at high and low As areas were 0-13.5mg/L, 0.01-0.11mg/L and 0-1.4mg/L, 0.04-0.06mg/L respectively. δ18O and δD results revealed that monsoonal precipitation is the major recharge source in this area with some input from the surficial waterbodies as ponds in shallower depths within high As areas. The total As extracted from core sediments in these areas do not show much difference: total As in high and low As areas ranges from 6.4-18 mg/kg. Sequential extraction results revealed that majority of the sediment bound As is present in residual phases (>40%). DOC in groundwaters in high and low As areas were 1.5-3.2 and 0.5-1.3mg/L respectively and they had positive correlation with As within the depth profiles. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) characterization studies indicated that microbial proteins (Tyrosine and Tryptophan) are the major components in the groundwaters in the low As region, whereas high As area groundwaters tend to have higher content of humic DOM (A and C). Cl/Br molar ratio of high As wells were low compared to the low As wells. Current study revealed the importance of organic matters (and not the mineralogy of the sediments) both in sediments and groundwaters in controlling the release of As from sediment, at least in the shallow parts of Bengal delta aquifer and microbial mediated reductive dissolution of FeOOH in the presence of organic matter is the major mechanisms by which sediment bound As (<50m depth) is released into the groundwater. The darker organic matter rich sediments (OM both sediment bound and anthropogenically derived) existing at the depth range 20m-50m with reducing environment persisting in both high and low As areas are possible reasons for elevated levels of As in this region.