Mercury Accumulation Rates Research Articles

The impact of over 100 years of wildfires on mercury levels and accumulation rates in two lakes in southern California, USA

In southern California, USA, wildfires may be an important source of mercury (Hg) to local watersheds. Hg levels and Hg accumulation rates were investigated in dated sediment cores from two southern California lakes, Big Bear Lake and Crystal Lake, located approximately 40-km apart. Between 1895 and 2006, fires were routinely minimized or suppressed around Big Bear Lake, while fires regularly subsumed the forest surrounding Crystal Lake. Mean Hg concentrations and mean Hg accumulation rates were significantly higher in Crystal Lake sediments compared to Big Bear Lake sediments (Hg levels: Crystal Lake 220 ± 93 ng g−1, Big Bear Lake 92 ± 26 ng g−1; Hg accumulation: Crystal Lake 790 ± 1,200 μg m−2 year−1, Big Bear 240 ± 54 μg m−2 year−1). In Crystal Lake, the ratio between post-1965 and pre-1865 Hg concentrations was 1.1, and several spikes in Hg levels occurred between 1910 and 1985. Given the remote location of the lake, the proximity of fires, and the lack of point sources within the region, these results suggested wildfires (rather than industrial sources) were a continuous source of Hg to Crystal Lake over the last 150 years.

Mercury distribution in the main compartments of the eutrophic Lake Candia (Northern Italy)

Total mercury (T-Hg) and organic mercury (mainly methylmercury, MeHg) concentrations in the most important compartments (water, sediment, macrophytes, zooplankton, mussels and fish) of the shallow and eutrophic Lake Candia (Turin, Northern Italy) were measured. The decreasing sequence of the T-Hg concentrations is as follows: cat-fish (143 μg kg-1 d.w.), zooplankton (77 μg kg-1 d.w.), Unio pictorum mancus (37.9 μg kg-1 d.w.), macrophytes (28.9 μg kg-1 d.w.). The content of mercury in mussel tissues increased with the size of the animal, but the relationship between Hg concentration and tissue weight was negative, indicating that the rate of mercury accumulation was lower than the tissue growth rate. The amount of mercury accumulated in the mussels living in the lake sediments was estimated to be 0.54 μg m-2. The importance of mercury biomagnification is also discussed.

Historical accumulation rates of mercury in four Scottish ombrotrophic peat bogs over the past 2000 years

The historical accumulation rates of mercury resulting from atmospheric deposition to four Scottish ombrotrophic peat bogs, Turclossie Moss (northeast Scotland), Flanders Moss (west-central), Red Moss of Balerno (east-central) and Carsegowan Moss (southwest), were determined via analysis of 210Pb- and 14C-dated cores up to 2000 years old. Average pre-industrial rates of mercury accumulation of 4.5 and 3.7 μg m − 2 y − 1 were obtained for Flanders Moss (A.D. 1–1800) and Red Moss of Balerno (A.D. 800–1800), respectively. Thereafter, mercury accumulation rates increased to typical maximum values of 51, 61, 77 and 85 μg m − 2 y − 1 , recorded at different times possibly reflecting local/regional influences during the first 70 years of the 20th century, at the four sites (TM, FM, RM, CM), before declining to a mean value of 27 ± 15 μg m − 2 y − 1 during the late 1990s/early 2000s. Comparison of such trends for mercury with those for lead and arsenic in the cores and also with direct data for the declining UK emissions of these three elements since 1970 suggested that a substantial proportion of the mercury deposited at these sites over the past few decades originated from outwith the UK, with contributions to wet and dry deposition arising from long-range transport of mercury released by sources such as combustion of coal. Confidence in the chronological reliability of these core-derived trends in absolute and relative accumulation of mercury, at least since the 19th century, was provided by the excellent agreement between the corresponding detailed and characteristic temporal trends in the 206Pb/ 207Pb isotopic ratio of lead in the 210Pb-dated Turclossie Moss core and those in archival Scottish Sphagnum moss samples of known date of collection. The possibility of some longer-term loss of volatile mercury released from diagenetically altered older peat cannot, however, be excluded by the findings of this study.

