The role of dissolved organic carbon in the chemistry and bioavailability of mercury in remote Adirondack lakes

A number of recent studies have documented elevated concentrations of mercury (Hg) in fish caught in remote lakes and a pattern of increased concentrations of Hg in fish tissue with decreasing water column pH. Because of the potential linkage between fish Hg and surface water acidification, factors regulating water column concentrations and bioavailability of Hg were investigated in Adirondack lakes through a field study and application of the Mercury Cycling Model (MCM). Concentrations of total Hg and total MeHg were highly variable, with concentrations of total MeHg about 10% of total Hg in lakes which did not show anoxic conditions. In lakes exhibiting anoxic conditions in the hypolimnion during summer stratification, concentrations of total MeHg were elevated. Concentrations of total Hg and total MeHg increased with decreasing pH in remote Adirondack lakes. However, more importantly, concentrations of total Hg and total MeHg increased with increasing concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and percent near-shore wetlands in the drainage basin. Mercury concentrations in muscle tissue of yellow perch from Adirondack lakes were elevated above the U.S. FDA action level (1 μg/g Hg) in 7% of the fish sampled or in one or more individual fish from 9 of the 16 lakes sampled. Fish Hg concentrations generally increased with increasing fish length, weight and age. Patterns of increasing Hg concentration with age likely reflect shifts in prey of yellow perch and the bioconcentration of Hg along the food chain. For age 3 to 5 perch, concentrations of Hg increased with increasing concentrations of DOC and percent near-shore wetlands in the drainage basin. However, for a lake with very high DOC concentrations, fish concentrations of Hg declined. Calculations with the MCM also show that concentrations of Hg species increase with increasing DOC due to complexation reactions. Increases in DOC result in increasing concentrations of Hg in biota but decreases in the bioconcentration factor of Hg in fish tissue. This research suggests that DOC is important in the transport of Hg to lake systems. High concentrations of DOC may complex MeHg, diminishing its bioavailability. At high concentrations of monomeric Al, the complexation of MeHg with DOC apparently decreases, enhancing the bioavailability of MeHg.     

Mercury Cycling in Lake Gordon and Lake Pedder,Tasmania (Australia). I: In-lake Processes

The processes affecting the concentrations of total mercury (total Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in a freshwater system comprising two connected reservoirs in southwest Tasmania were investigated. Surface concentrations of total mercury (total Hg)were temporally and spatially uniform in both Lake Gordon (2.3±0.4 ng L^-1, n = 27) and Lake Pedder (2.3±0.3 ng L^-1, n = 11). The surface concentrations of MeHg in Lake Gordon (0.35±0.39 ng L^-1, n = 25) were more variable than total Hg and MeHg typically comprised 10–20% of total Hg. The relatively high amount of total mercury present as MeHg in Lake Gordon was attributed to the high proportion of wetlandsin the upper catchment (50% of total area) and in-lake contributions (ca. 40% of total MeHg). Despite the close proximity of the two lakes, MeHg concentrations in Lake Pedder were consistently lower than in Lake Gordon. This phenomenon canbe explained in part by the greater contribution of direct rainfall to Lake Pedder leading to the dilution of MeHg. Water column MeHg concentrations were higher in warmer months in bothlakes, reflecting increased net methylation of inorganic mercury.Unlike previous studies of seasonally anoxic lakes, depth profiles of total mercury and MeHg in Lake Gordon were uniform and were not affected by water column stratification occurringin the summer months, and oxygen depletion with depth. This suggests that redox cycling and accumulation of MeHg in the hypolimnion following seasonally-induced anoxia is not a significant part of the mercury cycle in Lake Gordon. The primary location of MeHg production within the lake's water column is not conspicuous. Mercury speciation measurements made above and below the lake system over a period of 19 months indicates that after 20 yr of impoundment, the reservoirs are not significantly affecting MeHg concentrations in the downstreamriverine environment.     

