Utilisation des dosages d'adenosine tri-phosphate (A T P) dans l'estimation des pertes de matières vivantes au cours du transit dans les condenseurs de la centrale de Dunkerque

Some adenosine triphosphate measurements enabled us to quantify the planktonic mortality caused by the transfer of cooling waters in the condensers of the thermic plant of Dunkerque. Concerning phytoplankton, the chlorine used as a biocide causes a loss of 70 to 95 % of the absorbed biomass. An ATP extraction method has been developed for zooplankton in order to monitor the evolution of live planktont. Results show that losses are low, if not null and that some species seem to proliferate right next to the discharge. Another approach of fish larva mortality rate, through counting on the aspiration grids seems to prove it very high.