Sediment mercury dynamics and historical trends of mercury deposition in the St. Lawrence River area of concern near Cornwall, Ontario, Canada

The St. Lawrence River near Cornwall, Ontario was designated an Area of Concern by the International Joint Commission in 1985. Sediments from this area have historically been contaminated with mercury (Hg), and although concentrations have decreased since the 1970s, they still remain high. Nine sediment cores were collected from three sites within the Area of Concern in 2004/05 to determine the variability in historical profiles of Hg deposition to the river. Sediment and pore water phases were analyzed for total mercury (THg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) and cores were analyzed for 210Pb to determine chronologies of sedimentation at these sites. Mercury diffusion rates in pore waters within the sediment column were determined to be very low (between 0 and 2.15 ng cm − 2 year − 1 , n = 3) compared to the recent Hg sedimentation rates at these sites (183 ± 30 ng cm − 2 year − 1 SE, n = 9) determined by multiplying surface Hg concentrations with 210Pb-derived sedimentation rates. These results indicate that Hg profiles in these cores accurately depict historical releases of Hg to the river bed. The influence of federal regulations in the early 1970s to restrict Hg emissions to the river was apparent in these dated sediment cores, as were the closures of several local industries in the mid 1990s. Mercury accumulation rates prior to 1970 were 60 times higher than those occurring after 1995. Methyl mercury showed surface enrichment in most of these sediment cores providing evidence that mercury methylation occurred most rapidly near the sediment surface.

Different mercury bioaccumulation kinetics by two macrobenthic species: The bivalve Scrobicularia plana and the polychaete Hediste diversicolor

Mercury is a global priority pollutant and given its huge relevance in terms of environmental damage and a threat to human health, it is important to study the bioaccumulation processes at the level of macrobenthic organisms and evaluate possible consequences for the trophic chain. In this work we evaluate the mercury accumulation rates of two distinct and economically important macrobenthic species, the polychaete Hediste diversicolor and the bivalve Scrobicularia plana, through a mesocosms laboratory experiment. The present experiment demonstrated different bioaccumulation kinetics for each species: while S. plana has a rapid accumulation after 48 h of exposure to contaminated sediments and then reaches a steady state, H. diversicolor has a linear mercury accumulation throughout the experiment time (31 days). The different patterns observed can be related to different feeding strategies and assimilation efficiencies. In addition, we can conclude that independently of the mercury concentration in the sediments, the two studied species in both contaminated sediments reached the same percentage (25%) of mercury accumulated at the end of the experiment when compared to the maximum concentrations recorded in the field. This experiment highlights that the mercury bioaccumulation rate by these two economically and ecologically important macrobenthic species is a reasonably rapid process which can promote serious consequences for the higher trophic levels, constituting a severe risk to the natural environment and ultimately to human health.

Mercury Bioaccumulation in the Brazilian Amazonian Tucunares (Cichla sp., Cichlidae, Perciformes)

There are emissions of mercury to the atmosphere, soil and rivers of the Brazilian Amazon stem from many sources. Once in the atmosphere, the metal is oxidized and immediately deposited. In the water, the transformation to methylmercury takes place mostly by the action of microorganisms. The formation of methylmercury increases the dispersion and bioavailability of the element in the aquatic environment. Methylmercury can be assimilated by plankton and enters the food chain. The concentration of mercury increases further up in the trophic levels of the chain and reaches the highest values in carnivorous fishes like tucunare. Therefore, mercury emissions cause the contamination of natural resources and increase risks to the health of regular fish consumers. The objective of this work was to study the bioaccumulation of mercury in tucunares (Cichla sp.), top predators of the food chain. The fishes were collected at two locations representative of the Amazonian fluvial ecosystem, in the state of Para, Brazil, in 1992 and 2001. One location is near a former informal gold mining area. The other is far from the mining area and is considered pristine. Average values of total mercury concentration and accumulation rates for four different collection groups were compared and discussed. Tucunares collected in 2001 presented higher mercury contents and accumulated mercury faster than tucunares collected in 1992 notwithstanding the decline of mining activities in this period. The aggravation of the mercury contamination with time not only in an area where informal gold mining was practiced but also far from this area is confirmed.