Cycling of methyl mercury and mercury — Responses in the forest roof catchment to three years of decreased atmospheric deposition

Studies of the biogeochemistry of total mercury (Hg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) in the Lake Gårdsjön watershed have shown that the atmosphere is the most important source of Hg and MeHg in the ecosystem. Soils are accumulating most of the deposited Hg and MeHg, but transport of Hg and MeHg from the forested catchments into the lake ecosystems is enough to explain elevated concentrations of MeHg in fish in more than 10 000 Swedish lakes. An experimental roof was constructed to study effects of decreased atmospheric input on an entire forested catchment. The experiment started in April 1991, and decreases in the output of both MeHg and Hg occurred during 1991, 1992 and 1993. Runoff fluxes from the control catchment during the pre-treatment period were related to the experimental catchment using regression analyses. Since April 1991, after three year experiment, predicted compared to measured fluxes showed that Hg output decreased by 32% and MeHg by 28%. The decrease in Hg was most obvious during high water flows in winter/spring while MeHg decreased during all seasons of the year. The decreased input of Hg and MeHg to the Forest Roof Catchment is the most probable explanation to the rapid decrease in output of Hg and MeHg by runoff from the catchment basin.     

Is total mercury concentration a good predictor of methyl mercury concentration in aquatic systems?

Methyl mercury (MeHg) concentrations were compared to total mercury (THg) concentrations in a variety of types of aqueous samples collected at the Experimental Lakes Area during 1991 through 1993. In several streams, an experimentally flooded wetland, and peat pore water, there was no relationship between MeHg and THg concentrations. %MeHg (compared to THg) ranged from < 1% to over 90%. In three ELA lakes, as in groups of lakes from other regions, a linear relationship between MeHg and THg concentration was found. However, these relationships differed by a factor of three from one region to another. This study shows that THg inputs and/or concentrations are not very useful in predicting MeHg concentrations, and that factors within ecosystems are very important in controlling MeHg concentrations.     

Atmospheric Deposition of Trace Metals at Three Sites Near the Great Lakes

The concentrations of vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), selenium (Se), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in precipitation and on airborne particles were measured at three Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network (IADN) monitoring stations on Lakes Superior, Michigan and Erie during 1993 and 1994. These data were used to estimate annual wet and dry deposition fluxes at these sites. In most cases, both wet and dry deposition make an important contribution to the total atmospheric flux of trace metals. Total (wet + dry) annual loadings of Zn and Cr are higher at the Lake Erie site than at the Lake Michigan and Lake Superior sites. Atmospheric loadings of the other metals are similar at all three sites. Wet deposition of metals is more closely related to precipitation amount than to the concentration of metals in the precipitation. Dry deposition fluxes are controlled by the concentration of trace metals on large particles. Total particle mass concentrations are higher during the summer and fall at the Lake Erie site, however no seasonal trends in total particle mass at the other sites or trace metals at any of the sites were detected. The total atmospheric loadings calculated in this work are in agreement with other estimates of metals deposition to the Great Lakes.     

Ambient levels and dry deposition fluxes of mercury to Lakes Huron,Erie and St. Clair

Ambient concentrations and dry deposition fluxes of Hg in the gas and particle phase to Lakes St. Clair, Erie and Huron were estimated with a hybrid receptor-deposition model (HRD). The ambient gas and particulate phase Hg concentrations were predicted to vary by a factor of 12 to 18 during the transport of air masses traversing the lakes. The ensemble average deposition fluxes of fine particle Hg ranged from 7 pg/m²-h to 15.3 pg/m²-h over Lake St. Clair, 0.5 to 4.2 pg/m²-h over Lake Huron and 5.1 to 20.6 pg/m²-h over Lake Erie. The deposition flux of coarse particle Hg was in the range of 50 to 84 pg/m²-h over Lake St. Clair, 4.7 to 24.2 pg/m²-h over Lake Huron and 5.1 to 20.6 pg/m²-h over Lake Erie. Gaseous Hg volatilized at a rate of 0.21 to 0.52 ng/m²-h from Lake Huron and 0.13 to 0.36 from Lake Erie. Gas phase Hg was deposited at a rate of 5.9 ng/m²-h and/or volatilized at a rate of 0.5 ng/m²-h from Lake St. Clair depending upon the location of the sampling site used in the HRD model. The effect of meteorological conditions, particle size distributions and type and location of the sampling sites played an important role in the transfer of atmospheric Hg to and/or from the lakes.     

