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Navrátil T, Rohovec J, Nováková T, Roll M, Cudlín P, Oulehle F. Quarter century of mercury litterfall at a coniferous forest responding to climate change, Central Europe. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:34936-34952. [PMID: 38717703 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33555-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
This work evaluated the 25-year-long trends (1994-2018) in mercury (Hg) concentrations and fluxes in spruce litterfall at a forest research plot Načetín (NAC) recovering from acidic deposition in the Ore Mountains, Czech Republic. The mean litterfall Hg deposition averaged 51 ± 18 µg m-2 year-1, which has been the highest litterfall Hg deposition reported up to date on the European continent. In contrast, the wet deposition (2017-2019) was an order of magnitude lower averaging at 2.5 ± 1.5 µg m-2 year-1. All the spruce litterfall components bark, twigs, needles, cones, and a mixture of unidentified fragments had elevated mean Hg concentrations relative to background sites averaging 256 ± 77, 234 ± 62, 119 ± 23, 95 ± 14, and 44 ± 15 µg kg-1, respectively. Elevated litterfall Hg deposition and concentrations were attributed to the nearby local Hg emission source-coal-fired power plants. Temporally, the decrease of Czech Hg emissions since the 1990s was reflected by the decreasing trend of Hg concentrations in litterfall bark, cones, and twigs, while in needles and other material, Hg increased but insignificantly. Total litterfall ratios of Hg/C, Hg/N, and Hg/S were lower than those in soil O horizons averaging at 0.23 ± 0.04, 9.5 ± 2.0, and 170 ± 37 μg g-1, respectively. Since the beginning of monitoring, total litterfall Hg/C exhibited no trend, Hg/N decreased, and Hg/S increased. The litterfall biomass deposition averaging at 469 ± 176 g m-2 year-1 increased through time resulting in an increased Hg litterfall deposition at NAC by 1.1 µg m-2 year-1 despite the decreases in Czech Hg emissions. Peaks of annual litterfall Hg deposition up to 96 µg m-2 year-1 at NAC during the 25 years of monitoring resulted from weather extremes such as rime-snow accumulation, wind gusts, droughts, and insect infestation, which all significantly affected the annual biomass deposition. Based on our observations, further increases in biomass and litterfall Hg deposition rates can be expected due to the onset of bark beetle infestation and the increasing number of droughts caused by climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Navrátil
- Institute of Geology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 269, 165 00, Prague 6, Czech Republic.
| | - Jan Rohovec
- Institute of Geology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 269, 165 00, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Nováková
- Institute of Geology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 269, 165 00, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Roll
- Institute of Geology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 269, 165 00, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Cudlín
- Global Change Research Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Poříčí 3B, 60 300, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Filip Oulehle
- Global Change Research Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Poříčí 3B, 60 300, Brno, Czech Republic
- Czech Geological Survey, Klárov 3, 118 21, Prague 1, Czech Republic
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Kung HC, Wu CH, Huang BW, Chang-Chien GP, Mutuku JK, Lin WC. Mercury abatement in the environment: Insights from industrial emissions and fates in the environment. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28253. [PMID: 38571637 PMCID: PMC10987932 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Mercury's neurotoxic effects have prompted the development of advanced control and remediation methods to meet stringent measures for industries with high-mercury feedstocks. Industries with significant Hg emissions, including artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM)-789.2 Mg year-1, coal combustion-564.1 Mg year-1, waste combustion-316.1 Mg year-1, cement production-224.5 Mg year-1, and non-ferrous metals smelting-204.1 Mg year-1, use oxidants and adsorbents capture Hg from waste streams. Oxidizing agents such as O3, Cl2, HCl, CaBr2, CaCl2, and NH4Cl oxidize Hg0 to Hg2+ for easier adsorption. To functionalize adsorbents, carbonaceous ones use S, SO2, and Na2S, metal-based adsorbents use dimercaprol, and polymer-based adsorbents are grafted with acrylonitrile and hydroxylamine hydrochloride. Adsorption capacities span 0.2-85.6 mg g-1 for carbonaceous, 0.5-14.8 mg g-1 for metal-based, and 168.1-1216 mg g-1 for polymer-based adsorbents. Assessing Hg contamination in soils and sediments uses bioindicators and stable isotopes. Remediation approaches include heat treatment, chemical stabilization and immobilization, and phytoremediation techniques when contamination exceeds thresholds. Achieving a substantially Hg-free ecosystem remains a formidable challenge, chiefly due to the ASGM industry, policy gaps, and Hg persistence. Nevertheless, improvements in adsorbent technologies hold potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsin-Chieh Kung
- Institute of Environmental Toxin and Emerging-Contaminant Research, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, 833301, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Hsing Wu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, 83301, Taiwan
- Center for General Education, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung 833301, Taiwan
| | - Bo-Wun Huang
- Department of Mechanical and Institute of Mechatronic Engineering, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung City, 833301, Taiwan
| | - Guo-Ping Chang-Chien
- Institute of Environmental Toxin and Emerging-Contaminant Research, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, 833301, Taiwan
- Super micro mass research and technology center, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, 833301, Taiwan
- Center for Environmental Toxin and Emerging-Contaminant Research, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, 833301, Taiwan
| | - Justus Kavita Mutuku
- Institute of Environmental Toxin and Emerging-Contaminant Research, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, 833301, Taiwan
- Super micro mass research and technology center, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, 833301, Taiwan
- Center for Environmental Toxin and Emerging-Contaminant Research, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, 833301, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Ching Lin
- Department of Neuroradiology, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, 84001, Taiwan
- Department of Neurosurgery, E-Da Hospital/I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, 84001, Taiwan
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Fernandes IO, Monteiro LC, de Miranda VL, Rodrigues YOS, de Freitas Muniz DH, de Castro Paes É, Bernardi JVE. Mercury distribution in organisms, litter, and soils of the Middle Araguaia floodplain in Brazil. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:20925-20940. [PMID: 38379047 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32317-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a chemical element that, depending on its concentration, may become toxic to living organisms due to the ability of Hg to bioaccumulate in food chains. In this study, we collected samples of soil, litter, and organisms in the Middle Araguaia floodplain, Brazil. Total mercury (THg) concentrations in litter were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than that in soil, ranging from 10.68 ± 0.55 to 48.94 ± 0.13 and 20.80 ± 1.07 to 55 .19 ± 1.59 ng g-1, respectively. Total mercury concentration levels in soil showed a linear, inversely proportional relationship with soil organic matter (SOM) contents and soil pH, consistent with the geochemical behavior of chemical elements in flooded environments. Ten orders of organisms were identified, and the average THg concentrations determined in their bodies were up to 20 times higher than those in soil and litter. We found a significant linear relationship between the levels of THg in litter and those found in soil organisms, thereby allowing the prediction of THg concentration levels in soil organisms through the analysis of litter at the sample units. The different dynamics and feeding habits of soil organisms and the concentration of THg in these organisms may be influenced by the river's course. This study provides evidence of the bioaccumulation of THg in soil organisms in the floodplain of the Middle Araguaia River, an important river basin in the Brazilian savanna.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iara Oliveira Fernandes
- Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences, Faculty UnB Planaltina, University of Brasília, Planaltina, Distrito Federal, 73345-010, Brazil.