Freshwater Fish Mercury Concentrations in a Regionally High Mercury Deposition Area

We sampled and analyzed individually, edible dorsal muscle from largemouth bass (LMB), Micropterus salmoides (n=138) and yellow perch (YP), Perca flavescens (n=97) from 15 lakes to investigate potential local impacts of mercury emis- sion point sources in northeastern Massachusetts (MA), USA. This area was identified in three separate modeling exercises as a mercury deposition hotspot. In 1995, 55% of mercury emissions to the environ- ment from all MA sources came from three municipal solid waste combustors (trash incinerators) and one large regional medical waste incinerator in the study area. We determined the mercury accumulation history in sediments of a lake centrally located in the study area. Recent maximum mercury accumulation rates in the sediment of the lake of ~ 88 μg/m 2 /year were highly elevated on a watershed area adjusted basis compared to other lakes in the Northeast and Minnesota. Fish from the study area lakes had significantly (p=0.05) greater total mercury concen- trations than fish from 24 more rural, non-source- impacted lakes in other regions of the state (LMB n=238, YP n=381) (LMB: 1.5-2.5 x; YP: 1.5 x). The integration of this extensive fish tissue data set, depositional modeling projections, historical record of mercury accumulation in sediments of a lake in the area, and knowledge of substantial mercury emissions to the atmosphere in the area support designation of this area as a mercury depositional and biological concentration hotspot in the late 1990s, and provides further evidence that major mercury point sources may be associated with significant local impacts on fisheries resources.

Evidence for Control of Mercury Accumulation Rates in Canadian High Arctic Lake Sediments by Variations of Aquatic Primary Productivity

Climate warming in the 20th Century has had profound effects on the limnology of High Arctic lakes, including substantial increases in autochthonous primary productivity (APP). Here, we report organic carbon and Hg core profiles from two lakes which support the hypothesis that 20th Century increases in sedimentary Hg at these latitudes were largely driven by APP increases, via Hg scavenging by algae and/or suspended detrital algal matter. Hydrocarbons quantitatively released by thermal cracking of algal-derived organic matter ("S2" carbon) were used to reconstruct past APP. Variation of S2 flux accounted for 87-91% of the variance in total Hg flux in the study lakes since 1854. Mercury and S2 carbon were also associated during the pre-Industrial Period, co-varying by as much as 30% during past warm/cool periods. As a test of the hypothesis, predicted values for 20th Century [Hg] were derived from pre-1900 Hg-S2 relationships. Measured 20th Century [Hg] was on average only 6-11% higher than that predicted in one lake, and 33% higher in the other. S2-normalization of [Hg] in the latter lake suggested that 78% of the average increase in 20th Century [Hg] could be explained by scavenging. These findings suggest that the atmospheric contribution of long-range anthropogenic Hg to High Arctic lakes may have been overestimated by several-fold because of this climate-driven process, and was responsible for no more than 22% of the 20th Century [Hg] increase in the study lakes.

Modeling the Past Atmospheric Deposition of Mercury Using Natural Archives

Historical records of mercury (Hg) accumulation in lake sediments and peat bogs are often used to estimate human impacts on the biogeochemical cycling of mercury. On the basis of studies of lake sediments, modern atmospheric mercury deposition rates are estimated to have increased by a factor of 3-5 compared to background values: i.e., from about 3-3.5 microg Hg m(-2) yr(-1) to 10-20 microg Hg m(-2) yr(-1). However, recent studies of the historical mercury record in peat bogs suggest significantly higher increases (9-400 fold, median 40x), i.e., from about 0.6-1.7 microg Hg m(-2) yr(-1) to 8-184 microg Hg m(-2) yr(-1). We compared published data of background and modern mercury accumulation rates derived from globally distributed lake sediments and peat bogs and discuss reasons for the differences observed in absolute values and in the relative increase in the industrial age. Direct measurements of modern wet mercury deposition rates in remote areas are presently about 1-4 microg m(-2) yr(-1), but were possibly as high as 20 microg Hg m(-2) yr(-1) during the 1980s. These values are closer to the estimates of past deposition determined from lake sediments, which suggests that modern mercury accumulation rates derived from peat bogs tend to overestimate deposition. We suggest that smearing of 210Pb in the uppermost peat sections contributes to an underestimation of peat ages, which is the most important reason for the overestimation of mercury accumulation rates in many bogs. The lower background mercury accumulation rates in peat as compared to lake sediments we believe is the result of nonquantitative retention and loss of mercury during peat diagenesis. As many processes controlling time-resolved mercury accumulation in mires are still poorly understood, lake sediments appear to be the more reliable archive for estimating historical mercury accumulation rates.