Application of the Regional Mercury Cycling Model (RMCM) to Predict the Fate and Remediation of Mercury in Onondaga Lake,New York

Onondaga Lake exhibits elevated concentrations of total mercury (HgT) and methyl-mercury (MeHg) in the water column, sediments and fish tissue due to industrial inputs, wastewater discharge and urban runoff. The steady-state Regional Mercury Cycling Model (RMCM) was calibrated to Onondaga Lake and applied to evaluate various remediation scenarios. Because of detailed data available for Onondaga Lake, the RMCM was effectively calibrated. Model predictions of water column and fish concentrations of Hg generally agreed with measured values. The model underestimated concentrations of Hg in sediments. Mass balance calculations show that inputs of HgT largely originate from tributary and wastewater inflows to the lake. In contrast, MeHg is largely derived from internal production. Model calculations suggest that elimination of Hg inputs from wastewater effluent and of drainage from a former chlor-alkali facility could greatly decrease Hg concentrations in fish tissue.     

Mercury speciation in Lake Baikal

Research on mercury (Hg) distribution and speciation was carried out in Lake Baikal, a large, strong-oligotrophic freshwater reservoir in Siberia, Russia, during June 1992 and march 1993. In summer, total Hg in the water column ranged from 0.14 to 0.77 ng Hg/L, with the highest concentrations observed in the central basin of the lake in surface water samples. Labile inorganic Hg was found to be 7 to 20 % of the total Hg content. Highest total Hg concentrations were found in river waters: up to 2 ng Hg/L. Labile methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations ranged from 2 to 38 pg Hg/L in the water column, with the higher concentrations in the central part of the lake, and showing a slight increase in near bottom waters. Labile MeHg makes up 1 to 15 % of the total Hg content in the water column, with larger fractions in deep waters. The slight increase of the MeHg gradient with depth corresponds with the O₂ minimum region. Highest MeHg concentrations were observed in river waters (up to 145 pg Hg/L) and in some bays of the lake (up to 160 pg Hg/L). In these high temperature- and phytoplankton-rich water masses, the MeHg-fraction increased up to 35 % of total Hg. Labile MeHg concentrations in water samples taken in winter in the southern basin (under the ice cover), showed slightly higher concentrations than in summer, possibly due to an early spring bloom. In rainwater, total Hg ranged from 3 to 20 ng Hg/L and MeHg from 0.1 to 0.25 ng Hg/L. In snow, a large fraction of total Hg is bound to particulate matter; concentrations of total Hg ranged from 8 to 60 ng Hg/L and labile MeHg from 0.1 to 0.25 ng Hg/L. Atmospheric Hg was found to be 0.73 to 2.31 ng/m³ as gaseous Hg and 0.005 to 0.02 ng/m³ in its particulate form. Spatial distribution patterns of atmospheric Hg show slightly higher concentrations over the central part of the lake and the Selenga river delta. In winter, atmospheric Hg values (measured in the southern region), ranged from 1.2 to 6.1 ng/m³ as total gaseous Hg and 0.02 to 0.09 ng/m³ as total particulate Hg, and are higher than in summer, probably influenced by coal burning and traffic by the local population. MeHg contents in fish ranged from 20 ng Hg/g dry weight in small Cottocomephorus to 300 ng Hg/g dry weight in pike and trout species, which were caught in organic-rich waters.     

