Modeling the photo-oxidation of dissolved organic matter by ultraviolet radiation in freshwater lakes: Implications for mercury bioavailability

Abstract

Uncertainties in projected ultraviolet (UV) radiation may lead to future increases in UV irradiation of freshwater lakes. Because dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is the main binding phase for mercury (Hg) in freshwater lakes, an increase in DOC photo-oxidation may affect Hg speciation and bioavailability. We quantified the effect of DOC concentration on the rate of abiotic DOC photo-oxidation for five lakes (DOC=3.27–12.3mgL−1) in Kejimkujik National Park, Canada. Samples were irradiated with UV-A or UV-B radiation over a 72-h period. UV-B radiation was found to be 2.36times more efficient at photo-oxidizing DOC than UV-A, with energy-normalized rates of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) production ranging from 3.8×10−5 to 1.1×10−4mgL−1J−1 for UV-A, and from 6.0×10−5 to 3.1×10−4mgL−1J−1 for UV-B. Energy normalized rates of DIC production were positively correlated with DOC concentrations. Diffuse integrated attenuation coefficients were quantified in situ (UV-A Kd=0.056–0.180Jcm−1; UV-B Kd=0.015–0.165Jcm−1) and a quantitative depth-integrated model for yearly DIC photo-production in each lake was developed. The model predicts that, UV-A produces between 3.2 and 100times more DIC (1521–2851mgm−2year−1) than UV-B radiation (29.17–746.7mgm−2year−1). Future increases in UV radiation may increase DIC production and increase Hg bioavailability in low DOC lakes to a greater extent than in high DOC lakes.