Pattern and annual rates of Scrobicularia plana mercury bioaccumulation in a human induced mercury gradient (Ria de Aveiro, Portugal)

Due to the lack of knowledge regarding annual bioaccumulation rates in estuarine and marine fauna, the main aim of this work was to study the annual mercury bioaccumulation in the well-documented bivalve species Scrobicularia plana along a human induced mercury gradient in the Ria de Aveiro coastal lagoon (Portugal) and in a nearby, non-polluted system (Mondego estuary), parallel to the risks associated with its consumption by humans. Minimum total mercury concentration was as low as 0.019 mg kg −1 (wwt) in 4+ year old organisms in the reference site, where a significant negative correlation ( p < 0.05) was found between total mercury concentrations and size, resulting in negative bioaccumulation rates (detoxification). On the other hand, values reached 1.8 mg kg −1 (wwt) in 3+ year old bivalves from the most contaminated area, where a strong positive correlation with size was found ( p < 0.01) and annual bioaccumulation rates were as high as 0.25 mg kg −1 yr −1. Annual bioaccumulation rates were highly correlated with suspended particulate matter mercury concentrations. Even though the levels of organic mercury contents increased parallel to the contamination gradient, at each sampling station, no increment was found with age, which corresponded to a decrease in organic mercury percentage with age. In terms of ecological management and public health, the ratio of 0.01 consistently found between Scrobicularia plana annual mercury accumulation rates and SPM mercury levels for most sites may permit to roughly estimate S. plana contamination of commercial sized individuals (>2.5 cm) and, if verified and confirmed in other systems, be used as a simple management tool.

Mired in the past — looking to the future: Geochemistry of peat and the analysis of past environmental changes

Peat cores from ombrotrophic bogs have been used as a valuable archive to study environmental change for over a century. Much of this focus on the peat record has been on biological proxies of environmental change, such as pollen and peat-forming macrofossils, but there is growing interest in the geochemical record to study environmental changes. Several studies of long-term peat records in Europe have reconstructed past changes in atmospheric lead pollution, for example, and the general cohesiveness of the results and their agreement with known historical trends in metal production exemplify the best potential of peat geochemistry as an environmental archive. Based on the success with lead, a current emphasis in peat reconstructions is to assess the record of past mercury deposition and results thus far show generally consistent trends, e.g., a pre-anthropogenic mercury accumulation rate of about 0.5–1.5 μg Hg m − 2 year − 1 . Despite this general consistency there is increasing concern that there may be diagenetic effects on the quantitative record of some metals, which can be inferred based on a strong relationship between mercury and other organically bound elements and proxies for peat decomposition (C/N ratio). However, it is possible that changes in decomposition and the alteration of some metal records could provide climatic information. A few recent studies show that closer examination of the geochemical matrix, in some cases along with biological proxies, can provide valuable information on landscape changes and climate; for example, partitioning metals into different weight fractions and source regions can be applied to climate studies. The best interpretations of the peat geochemical record in the context of environmental and climate change will likely come when geochemical and biological records are considered simultaneously.

Total mercury and methylmercury in freshwater and salt marsh soils of the Mississippi river deltaic plain

Mercury entering wetland environments can be microbially methylated to methylmercury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the historical rate of mercury accumulation and distribution of total and methylmercury in soil profile of Louisiana coastal marshes. Two sediment cores each were taken from Louisiana freshwater marsh and salt marsh. Vertical accretion was determined using the 137Cs dating technique. Total and methylmercury were determined with depth in the soil profiles. The fresh marsh soil on a dry weight basis contained more total and methylmercury than the salt marsh. Average vertical accretion rates in freshwater marsh and salt marsh were 0.90 and 0.75 cm year −1, respectively. Average total and methylmercury content (to a depth of 30 cm) was 140 and 4.19 μg kg −1 and 80 and 1.34 μg kg −1 for the fresh and salt marsh, respectively. Due to greater sediment input resulting in a higher bulk density the salt marsh contained more total mercury per m 2 (to 30 cm depth) than the fresh water marsh (5340 μg m −2 as compared to 2929 μg m −2). The amount of methylmercury per m 2 to depth of 30 cm was approximately the same for each marsh.