| | - Lucas Cabrera Monteiro
- Graduate Program in Ecology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Vinícius Lima de Miranda
- Graduate Program in Zoology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Ygor Oliveira Sarmento Rodrigues
- Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences, Faculty UnB Planaltina, University of Brasília, Planaltina, Distrito Federal, 73345-010, Brazil
| | - Daphne Heloisa de Freitas Muniz
- Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences, Faculty UnB Planaltina, University of Brasília, Planaltina, Distrito Federal, 73345-010, Brazil
| | - Ésio de Castro Paes
- Graduate Program in Soils and Plant Nutrition, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - José Vicente Elias Bernardi
- Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences, Faculty UnB Planaltina, University of Brasília, Planaltina, Distrito Federal, 73345-010, Brazil
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4
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Lynam MM, Oriol L, Mann T, Dvonch JT, Barres JA, Gratz L, White EM, Landis MS, Mahowald N, Xi C, Steiner AL. Atmospheric Dry and Wet Deposition of Total Phosphorus to the Great Lakes. ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT: X 2023; 313:1-14. [PMID: 37840812 PMCID: PMC10569237 DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2023.120049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Quantifying atmospheric loadings of total phosphorus (TP) to freshwater environments is essential to improve understanding of its fate and transport, and to mitigate the effects of excessive levels in freshwater ecosystems. To date, atmospheric deposition of TP in the U.S. is poorly characterized due to the lack of long-term deposition observations. Here, we integrate several historical datasets to develop an estimate of dry and wet deposition to the Great Lakes region. For dry deposition, we use TP concentrations in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) samples from fourteen land-based IMPROVE sites (2013-2020) upwind of the Great Lakes to provide new fine particle phosphorus dry deposition estimates. For wet deposition, we use TP concentrations in wet-only precipitation samples collected at eleven land-based sites (2001-2009) in the Great Lakes region. For both wet and dry deposition, a seasonal cycle is evident with higher concentrations in warmer and wetter months when compared to colder months. Additionally, there is an increasing gradient from north to south in wet deposition, likely driven by both higher precipitation and increased emissions near southern sites. Despite different sampling time periods, these updated observations can provide further constraints on the TP loadings to each of the five Great Lakes. We estimate annual deposition of TP to Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario at 526, 702, 495, 212, and 185 MTA per year, which is lower than prior estimates for Lakes Superior, Erie and Ontario, comparable for Lake Huron, and about two times greater for Lake Michigan. When considering only the contribution of fine particulate PM to the dry deposition, wet deposition dominated over dry at all lakes except for Lake Huron. However, prior global estimates suggest greater contributions from larger particles (PM10 and PM100), yet observations to validate these estimates over the Great Lakes are not available. Our findings indicate that dry deposition of a range of particle sizes are needed to constrain the total atmospheric deposition of TP over the Great Lakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary M. Lynam
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Lunia Oriol
- Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Taylor Mann
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - J. Timothy Dvonch
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - James A. Barres
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Lynne Gratz
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Emily M. White
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Matthew S. Landis
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
| | - Natalie Mahowald
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Chuanwu Xi
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Allison L. Steiner
- Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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5
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Zhou J, Bollen SW, Roy EM, Hollinger DY, Wang T, Lee JT, Obrist D. Comparing ecosystem gaseous elemental mercury fluxes over a deciduous and coniferous forest. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2722. [PMID: 37169778 PMCID: PMC10175444 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38225-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Sources of neurotoxic mercury in forests are dominated by atmospheric gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) deposition, but a dearth of direct GEM exchange measurements causes major uncertainties about processes that determine GEM sinks. Here we present three years of forest-level GEM deposition measurements in a coniferous forest and a deciduous forest in northeastern USA, along with flux partitioning into canopy and forest floor contributions. Annual GEM deposition is 13.4 ± 0.80 μg m-2 (coniferous forest) and 25.1 ± 2.4 μg m-2 (deciduous forest) dominating mercury inputs (62 and 76% of total deposition). GEM uptake dominates in daytime during active vegetation periods and correlates with CO2 assimilation, attributable to plant stomatal uptake of mercury. Non-stomatal GEM deposition occurs in the coniferous canopy during nights and to the forest floor in the deciduous forest and accounts for 24 and 39% of GEM deposition, respectively. Our study shows that GEM deposition includes various pathways and is highly ecosystem-specific, which complicates global constraints of terrestrial GEM sinks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhou
- Department of Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, USA
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Silas W Bollen
- Department of Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Eric M Roy
- Department of Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, USA
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Ting Wang
- Department of Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, USA
| | - John T Lee
- School of Forest Resources, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Daniel Obrist
- Department of Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, USA.
- University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Davis, CA, USA.
