Mercury and Methylmercury in Southern Baltic Sea Sediments

M Miotk,J Bełdowski,J Pempkowiak,Nicola Pirrone

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/20130116005

Abstract

Surficial sediment samples were collected in several areas of the southern Baltic Sea during cruises of R/V Oceania in spring 2009 and 2010 for all stations and in autumn 2009 for Gdansk Deep and Gotland Deep. Samples were collected with a gravity corer. The top five centimeters of sediment were sampled by cutting it away with a plastic spatula, mixed and stored frozen (-20 O C) in polyethylene bags until analyses in the laboratory. Sediment cores were analysed for total mercury (HgTOT)and methylmercury (MeHg). Total Hg concentrations in sediments were between 5,81 ng·g -1 in Odra Eustary and 225 ng·g -1 in Gdansk Deep. Lowest concentration of methylmercury were recorded in Odra Estuary; 61,29 pg·g -1 . Highest concentration of MeHg were found in Vistula Estuary, 940,07 pg·g -1 .

Highlights

Environmental contamination by mercury is a worldwide problem
Surficial sediment samples were collected in several areas of the southern Baltic Sea during cruises of R/V Oceania in spring 2009 and 2010 for all stations and in autumn 2009 for Gdansk Deep and Gotland Deep
Surficial sediment samples were collected in several areas of the southern Baltic Sea during cruise on the R/V Oceania in spring 2009 and 2010 for all stations and in autumn 2009 for Gdansk Deep and Gotland Deep

Summary

Introduction

Environmental contamination by mercury is a worldwide problem. It is important to assess the possible effects of increasing levels of environmental mercury pollution on human health and the environment (Liao et al, 2006). Mercury (Hg) is a potent toxic substance, the toxicity of which is elicited at very low concentrations. All chemical forms of mercury are toxic, public health concerns are focused on methylmercury (MeHg). Methylmercury is a neurotoxin that causes pathologies ranging from mild numbness of the extremities to blindness, loss of balance, and in severe cases, death (Barkay and Wagner-Dobler, 2005). In the marine environment mercury, owing to its affinity for particulate matter, is readily scavenged from the water column (Laurier et al, 2003) and transferred to bottom sediments (Cossa and Gobeil, 2000)

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Results