Accumulation rates of the heavy metals lead, mercury and cadmium in ombrotrophic peatlands in the west of Ireland

The vertical distributions of three heavy metals: Hg, Pb and Cd were determined in 3 cores sampled from two ombrotrophic bogs in the west of Ireland, one at Knockroe Co. Mayo, and the second at Letterfrack National Park, Co. Galway. Core chronologies were established using 210Pb dating techniques and were checked with fallout radionuclides from weapons testing. Variations were found in metal concentrations and cumulative inventories of each of the metals within each site and between the two sites. Maximum accumulation rates of the anthropogenically derived elements Hg, Pb, and Cd, were found in peat sediments dated between 1950 and 1970s at both sites. Pb and Hg accumulation rates are slightly lower than those found in similar studies from remote sites in Europe. Hg accumulation rates are fairly similar to those found in peatlands in America. Unlike the Pb and Hg concentration profiles, the Cd concentration profiles at the Letterfrack site were dominated by a surface enrichment, thought to be due to biological cycling of Cd in the peat. However Cd accumulation rates calculated at the Knockroe site are lower than those observed in Eastern Europe. Local meteorological conditions at the sites chosen for this study may account for the lower concentrations profiles observed when compared with some of the European studies. The similarity between the timing of the increase in metal accumulation rates in peat bogs in Northern America and this study could indicate that long range transportation of trace metals from Northern America may be occurring. Lead accumulations in the surface peat sediments (1993–1996) were between 1.5–3.0 mg m −2 yr −1 and 4–5 mg m −2 yr −1 at Knockroe and Letterfrack, respectively. Mercury accumulation rates for the same period at Knockroe were found to be between 6–11 μg m −2 yr −1, and between 19–24 μg m −2 yr −1 at Letterfrack. A greater variation in surface Cd accumulation rates was observed at both sites, with surface layer accumulation rates varying from 25 to 50 μg m −2 yr −1 at Knockroe and between 166 and 405 μg m −2 yr −1 at Letterfrack. Higher metal concentrations were found at the Letterfrack site, which are most likely due to local sources and the history of the site.

Comment on “Atmospheric Mercury Accumulation Rates between 5900 and 800 Calibrated Years BP in the High Arctic of Canada Recorded by Peat Hummocks”

Comment on Atmospheric mercury accumulation rates between 5900 and 800 calibrated years BP in the high arctic of Canada recorded by peat hummocks (multiple letters)

Response to Comment on “Atmospheric Mercury Accumulation Rates between 5900 and 800 Calibrated Years BP in the High Arctic of Canada Recorded by Peat Hummocks”

Response to Comment on “Atmospheric Mercury Accumulation Rates between 5900 and 800 Calibrated Years BP in the High Arctic of Canada Recorded by Peat Hummocks”

Atmospheric Mercury Accumulation Rates Between 5900 and 800 Calibrated Years BP in the High Arctic of Canada Recorded by Peat Hummocks

In this paper, we present the first comprehensive long-term record of preanthropogenic rates of atmospheric mercury accumulation in dated peat deposits for the High Arctic of Canada. Geochemical studies of two peat hummocks from Bathurst Island, Nunavut reveal substantial inputs from soil dust (titanium), marine aerosols (bromine), and mineral-water interactions (uranium). Mercury, however, was supplied to these peat mounds exclusively by atmospheric deposition. Mercury concentration measurements and age dating of the peat profiles indicate rather constant natural "background" mercury flux of ca. 1 microgram per square meter per year from 5900 to 800 calibrated years BP. These values are well within the range of the mercury fluxes reported from other Arctic locations, but also by peat cores from southern Canada that provide a record of atmospheric Hg accumulation extending back 8000 years. Thus, preanthropogenic Hg fluxes in the Arctic were not significantly different from atmospheric Hg fluxes in the temperate zone. In preindustrial times, therefore, the High Arctic was no more important as a sink for global atmospheric mercury than was the temperate zone.