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6
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Yuan T, Zhang P, Song Z, Huang S, Wang X, Zhang Y. Buffering effect of global vegetation on the air-land exchange of mercury: Insights from a novel terrestrial mercury model based on CESM2-CLM5. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 174:107904. [PMID: 37012193 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The vegetation uptake of atmospheric elemental mercury [Hg(0)] and its subsequent littering are critical processes of the terrestrial Hg cycles. There is a large uncertainty in the estimated global fluxes of these processes due to the knowledge gap in the underlying mechanisms and their relationship with environmental factors. Here, we develop a new global model based on the Community Land Model Version 5 (CLM5-Hg) as an independent component of the Community Earth System Model 2 (CESM2). We explore the global pattern of gaseous elemental Hg [Hg(0)] uptake by vegetation and the spatial distribution of litter Hg concentration constrained by observed datasets as well as its driving mechanism. The annual vegetation uptake of Hg(0) is estimated as 3132 Mg yr-1, which is considerably higher than previous global models. The scheme of dynamic plant growth including stomatal activities substantially improves the estimation for global terrestrial distribution of Hg, compared to the leaf area index (LAI) based scheme that is often used by previous models. We find the global distribution of litter Hg concentrations driven by vegetation uptake of atmospheric Hg(0), which are simulated to be higher in East Asia (87 ng/g) than in the Amazon region (63 ng/g). Meanwhile, as a significant source for litter Hg, the formation of structural litter (cellulose litter + lignin litter) results in a lagging effect between Hg(0) deposition and litter Hg concentration, implying the buffering effect of vegetation on the air-land exchange of Hg. This work highlights the importance of vegetation physiology and environmental factors in understanding the vegetation sequestration of atmospheric Hg globally, and calls for greater efforts to protect forests and afforestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengfei Yuan
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Zhengcheng Song
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Shaojian Huang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Xun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Yanxu Zhang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China; Frontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
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7
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Yang L, Yang G, Wang J, Xiong B, Guo P, Wang T, Du H, Ma M, Wang D. Seasonal changes in total mercury and methylmercury in subtropical decomposing litter correspond to the abundances of nitrogen-fixing and methylmercury-degrading bacteria. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 442:130064. [PMID: 36182885 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Previous research has found total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) levels increase with litterfall decay, thus suggesting litterfall decomposition plays an essential role in the biogeochemical transformation of mercury (Hg). However, it remains unclear how Hg accumulates in the decaying litter, how bacterial taxa networks vary and what roles various microorganisms play during litterfall decomposition, especially nitrogen (N)-fixing, MeHg-degrading and Hg-methylating microbes. Here, we demonstrated as degradation proceeded, a gradually-complex network evolved for litterfall bacteria for the subtropical mixed broadleaf-conifer (MBC) forest, whereas a relatively static network existed for the evergreen broadleaf (EB) forest. N-fixing and MeHg-degrading bacteria dominated throughout litterfall decomposition process, with relative abundances of N-fixing genera and nifH copies maximum and relative abundances of MeHg-degrading bacteria and merAB copies minimum in summer. Hence, N-fixing bacteria likely mediate THg increase in the decomposing litterfall, while MeHg enhancement may be regulated by aerobic MeHg-degrading microbes which can transform MeHg to inorganic divalent Hg (Hg2+) or further to elemental Hg (Hg0). Together, this work elucidates variations of N-fixing and MeHg-degrading microbes in decaying litterfall and their relationships with Hg accumulation, providing novel insights into understanding the biogeochemical cycle of Hg in the forest ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Yang
- Center of Molecular Ecophysiology (CMEP), College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Guang Yang
- Center of Molecular Ecophysiology (CMEP), College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Jueying Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Bio-resource for Bioenergy, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Bingcai Xiong
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Bio-resource for Bioenergy, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Pan Guo
- Center of Molecular Ecophysiology (CMEP), College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Center of Molecular Ecophysiology (CMEP), College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Hongxia Du
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Bio-resource for Bioenergy, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Ming Ma
- Center of Molecular Ecophysiology (CMEP), College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Bio-resource for Bioenergy, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Dingyong Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
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Drenner RW, Chumchal MM, Adams KJ, Seymour RD. Effect of Land Cover on Ecoregion-Scale Spatial Patterns of Mercury Contamination of Largemouth Bass in the Southeastern United States. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:2386-2394. [PMID: 35975571 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Consumption of methylmercury (MeHg)-contaminated fish is the primary source of MeHg in humans and poses a hazard to human health. Because of widespread atmospheric deposition of inorganic mercury (IHg), all water bodies in the United States have been contaminated with Hg. In aquatic ecosystems, IHg is converted to MeHg, which biomagnifies, reaching high concentrations in piscivorous fish. It is not possible for governmental agencies to monitor fish from every waterbody to determine if concentrations of MeHg in fish are hazardous to human health. To help government agencies focus their monitoring efforts, it is critical that we develop the ability to predict regions where waterbodies are most likely to contain fish with hazardous concentrations of MeHg. The objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between MeHg contamination of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), a popular piscivorous gamefish, and land cover in 24 ecoregions across 15 states in the southeastern United States. In our study we demonstrate for the first time that 72% of the variance in average concentrations of MeHg in largemouth bass between ecoregions of the southeastern United States can be explained by the percentage coverage by evergreen forests, emergent herbaceous wetlands, and pasture/hay. Land cover determines the sensitivity of freshwater systems to atmospheric IHg deposition, and the present study suggests that at the ecoregion scale, MeHg bioaccumulation in piscivorous gamefish, and ultimately the health hazard that these MeHg-contaminated fish pose to humans, can be in part predicted by land-cover type. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:2386-2394. © 2022 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ray W Drenner
- Biology Department, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | | | - Kimberly J Adams
- Biology Department, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - Ryan D Seymour
- Biology Department, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
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9