Modeling the transport and fate of mercury in an urban lake (Onondaga Lake,NY)

A mass balance model was developed to simulate mercury (Hg) cycling in Onondaga Lake, New York. MERC4, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency model of the physical and biogeochemical transport and transformation of Hg, was modified by the addition of input from two supporting models (Fish Bioenergetics Model 2 and a lake eutrophication model) to model the transport of Hg into and out of plankton and fish. The model calculates the concentrations of total Hg, methylmercury, elemental Hg, and ionic Hg in both dissolved and particulate forms in the water column. The model was calibrated to an extensive data set of temporally and spatially variable Hg concentrations in Onondaga Lake in 1992. In addition to standard transport processes of advection and dispersion included in MERC4, the Onondaga Lake Mercury Model includes remineralization to simulate release of Hg from settling particulates before incorporation into sediment. The model provides an analytical framework for understanding and predicting the behavior of Hg in Onondaga Lake and has potential use in evaluating the relative impact of different source control and remedial alternatives.     

Trends of mercury and methylmercury in deposition,run-off water and sediments in relation to experimental manipulations and acidification

In the covered catchment at Lake Gårdsjön, the reversibility of acidification and the effects on Hg output of a decreased deposition of Hg and MeHg have been investigated since 1991. A first indication of a decreased from the covered catchment, caused by the artificial removal of Hg and MeHg input, has been observed. This has occurred in parallel with an overall decrease in Hg deposition fluxes in SW Sweden during 1990 to 1993. In the sediments of two acidified lakes, Lake Gårdsjön (limed) and Lake Härsevatten (acid), Hg concentrations decrease by 60% in the top cm, from the maximum around 1000 ng g^–1 at 5 cm depth indicating a decreasing deposition during the last 10 years. This decrease has occurred in parallel with decreasing atmospheric S-levels and is most likely caused by decreasing European Hg emissions. Decreasing trends of MeHg in run-off from two catchments has also been observed while the Hg output has remained somewhat more stable.     

A case study of mercury and methylmercury dynamics in a Hg-contaminated municipal wastewater treatment plant

A study of total Hg (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) was performed in a 40 mgd capacity municipal sewage treatment plant in which elemental Hg was used as a seal in 3 trickling filter center columns. Each seal contains several hundred kg of Hg. The seals have leaked repeatedly over time, prompting the current remediation study and ongoing replacement of the Hg seals with mechanical seals. A mass balance conducted three times while the seals were in place showed that the plant acted as a net source of both Hg and MeHg during normal operation. The average amount of Hg released in sludge plus effluent was 157 g Hg and 0.4g MeHg/d. Of this total, 138 g Hg and 0.3 g MeHg were in excess of influent wastewater, and were contributed by the WTP itself. About 95% of the total Hg was released in sludge, with only 6 to 7 g/d released to the receiving water body. However, on average, about 70% of the MeHg leaving the plant was released to the river. Effluent MeHg concentrations were 4–6 ng/L. The plant components that acted as the major sources of both total and MeHg within the plant were the trickling filters (TFs). Metallic Hg accidentally lost from the center column seals has accumulated in the rock filter media and underbedding of the tricking filters. MeHg production across the TFs was positively related to the Hg concentration in each of the TFs. A substantial fraction of the total Hg but not of MeHg was lost to sludge in each settling step. About 50% of the remaining MeHg appeared to be degraded during the tertiary aeration step.     

Measurement of methylmercury and mercury in run-off,lake and rain waters

During one year, samples from eight drainage lakes, seven run-off stations and three deposition sites from various geographical areas in Sweden were collected and analyzed for methyl Hg (MeHg) and total Hg (Hg-tot). The MeHg concentrations ranged from 0.04 to 0.64 ng L^?1, 0.04 to 0.8 ng L^?1, and <0.05 to 0.6 ng L^?1 in run-off, lake water and rain water, respectively. The corresponding Hg-tot concentrations were found in the range 2 to 12 ng L^?1, 1.35 to 15 ng L^?1, and 7 to 90 ng L^?1, respectively. A Hg-tot level of about 60 ng Hg L^?1 was found in throughfall water. The MeHg and Hg-tot concentrations are positively correlated in both run-off and lake water, but not in rain and throughfall water. A strong positive correlation between the MeHg, as well as the Hg-tot concentration, and the water color is observed in both run-off and lake waters, which suggests that the transport of MeHg and other Hg fractions from soil via run-off water to the lake is closely related to the transport of organic substances; and is a consequence of the biogeochemical processes and the water flow pathway. The ratio between the mean values of MeHg and Hg-tot seems to be an important parameter, with an indicated negative coupling to the mean value of pH for run-off water, but a strong positive correlation to Hg-content in fish, the ratio between the area of the catchment and the lake, as well as to the retention time of lake.     

