Ecogeochemistry of Mercury in Aquatic Organisms and their Habitat on the Territory of Moscow

Abstract

The issue of technogenic mercury pollution of aquatic ecosystems in urban areas of Moscow was considered based on the sampling data of aquatic plants, amphibians and bottom sediments of the water bodies under study. Quantitative assessments of the mercury distribution in wild life and inorganic nature components of 33 water bodies of Moscow in both protected areas and beyond. Information was provided on the average percentage of mercury in some components of freshwater ecosystems. An excess of the average ecotoxicant concentration values in the in duckweed family (24 ng/g dry wt), amphibians (177 ng/g dry wt) and bottom sediments (57 ng/g dry wt) in the territory of Moscow was revealed versus bulk earth and background values. A significant correlation of mercury concentration for the natural components under study (R>0.4) was identified.