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Xu Z, Wang Z, Zhang X. Mapping the forest litterfall mercury deposition in China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 839:156288. [PMID: 35644398 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Litterfall mercury (Hg) deposition represents one of the biggest Hg inputs to forest ecosystems through assimilation of atmospheric gaseous elemental Hg (Hg0) to foliage. However, due to the availability of litterfall production and Hg concentration data, a comprehensive quantification of litterfall Hg deposition is still lacking in China. In this study, the forest litterfall production of five major forest types in China was modeled by using the random forest (RF) method and multi-source datasets. A substantial nationwide dataset of litterfall Hg concentration was compiled including the investigation of our research group and previous published data. The litterfall Hg flux of forest was quantified by integrating litterfall production map and litterfall Hg concentration data. The nationwide litterfall Hg concentration ranged from 12.75 to 178.00 ng g-1 with a mean of 51.99 ± 34.23 ng g-1. For litterfall production, the mean value was simulated to be 5.07 Mg ha-1 yr-1, with the highest values in tropical areas and the lowest in the northeast and northwest arid regions. The litterfall Hg flux of forest in China was characterized by high in the south and low in the north, ranging from 5.57 to 137.05 μg m-2 yr-1, with an average value of 25.88 ± 12.53 μg m-2 yr-1. Total Hg deposition from forest litterfall in China was estimated to be 27.0 ± 13.0 Mg yr-1, and that of evergreen broadleaf forest, mixed forest, deciduous broadleaf forest, evergreen needleleaf forest and deciduous needleleaf forest were 10.8 ± 5.3 Mg yr-1, 8.5 ± 4.0 Mg yr-1, 6.1 ± 2.6 Mg yr-1, 1.5 ± 1.0 Mg yr-1 and 0.2 ± 0.1 Mg yr-1, respectively. This is the primary quantitative evaluation of the forest litterfall Hg deposition in China, which is essential for understanding the role and status of Chinese forest in the global Hg cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehua Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhangwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaoshan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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Sayers CJ, Roeder MR, Forrette LM, Roche D, Dupont GLB, Apgar SE, Kocek AR, Cook AM, Shriver WG, Elphick CS, Olsen B, Bonter DN. Geographic variation of mercury in breeding tidal marsh sparrows of the northeastern United States. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2021; 30:1929-1940. [PMID: 34383236 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-021-02461-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Saltmarsh sparrows (Ammospiza caudacuta) and seaside sparrows (A. maritima) are species of conservation concern primarily due to global sea-level rise and habitat degradation. Environmental mercury (Hg) contamination may present additional threats to their reproductive success and survival. To assess site-specific total mercury (THg) exposure and identify environmental correlates of THg detection, we sampled blood from adult male saltmarsh and seaside sparrows at 27 sites between Maine and Virginia, USA. The mean THg concentration (±1 SD) throughout the entire sampling range was 0.531 ± 0.287 µg/g wet weight (ww) for saltmarsh sparrows and 0.442 ± 0.316 µg/g ww for seaside sparrows. Individual THg concentrations ranged from 0.135-1.420 µg/g ww for saltmarsh sparrows and 0.153-1.530 µg/g ww for seaside sparrows. Model averaging from a suite of linear mixed models showed that saltmarsh sparrows averaged 20.1% higher blood THg concentrations than seaside sparrows, potentially due to differences in diet or foraging behavior. We found no evidence for a relationship between sparrow THg concentrations and land cover surrounding sampled marshes or average precipitation-based Hg deposition. Overall, our results suggest considerable, unexplained variation in tidal marsh sparrow blood THg concentrations over their co-occurring breeding ranges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Sayers
- Department of Natural Resources & the Environment, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA.
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA.
| | - Mackenzie R Roeder
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA
| | - Lindsay M Forrette
- School of Marine Programs, University of New England, Biddeford, ME, 04005, USA
| | - Daniel Roche
- Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Fisheries Resources Program, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26501, USA
| | - Gaetan L B Dupont
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Sam E Apgar
- Department of Ecology & Environmental Biology and Center of Biological Risk, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
| | - Alison R Kocek
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Alexandra M Cook
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - W Gregory Shriver
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Chris S Elphick
- Department of Ecology & Environmental Biology and Center of Biological Risk, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
| | - Brian Olsen
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA
| | - David N Bonter
- Department of Natural Resources & the Environment, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
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11
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Neumann M, Turner J, Lewis T, McCaw L, Cook G, Adams MA. Dynamics of necromass in woody Australian ecosystems. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Neumann
- Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology Swinburne University of Technology Melbourne Victoria 3122 Australia
- Institute of Silviculture University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna 1190 Austria
| | - John Turner
- Forsci Pty Beecroft New South Wales 2119 Australia
| | - Tom Lewis
- Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Sippy Downs Queensland 4556 Australia
| | - Lachie McCaw
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Manjimup Western Australia 6258 Australia
| | - Gary Cook
- CSIRO Land and Water Darwin Northern Territory 0828 Australia
| | - Mark A. Adams
- Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology Swinburne University of Technology Melbourne Victoria 3122 Australia
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12
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Duan D, Lei P, Lan W, Li T, Zhang H, Zhong H, Pan K. Litterfall-derived organic matter enhances mercury methylation in mangrove sediments of South China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 765:142763. [PMID: 33069467 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) contamination in mangrove ecosystems has received increasing attention in recent years. Although many studies have investigated methylmercury (MeHg) contamination and its relationship to a number of environmental factors in mangrove sediments, the production of MeHg in this carbon-rich ecosystem has not been fully evaluated. In this study, we measured the total mercury (THg) and MeHg concentrations in the sediments collected from seven mangrove forests in China. In addition, we examined the origin and quality of sedimentary organic matter (OM), trying to evaluate their influence on the MeHg accumulation in mangrove sediments. We found that litterfall played an important role in regulating THg and MeHg contents in mangrove sediments. THg and MeHg concentrations in the mangrove sediments were positively correlated to OM content and the labile fraction of the OM. Multiple evidence (stable carbon isotopes, monosaccharide compositions, and biogenic silica) suggested that OM in mangrove sediments was dominated by input from litterfall. THg and MeHg concentrations were elevated at the sediments with higher input of mangrove OM. We observed that addition of mangrove litter stimulated the production of MeHg under anaerobic conditions. Overall, our results suggested that litterfall acted as a source of inorganic Hg, labile carbon, and low-molecular-weight OM which greatly favor the Hg methylation. Our study provides new insights into the MeHg production in mangrove sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Duan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China; State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Pei Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Wenlu Lan
- Marine Environmental Monitoring Center of Guangxi, Beihai 536000, China; Guangxi Key Lab of Mangrove Conservation and Utilization, Guangxi Mangrove Research Center, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Beihai 536000, China
| | - Tianshen Li
- Marine Environmental Monitoring Center of Guangxi, Beihai 536000, China; Guangxi Key Lab of Mangrove Conservation and Utilization, Guangxi Mangrove Research Center, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Beihai 536000, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Huan Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Ke Pan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