Lake superior binational program: The role of electric utilities

Lake Superior is called the greatest of the Great Lakes for good reason. It is the largest of the Great Lakes and also the cleanest. Although Lake Superior fish contain enough PCBs, mercury, and toxaphene to warrant fish consumption advisories, levels of toxic chemicals in Lake Superior are low compared to other Great Lakes. Because of the relatively clean waters of the lake and the basin's small industrial base, Lake Superior governments have agreed to set aside the basin as a special demonstration area with a goal of zero discharge and zero emission for nine toxic chemicals. Some of these chemicals have been associated with electric utilities. The governments recognize that electric utilities, industry and residents of the basin will all have a role in the march towards zero. The Lake Superior governments urge the electric utilities to consider 1) the proposed load reduction schedules for Lake Superior, 2) a US inventory of PCB equipment and 3) innovative solutions that bring facilities closer to zero discharge and zero emission.     

Temperature,pH and photoperiod effects on mercury bioaccumulation by nymphs of the burrowing mayflyHexagenia rigida

Accumulation of HgCl₂ and CH₃HgCl byHexagenia rigida nymphs from contaminated sediment and water column was investigated experimentally, taking into account 3 abiotic factors (temperature, pH and photoperiod). When the contamination of the experimental units was based on sediment compartment, Hg concentrations at the whole organism level revealed very high bioaccumulation differences between the two chemical forms of Hg (ratio close to 20 in favour of MeHg). When Hg compounds were added to the water column, the highest Hg accumulation rates were observed for MeHg, but with a small difference between the 2 compounds (ratio close to 2.0–3.0). These bioaccumulation processes were very dependent on the 3 abiotic factors taken into account, especially temperature and water column pH.     

Environmental biogeochemistry of mercury in Antarctic ecosystems

Polar regions are recognized as important sinks for long-range transport and deposition of Hg derived from natural and anthropogenic sources at lower latitudes. In previous studies we found enhanced Hg accumulation in soils, mosses and lichens from ice-free areas of Victoria Land facing the Terra Nova Bay coastal polynya. This study extends research to the distribution of organic C, total N, S, Hg, Al and Fe in surface soils, cyanobacterial mats and short sediment cores from four lacustrine ecosystems, each with different environmental characteristics and varying distances from the polynya. Results show that planktonic and benthic mats from lakes, along with mosses in the watershed, are the main sinks for Hg in summer meltwater. The C-normalized Hg concentrations in short sediment cores were higher in samples from lakes more exposed to marine aerosols from the coastal polynya. Reactive halogens in the aerosol promote the oxidation and deposition of atmospheric Hg in coastal ecosystems. The analysis of sediment cores did not reveal increasing Hg concentrations in recent sediments, except in the Lake 14 at Edmonson Point. The latter ice-free area is unaffected by the polynya and the increase in Hg concentrations in surface sediments could be due to local changes in lake water level and S biogeochemistry. Although change in sea ice coverage may enhance the role of Antarctic coastal ecosystems as sink in the global Hg cycle, our results seem to exclude possible risks for Antarctic terrestrial and freshwater organisms.     

Benthic fluxes of mercury during redox changes in pristine coastal marine sediments from the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea)

Purpose

The Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea) is an example of a coastal environment contaminated with mercury (Hg). Contamination is a consequence of nearly 500?years of activity at the Idrija Mine (western Slovenia), which is the second largest Hg mine in the world. Oxygen depletion can be common in the Gulf of Trieste due to late summer stratification of the water column and accumulation of labile organic matter. Since changing redox conditions can have an impact on Hg transformations, we studied the effect of oxygen depletion, in parallel with sulphide, iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability, on total Hg and methylmercury (MeHg) fluxes from sediments.