14C-AMS as a tool for the investigation of mercury deposition at a remote Amazon location

We present results of the atmospheric mercury deposition rate in the Amazon region during the last 43000 years. Lake sediment samples were collected from the Lagoa da Pata, a small and remote lake in northern Brazilian Amazon. The samples were divided in sub-samples, for C, Hg, N and 14C-AMS analyses. Three main paleoclimatic events could be identified. The mercury accumulation rates were found to be larger during the periods of the Holocene and Pleistocene associated with high temperatures and frequency of forest fires.

14C-AMS as a tool for the investigation of mercury deposition at a remote Amazon location

We present results of the atmospheric mercury deposition rate in the Amazon region during the last 43 000 years. Lake sediment samples were collected from the Lagoa da Pata, a small and remote lake in northern Brazilian Amazon. The samples were divided in sub-samples, for C, Hg, N and 14 C-AMS analyses. Three main paleoclimatic events could be identified. The mercury accumulation rates were found to be larger during the periods of the Holocene and Pleistocene associated with high temperatures and frequency of forest fires.

Climatic and anthropogenic effects on atmospheric mercury accumulation rates in ombrotrophic bogs from Southern Ontario

To quantify the effects of human activities on atmospheric deposition of mercury in eastern Canada, an improved understanding of the natural variations of the concentrations, fluxes and sources of Hg over a long period of time is required. Peat cores from 3 sites in southern Ontario were used to reconstruct changes in atmospheric mercury accumulation rates for the past 10000 years. The net mercury accumulation rates and excess mercury (mainly anthropogenic) were calculated using the long-term average Hg/Br and Hg/Se. The average background mercury accumulation rate during the pre-anthropogenic period was 1.4±1.0 μg/m 2 .yr. An excess of Hg was observed only once during that period, probably reflecting a change in climate. Mercury contamination from anthropogenic sources began about AD 1475 at the Luther Bog, corresponding to extensive biomass burning for agricultural activities by Native North Americans. During the late 17 th and 18 th centuries, deposition of anthropogenic Hg was at least equal to that of Hg from natural sources. Hg pollution increased again at the beginning of the 19 th century. The maximum increase (up to 30 times) compared to background occurred during the 1950s, when the anthropogenic component represented up to 85% of the total atmospheric mercury deposition.

Predominant anthropogenic sources and rates of atmospheric mercury accumulation in southern Ontario recorded by peat cores from three bogs: comparison with natural "background" values (past 8000 years).

Peat cores from three bogs in southern Ontario provide a complete, quantitative record of net rates of atmospheric Hg accumulation since pre-industrial times. For comparison with modern values, a peat core extending back 8000 years was used to quantify the natural variations in Hg fluxes for this region, and their dependence on climatic change and land use history. The net mercury accumulation rates were separated into "natural" and "excess" components by comparing the Hg/Br ratios of modern samples with the long-term, pre-anthropogenic average Hg/Br. The average background mercury accumulation rate during the pre-anthropogenic period (from 5700 years BC to 1470 AD) was 1.4 +/- 1.0 microg m(-2) per year (n = 197). The beginning of Hg contamination from anthropogenic sources dates from AD 1475 at the Luther Bog, corresponding to biomass burning for agricultural activities by Native North Americans. During the late 17th and 18th centuries, deposition of anthropogenic Hg was at least equal to that of Hg from natural sources. Anthropogenic inputs of Hg to the bogs have dominated continuously since the beginning of the 19th century. The maximum Hg accumulation rates decrease in the order Sifton Bog, in the City of London, Ontario (141 microg Hg m(-2) per year), Luther Bog in an agricultural region (89 microg Hg m(-2) per year), and Spruce Bog which is in a comparatively remote, forested region (54 microg Hg m(-2) per year). Accurate age dating of recent peat samples using the bomb pulse curve of 14C shows that the maximum rate of atmospheric Hg accumulation occurred during AD 1956 and 1959 at all sites. In these (modern) samples, the Hg concentration profiles resemble those of Pb, an element which is known to be immobile in peat bogs. The correlation between these two metals, together with sulfur, suggests that the predominant anthropogenic source of Hg (and Pb) was coal burning. While Hg accumulation rates have gone into strong decline since the late 1950's, Hg deposition rates today still exceed the average natural background values by 7 to 13 times.