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13
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Sun T, Wang Z, Zhang X, Niu Z, Chen J. Influences of high-level atmospheric gaseous elemental mercury on methylmercury accumulation in maize (Zea mays L.). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 265:114890. [PMID: 32544787 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Maize (Zea mays L.) leaves play an important role in stomatal uptake and surface adsorption of atmospheric mercury (Hg). However, the influence of atmospheric gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) on methylmercury (MeHg) accumulation in maize plants is poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a field open-top chambers (OTCs) experiment and a soil Hg-enriched experiment to investigate the response of MeHg accumulation in maize tissues to different GEM levels in the air. Maize upper leaves had a higher average MeHg concentration (0.21 ± 0.08 ng g-1) than bottom leaves (0.15 ± 0.05 ng g-1) in the OTCs experiment, which was inconsistent with that in the soil Hg-enriched experiment (maize upper leaves: 0.41 ± 0.07 ng g-1, maize bottom leaves: 0.60 ± 0.05 ng g-1). Additionally, significantly positive correlations were found between MeHg concentrations in maize leaves and air Hg levels, suggesting that elevated air Hg levels enhanced MeHg accumulation in maize leaves, which was possibly attributed to methylation of Hg on leaf surfaces. Mature maize grains from the OTCs experiment had low MeHg concentrations (0.12-0.23 ng g-1), suggesting a low accumulation capability of MeHg by maize grains. Approximately 93-96% of MeHg and 51-73% of total Hg in maize grains were lost from the grain-filling stage to the grain-ripening stage at all GEM level treatments, implying that self-detoxification in maize grains occurred. MeHg concentrations in maize roots showed a significant linear relationship (R2 = 0.98, p < 0.01) with soil Hg levels, confirming that MeHg in maize roots is primarily from soil. This study provides a new finding that elevated air GEM levels could enhance MeHg accumulation in maize leaves, and self-detoxification may occur in maize grains. Further studies are needed to clarify these mechanisms of Hg methylation on maize leaf surfaces and self-detoxification of Hg by maize grains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; Western University, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Zhangwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Xiaoshan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhenchuan Niu
- Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Science, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Jian Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
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14
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Gómez-Armesto A, Méndez-López M, Pérez-Rodríguez P, Fernández-Calviño D, Arias-Estévez M, Nóvoa-Muñoz JC. Litterfall Hg deposition to an oak forest soil from southwestern Europe. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2020; 269:110858. [PMID: 32561026 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Litterfall constitutes one of the main vectors for mercury (Hg) transfer to forested ecosystems, so we studied the deposition of Hg through senescent vegetation (oak leaves, twigs and miscellaneous) in a deciduous forest plot of Southwest Europe dominated by Quercus robur in 2015 and 2016. Total Hg concentrations increased in the following order: bole wood (1.4 μg kg-1) < bark (8.3 μg kg-1) < twigs (12.2 μg kg-1) < miscellaneous (36.0 μg kg-1) < oak leaves (39.3 μg kg-1) < mineral soil (42.4 μg kg-1) < Oi horizons (48.7 μg kg-1) < Oe + Oa horizons (71.6 μg kg-1). Mercury accumulation rates in oak leaves during the growing season were 0.15-0.18 μg kg-1 day-1. Mercury deposition fluxes were 26 and 21 μg m-2 yr-1 for 2015 and 2016, respectively, with oak leaves being the fraction that contributed the most. Mercury determination in litterfall sorted biomass fractions lead to a more accurate estimation of the total annual Hg deposition fluxes through litterfall. Higher Hg content was obtained for organic horizons (average of 60.2 μg kg-1) than for mineral soil (mean of 42.4 μg kg-1), but the soil Hg pool was higher in the latter. The results confirmed the necessity of taking into account the Hg pool in the deeper mineral soil layers as they accumulate substantial quantities of Hg associated to organic C and Al compounds, preventing its mobilization to other compartments of the terrestrial ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Gómez-Armesto
- Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade de Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain; Environmental Technology and Assessment Laboratory, Campus da Auga, Campus of Ourense, University of Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain.
| | - M Méndez-López
- Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade de Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain; Environmental Technology and Assessment Laboratory, Campus da Auga, Campus of Ourense, University of Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain
| | - P Pérez-Rodríguez
- Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade de Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain; Environmental Technology and Assessment Laboratory, Campus da Auga, Campus of Ourense, University of Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain
| | - D Fernández-Calviño
- Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade de Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain; Environmental Technology and Assessment Laboratory, Campus da Auga, Campus of Ourense, University of Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain
| | - M Arias-Estévez
- Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade de Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain; Environmental Technology and Assessment Laboratory, Campus da Auga, Campus of Ourense, University of Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain
| | - J C Nóvoa-Muñoz
- Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade de Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain; Environmental Technology and Assessment Laboratory, Campus da Auga, Campus of Ourense, University of Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain
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15
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Bishop K, Shanley JB, Riscassi A, de Wit HA, Eklöf K, Meng B, Mitchell C, Osterwalder S, Schuster PF, Webster J, Zhu W. Recent advances in understanding and measurement of mercury in the environment: Terrestrial Hg cycling. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 721:137647. [PMID: 32197286 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 02/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This review documents recent advances in terrestrial mercury cycling. Terrestrial mercury (Hg) research has matured in some areas, and is developing rapidly in others. We summarize the state of the science circa 2010 as a starting point, and then present the advances during the last decade in three areas: land use, sulfate deposition, and climate change. The advances are presented in the framework of three Hg "gateways" to the terrestrial environment: inputs from the atmosphere, uptake in food, and runoff with surface water. Among the most notable advances: These and other advances reported here are of value in evaluating the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention on reducing environmental Hg exposure to humans and wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Bishop
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | | | - Ami Riscassi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 400123, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4123, USA.
| | - Heleen A de Wit
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalléen 21, NO-0349, Norway.
| | - Karin Eklöf
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Bo Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550002, China.
| | - Carl Mitchell
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada.
| | - Stefan Osterwalder
- Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble 18 INP, 38000 Grenoble, France.
| | - Paul F Schuster
- U.S. Geological Survey, 3215 Marine Street, Suite E-127, Boulder, CO 80303-1066, USA.
| | - Jackson Webster
- Department of Civil Engineering, California State University, 400 W. 1st Street, 21 95929-0930 Chico, CA, USA.
| | - Wei Zhu
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 90183 Umeå, Sweden.