Materials and methods

Pore water concentrations and benthic fluxes of total dissolved Hg and MeHg were studied in situ and in microcosm laboratory experiments using flux chambers encompassing three different stages: oxic, anoxic and reoxidation.

Results and discussion

Our experiments showed that in the oxic stage there were small effluxes of MeHg to the water column, which increased in the anoxic stage and dropped rapidly in a subsequent reoxic stage, showing influx. Our results support the hypothesis that MeHg desorption from reduced metal hydroxides under anoxic conditions, and co-precipitation with Fe-oxides and MeHg demethylation in the reoxidation stage, may play a major role in determining MeHg benthic fluxes. For Hg and MeHg, it appears that there is little relationship between their pore water distribution and flux and that of FDOM, i.e. humics.

Conclusions

The results indicate that there was no significant difference in Hg and MeHg pore water levels and their benthic fluxes between the contaminated northern and central parts of the Gulf of Trieste and the pristine southern part. This suggests that shallow and stratified coastal marine environments, in general, represent areas with a risk of high benthic release of toxic MeHg.     

Relationship between mercury and organic carbon in sediment cores from Lakes Qinghai and Chenghai, China

Purpose

Factors such as organic matter can significantly influence the distribution of mercury (Hg) in aquatic environments. Recent studies in Arctic and sub-Arctic lakes in Canada have investigated whether scavenging of Hg by phytoplankton significantly affects distributions of Hg in sediments. This study examined the relationships between Hg and organic components in two contrasting lakes (Lakes Qinghai and Chenghai) in low and middle latitudes of China.

Materials and methods

Sediment cores from the less-polluted, oligotrophic Lake Qinghai (QH) and from the polluted, eutrophic Lake Chenghai (CH) were collected by a gravity corer. The cores were sectioned and transported on ice to the laboratory where they were stored at ?20 °C. Subsamples were dried in a vacuum freeze dryer and grounded with a mortar and pestle prior to analyses. Total concentrations of Hg were quantified using cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. Total organic carbon (TOC) was quantified using an elemental analyzer after removal of carbonate. The Rock-Eval 6 pyrolysis technique (Vinci Technologies, Rueil-Malmaison, France) was used to deconvolute TOC in sediments into S1, S2, and RC components; S2 was further separated into S2a and S2b.

Results and discussion

Different relationships between Hg and TOC were found in the two lakes, which suggest that different types of organic compounds might play completely different roles in the distribution of Hg in lakes. S1 (the soluble organic matter (SOM)) was found to significantly control distributions of Hg in sediments of both lakes, while S2 and S2a were not. Combining the synchronous fluctuations of Hg and the oxygen index in the QH sediment core and in recent sections of CH suggested that allochthonous SOM derived from the terrestrial environment had an important influence on the distribution of Hg in both lakes and a large portion of Hg that originated from the lake catchment.

Conclusions

This study provides further evidence that organic matter is one of the most important factors that influences distributions of Hg in lake sediments and that SOM was the primary form of carbon associated with sedimentation of Hg. The results also suggest that Hg in lake sediments might not accurately represent its pollution history as it could also be influenced by land use, such as agriculture or other human activities in the catchment.     

Evaluating the mercury distribution and release risks in sediments using high-resolution technology in Nansi Lake,China

Purpose

Mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) are easily released from sediments to overlying water and cause secondary contamination. In general, Hg concentrations are low in natural aquatic environments, but Hg toxicity is high. Therefore, it is important to assess the mobility and release risks of Hg and MeHg from surface sediment using in situ high-resolution sampling techniques.

Methods

The profile distribution of Hg and MeHg was obtained for samples from Weishan sub-lake (WL) and Dushan sub-lake (DL) of Nansi Lake, China, by high-resolution dialysis (HR-Peeper probes) and the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique at mm-resolution. Furthermore, Hg mobility and release risks in sediments were evaluated by combining BCR (European Community Reference Bureau) extraction and DGT-measured data.

Results

The soluble concentrations of Hg in surface sediments in WL and DL were 21.70 and 19.38 ng L^?1 and the DGT-labile concentration of Hg were 8.21 and 10.30 ng L^?1, respectively. The soluble and labile Hg and MeHg concentrations were higher in the surface sediments (from??40 to 0 mm) than in deep sediments. The distribution of the labile-Hg was controlled by the ferrimanganic (hydr)oxide and total nitrogen rather than organic carbon content. The non-residual components accounted for a greater proportion of the interface, which further confirmed Hg was more active on the surface layer of the sediment. The resupply ability indicated that the release of Hg from sediment was insufficient to maintain the initial concentration in the porewater before consumption. The MeHg fluxes in WL (6.18 ng m^?2 day^?1) were twice those in DL (2.89 ng m^?2 day^?1), and the risk assessment code revealed a higher risk in the surface layer (25.21–61.88%) than in the deep layer (0–27.75%).

Conclusions

Dissolved Hg and MeHg accumulated on the surface of the sediments and were more active than in the deeper sediments. The DGT-labile state can be used for a better understanding of the bioavailability and mobility of Hg. The diffusion direction of Hg and MeHg was from sediment to the overlying water. The release risks of Hg and MeHg from surface sediments (especially in WL) were found to be worthy of concern.

     

Ultra trace level mercury in the Everglades ecosystem,a multi-media canal pilot study

The Florida Everglades ecosystem is composed of the largest deposit (9600 km²) of near neutral peat in the world extending south of Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay. The federal Central and South Florida Flood Control Project (C&SF) has sectioned the historic Everglades with a system of canals and levees to control water for urban and agricultural development, resulting in pronounced hydrologic modifications to the natural system. As a part of a comprehensive ecological risk assessment of mercury (Hg) contamination in the Everglades ecosystem, a pilot study of canals was initiated in September 1993 to determine the extent and magnitude of total (HgT) and methylmercury (MeHg) in water, sediment and fish. A probability-based random sampling grid was used to obtain consistent estimates of Hg contamination over this large geographic area. Two hundred canal sampling locations were selected as probability samples by associating grid points on the sampling frame with specific canal sections for independent sampling cycles. Of this number 50 locations were randomly selected for sampling in this pilot study. The selected canal points were sampled from north to south during a six day period. Cumulative distributions with 95% confidence intervals were calculated and used to determine a canal system median concentration for selected water, sediment and fish constituents. The percent exceedance of each median, by hydrologic subarea, was determined to demonstrate the existence and direction of spatial gradients in the system. North to south (high to low) gradients were apparent for total phosphorus (TP), sulfate (SO₄), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), conductance, HgT and MeHg in water. However, the gradients were reversed from south to north for HgT in sediments and fish (Gambusia sp). The greatest Hg concentrations inGambusia sp. occurred in the same canals where largemouth bass had previously been found to be most contaminated.     

Calibration and Evaluation of a Mercury Model for a Western Stream and Constructed Wetland

Numerous studies have shown that Steamboat Creek in Nevada is highly contaminated with mercury, with aqueous mercury concentrations more than two orders of magnitude greater than nearby mountain streams. One objective of this study was to determine if the new Spreadsheet-based Ecological Risk Assessment for the Fate of Mercury (SERAFM) model could be calibrated to the concentrations of unfiltered and dissolved total mercury, and unfiltered and dissolved MeHg in the water column for a reach on SBC and a related constructed wetland mesocosm for different seasons and residence times. SERAFM is a new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency steady state, single segment, mass balance mercury model that has been applied to lakes, and this study also examined the model’s applicability for modeling an arid flowing water environment in different seasons. The average combined error between observed and model-estimated mercury concentrations was 12% and 17% for the reach and mesocosm, respectively. Some recommendations are proposed that may allow SERAFM to better model flowing systems.