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16
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Gómez-Armesto A, Martínez-Cortizas A, Ferro-Vázquez C, Méndez-López M, Arias-Estévez M, Nóvoa-Muñoz JC. Modelling Hg mobility in podzols: Role of soil components and environmental implications. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 260:114040. [PMID: 32004966 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
A high-resolution soil sampling has been applied to two forest podzols (ACB-I and ACB-II) from SW Europe in order to investigate the soil components and processes influencing the content, accumulation and vertical distribution of Hg. Total Hg contents (THg) were 28.0 and 23.6 μg kg-1 in A horizons of ACB-I and ACB-II, then they strongly decreased in the E horizons and peaked in the Bhs horizons of both soils (55.3 and 63.0 μg kg-1). THg decreased again in BwC horizons to 17.0 and 39.8 μg kg-1. The Bhs horizons accounted for 46 and 38% of the total Hg stored (ACB-I and ACB-II, respectively). Principal component analysis (PCA) and principal components regression (PCR), i.e. using the extracted components as predictors, allowed to distinguish the soil components that accounted for Hg accumulation in each horizon. The obtained model accurately predicted accumulated Hg (R2 = 0.845) through four principal components (PCs). In A horizons, Hg distribution was controlled by fresh soil organic matter (PC4), whereas in E horizons the negative values of all PCs were consistent with the absence of components able to retain Hg and the corresponding very low THg concentrations. Maximum THg contents in Bhs horizons coincided with the highest peaks of reactive Fe and Al compounds (PC1 and PC2) and secondary crystalline minerals (PC3) in both soils. The THg distribution in the deepest horizons (Bw and BwC) seemed to be influenced by other pedogenetic processes than those operating in the upper part of the profile (A, E and Bhs horizons). Our findings confirm the importance of soils in the global Hg cycling, as they exhibit significant Hg pools in horizons below the uppermost O and A horizons, preventing its mobilization to other environmental compartments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antía Gómez-Armesto
- Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade de Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain; Environmental Technology and Assessment Laboratory, Campus da Auga- Campus of Ourense, University of Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain.
| | - Antonio Martínez-Cortizas
- Eco-Past (GI-1553), Faculty of Biology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago, Spain
| | - Cruz Ferro-Vázquez
- ICArEHB-Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology of Human Behaviour, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University of Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Melissa Méndez-López
- Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade de Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain; Environmental Technology and Assessment Laboratory, Campus da Auga- Campus of Ourense, University of Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain
| | - Manuel Arias-Estévez
- Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade de Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Nóvoa-Muñoz
- Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade de Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain; Environmental Technology and Assessment Laboratory, Campus da Auga- Campus of Ourense, University of Vigo, 32004, Ourense, Spain
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17
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Phu Nguyen LS, Zhang L, Lin DW, Lin NH, Sheu GR. Eight-year dry deposition of atmospheric mercury to a tropical high mountain background site downwind of the East Asian continent. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 255:113128. [PMID: 31521990 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Revised: 07/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric deposition, either dry or wet, has been identified as an important pathway of mercury (Hg) input to terrestrial and aquatic systems. Although East Asia is the major atmospheric Hg emission source region, very few studies have been conducted to quantify atmospheric Hg deposition in its downwind region. In this study, 8-year (2009-2016) atmospheric Hg dry deposition was reported at the Lulin Atmospheric Background Station (LABS), a high mountain forest site in central Taiwan. Dry deposition of speciated Hg was estimated using a bi-directional air-surface flux exchange model for gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) and dry deposition models for gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) and particulate-bound mercury (PBM), making use of the monitored speciated atmospheric Hg concentrations. Annual total Hg dry deposition ranged from 51.9 to 84.9 μg m-2 yr-1, with a multi-year average of 66.1 μg m-2 yr-1. Among the three forms of atmospheric Hg, GEM was the main contributor to the total dry deposition, contributing about 77.8% to the total, due to the high density of forest canopy as well as the much higher concentration of GEM than GOM and PBM at LABS. Mercury dry deposition is higher in winter and spring than in summer and fall, partly due to the elevated Hg concentrations associated with air masses from East and Southeast Asia where with high atmospheric Hg emissions. The mean annual dry/wet deposition ratio of 2.8 at LABS indicated that Hg deposition to forest landscape was governed by dry rather than wet deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ly Sy Phu Nguyen
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, Jhongli, 320, Taiwan
| | - Leiming Zhang
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Da-Wei Lin
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, Jhongli, 320, Taiwan
| | - Neng-Huei Lin
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, Jhongli, 320, Taiwan
| | - Guey-Rong Sheu
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, Jhongli, 320, Taiwan.
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18
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Olson CI, Beaubien GB, Sims JL, Otter RR. Mercury Accumulation in Millipedes (Narceus spp.) Living Adjacent to a Southern Appalachian Mountain Stream (USA). BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2019; 103:528-532. [PMID: 31240376 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-019-02664-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Millipedes are among the most important processors of leaf litter in temperate forests. Through consumption of leaf litter, millipedes may be exposed to mercury that accumulates in leaf tissues prior to senescence. To investigate mercury uptake in millipedes, Narceus spp. were collected from a remote site in the southern Appalachian Mountains, an area known to receive high mercury deposition. Additionally, aquatic primary consumers (larval caddisflies and stoneflies), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were collected from the same site for comparisons of mercury concentrations and percent methylmercury. Bioaccumulation factors for millipedes were 18.5 and 20.2 for total and methylmercury, respectively. At this site, the mean THg concentration in millipedes was ~ 10 × greater than both brook trout and rainbow trout and ~ 200 × greater than that of aquatic primary consumers. Millipede THg concentrations ranged from 222 to 1620 ng/g ww in an area where EPA fish consumption criteria (300 ng/g MeHg in fish tissue, ww) were not exceeded. The mean percent methylmercury in millipedes was 1.4%, suggesting these animals were accumulating large quantities of inorganic mercury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor I Olson
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 13244, USA.
- Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132, USA.
| | - Gale B Beaubien
- Molecular Biosciences, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132, USA
| | - Jaylen L Sims
- Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132, USA
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76706, USA
| | - Ryan R Otter
- Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132, USA
- Molecular Biosciences, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132, USA
- Data Science Institute, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132, USA
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19
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Faccio SD, Buckman KL, Lloyd JD, Curtis AN, Taylor VF. Bioaccumulation of methylmercury in wood frogs and spotted salamanders in Vermont vernal pools. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2019; 28:717-731. [PMID: 31243636 PMCID: PMC6732234 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-019-02068-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) has accumulated in forested landscapes in the Northeastern U.S., and hotspots with enhanced deposition have been identified throughout the region. Due to a variety of favorable landscape characteristics, including relatively high dissolved organic carbon (DOC), fluctuating water levels, and low pH and dissolved oxygen, vernal pools provide ideal conditions for the conversion of Hg to its more toxic and bioavailable form, methylmercury (MeHg). Yet little is known about the concentrations, speciation, and bioavailability of Hg in vernal pools, or its bioaccumulation in vernal pool fauna and potential export into terrestrial systems. We investigated the role of forest cover type on the bioaccumulation of MeHg in wood frog (Lithobates sylvatica) and spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) eggs, larvae, and adults, and investigated relationships among MeHg and water chemistry (pH, DOC). Water samples from pools located in coniferous stands had greater concentrations of THg and MeHg compared to deciduous pool water, and showed significant positive correlation to DOC (r = 0.683, P < 0.001) and correlated negatively with pH (r = -0.613, P < 0.001). Methylmercury levels in amphibian embryos were similar between the two species (L. sylvatica mean = 5.4 ng/g dw; A. maculatum mean = 3.5 ng/g dw). Concentrations of MeHg increased substantially in larvae, and were significantly greater in A. maculatum (mean = 237.6 ng/g ± 18.5 SE) than L. sylvatica larvae (62.5 ng/g ± 5.7 SE). Forest cover type did not explain variation in MeHg concentration among amphibian embryos or larvae. Methylmercury levels in adult tissue samples were significantly greater in A. maculatum (mean = 79.9 ng/g ± 8.9 SE) compared to L. sylvatica (mean = 47.7 ng/g ± 9.7 SE). This research demonstrates that vernal pools are important hotspots where amphibians bioaccumulate MeHg, which may then be transferred to terrestrial ecosystems. The abundance of amphibian larvae suggests they could be important bioindicators for monitoring MeHg loading and bioavailability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kate L Buckman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | | | - Amanda N Curtis
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
- Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Vivien F Taylor
- Department of Earth Science, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
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Olson CL, Jiskra M, Sonke JE, Obrist D. Mercury in tundra vegetation of Alaska: Spatial and temporal dynamics and stable isotope patterns. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 660:1502-1512. [PMID: 30743942 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 01/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Vegetation uptake of atmospheric mercury (Hg) is an important mechanism enhancing atmospheric Hg deposition via litterfall and senescence. We here report Hg concentrations and pool sizes of different plant functional groups and plant species across nine tundra sites in northern Alaska. Significant spatial differences were observed in bulk vegetation Hg concentrations at Toolik Field station (52 ± 9 μg kg-1), Eight Mile Lake Observatory (40 ± 0.2 μg kg-1), and seven sites along a transect from Toolik Field station to the Arctic coast (36 ± 9 μg kg-1). Hg concentrations in non-vascular vegetation including feather and peat moss (58 ± 6 μg kg-1 and 34 ± 2 μg kg-1, respectively) and brown and white lichen (41 ± 2 μg kg-1 and 34 ± 2 μg kg-1, respectively), were three to six times those of vascular plant tissues (8 ± 1 μg kg-1 in dwarf birch leaves and 9 ± 1 μg kg-1 in tussock grass). A high representation of nonvascular vegetation in aboveground biomass resulted in substantial Hg mass contained in tundra aboveground vegetation (29 μg m-2), which fell within the range of foliar Hg mass estimated for forests in the United States (15 to 45 μg m-2) in spite of much shorter growing seasons. Hg stable isotope signatures of different plant species showed that atmospheric Hg(0) was the dominant source of Hg to tundra vegetation. Mass-dependent isotope signatures (δ202Hg) in vegetation relative to atmospheric Hg(0) showed pronounced shifts towards lower values, consistent with previously reported isotopic fractionation during foliar uptake of Hg(0). Mass-independent isotope signatures (Δ199Hg) of lichen were more positive relative to atmospheric Hg(0), indicating either photochemical reduction of Hg(II) or contributions of inorganic Hg(II) from atmospheric deposition and/or dust. Δ199Hg and Δ200Hg values in vascular plant species were similar to atmospheric Hg(0) suggesting that overall photochemical reduction and subsequent re-emission was relatively insignificant in these tundra ecosystems, in agreement with previous Hg(0) ecosystem flux measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine L Olson
- Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV 89512, USA
| | - Martin Jiskra
- Geosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/OMP/Université de Toulouse, 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France; Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 30, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jeroen E Sonke
- Geosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/OMP/Université de Toulouse, 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Daniel Obrist
- Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV 89512, USA; Department of Environmental, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, USA.
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21
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Olson CI, Beaubien GB, McKinney AD, Otter RR. Identifying contaminants of potential concern in remote headwater streams of Tennessee's Appalachian Mountains. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2019; 191:176. [PMID: 30788643 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-019-7305-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The susceptibility of Tennessee's Appalachian Mountains to anthropogenic stressors has remained largely uninvestigated likely due to a lack of known point source contamination. However, a growing body of scientific evidence suggests that depositional inputs can lead to concerning levels of contamination, even in remote areas. To investigate potential concerns, water quality parameters, contaminants in water (nitrogen, TSS, and metals), and contaminants in eastern brook trout (mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs], organochlorine [OC] pesticides, dioxins, furans, and phthalates) were measured in four Appalachian Mountain streams from 2015 to 2017. Concentrations were compared to literature and/or model-derived (e.g., biotic ligand model) threshold values to determine whether levels exceeded those acceptable for stream health. Dioxins and furans were detectable in fish tissue at all sites with an average 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodinbenzodioxin toxicity equivalence (TEQ) of 0.0015 ng/kg. Concentrations of PCBs, phthalates, and organochlorine pesticides were never above analytical quantitation limits, although several OC pesticides (e.g., alpha-chlordane) were detectable in fish. Aluminum concentrations in water were found at levels shown previously to cause mortality in brook trout during acidic rain events. The average whole-body methylmercury concentrations in fish among sites were 0.037 ± 0.003 μg/kg and were on average 75 ± 2% of total mercury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor I Olson
- Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132, USA
| | - Gale B Beaubien
- Molecular Biosciences, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132, USA
| | | | - Ryan R Otter
- Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132, USA.
- Molecular Biosciences, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132, USA.
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22
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Yang Y, Yanai RD, Driscoll CT, Montesdeoca M, Smith KT. Concentrations and content of mercury in bark, wood, and leaves in hardwoods and conifers in four forested sites in the northeastern USA. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196293. [PMID: 29684081 PMCID: PMC5912732 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is deposited from the atmosphere to remote areas such as forests, but the amount of Hg in trees is not well known. To determine the importance of Hg in trees, we analyzed foliage, bark and bole wood of eight tree species at four sites in the northeastern USA (Huntington Forest, NY; Sleepers River, VT; Hubbard Brook, NH; Bear Brook, ME). Foliar concentrations of Hg averaged 16.3 ng g-1 among the hardwood species, which was significantly lower than values in conifers, which averaged 28.6 ng g-1 (p < 0.001). Similarly, bark concentrations of Hg were lower (p < 0.001) in hardwoods (7.7 ng g-1) than conifers (22.5 ng g-1). For wood, concentrations of Hg were higher in yellow birch (2.1-2.8 ng g-1) and white pine (2.3 ng g-1) than in the other species, which averaged 1.4 ng g-1 (p < 0.0001). Sites differed significantly in Hg concentrations of foliage and bark (p = 0.02), which are directly exposed to the atmosphere, but the concentration of Hg in wood depended more on species (p < 0.001) than site (p = 0.60). The Hg contents of tree tissues in hardwood stands, estimated from modeled biomass and measured concentrations at each site, were higher in bark (mean of 0.10 g ha-1) and wood (0.16 g ha-1) than in foliage (0.06 g ha-1). In conifer stands, because foliar concentrations were higher, the foliar pool tended to be more important. Quantifying Hg in tree tissues is essential to understanding the pools and fluxes of Hg in forest ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, United States of America
| | - Ruth D. Yanai
- Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, United States of America
| | - Charles T. Driscoll
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States of America
| | - Mario Montesdeoca
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States of America
| | - Kevin T. Smith
- USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Durham, NH, United States of America
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Obrist D, Kirk JL, Zhang L, Sunderland EM, Jiskra M, Selin NE. A review of global environmental mercury processes in response to human and natural perturbations: Changes of emissions, climate, and land use. AMBIO 2018; 47:116-140. [PMID: 29388126 PMCID: PMC5794683 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-017-1004-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 339] [Impact Index Per Article: 56.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
We review recent progress in our understanding of the global cycling of mercury (Hg), including best estimates of Hg concentrations and pool sizes in major environmental compartments and exchange processes within and between these reservoirs. Recent advances include the availability of new global datasets covering areas of the world where environmental Hg data were previously lacking; integration of these data into global and regional models is continually improving estimates of global Hg cycling. New analytical techniques, such as Hg stable isotope characterization, provide novel constraints of sources and transformation processes. The major global Hg reservoirs that are, and continue to be, affected by anthropogenic activities include the atmosphere (4.4-5.3 Gt), terrestrial environments (particularly soils: 250-1000 Gg), and aquatic ecosystems (e.g., oceans: 270-450 Gg). Declines in anthropogenic Hg emissions between 1990 and 2010 have led to declines in atmospheric Hg0 concentrations and HgII wet deposition in Europe and the US (- 1.5 to - 2.2% per year). Smaller atmospheric Hg0 declines (- 0.2% per year) have been reported in high northern latitudes, but not in the southern hemisphere, while increasing atmospheric Hg loads are still reported in East Asia. New observations and updated models now suggest high concentrations of oxidized HgII in the tropical and subtropical free troposphere where deep convection can scavenge these HgII reservoirs. As a result, up to 50% of total global wet HgII deposition has been predicted to occur to tropical oceans. Ocean Hg0 evasion is a large source of present-day atmospheric Hg (approximately 2900 Mg/year; range 1900-4200 Mg/year). Enhanced seawater Hg0 levels suggest enhanced Hg0 ocean evasion in the intertropical convergence zone, which may be linked to high HgII deposition. Estimates of gaseous Hg0 emissions to the atmosphere over land, long considered a critical Hg source, have been revised downward, and most terrestrial environments now are considered net sinks of atmospheric Hg due to substantial Hg uptake by plants. Litterfall deposition by plants is now estimated at 1020-1230 Mg/year globally. Stable isotope analysis and direct flux measurements provide evidence that in many ecosystems Hg0 deposition via plant inputs dominates, accounting for 57-94% of Hg in soils. Of global aquatic Hg releases, around 50% are estimated to occur in China and India, where Hg drains into the West Pacific and North Indian Oceans. A first inventory of global freshwater Hg suggests that inland freshwater Hg releases may be dominated by artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM; approximately 880 Mg/year), industrial and wastewater releases (220 Mg/year), and terrestrial mobilization (170-300 Mg/year). For pelagic ocean regions, the dominant source of Hg is atmospheric deposition; an exception is the Arctic Ocean, where riverine and coastal erosion is likely the dominant source. Ocean water Hg concentrations in the North Atlantic appear to have declined during the last several decades but have increased since the mid-1980s in the Pacific due to enhanced atmospheric deposition from the Asian continent. Finally, we provide examples of ongoing and anticipated changes in Hg cycling due to emission, climate, and land use changes. It is anticipated that future emissions changes will be strongly dependent on ASGM, as well as energy use scenarios and technology requirements implemented under the Minamata Convention. We predict that land use and climate change impacts on Hg cycling will be large and inherently linked to changes in ecosystem function and global atmospheric and ocean circulations. Our ability to predict multiple and simultaneous changes in future Hg global cycling and human exposure is rapidly developing but requires further enhancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Obrist
- Department of Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, One University Ave, Lowell, MA 01854 USA
| | - Jane L. Kirk
- Environment and Climate Change, Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, ON L7P 2X3 Canada
| | - Lei Zhang
- School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023 Jiangsu China
| | - Elsie M. Sunderland
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
| | - Martin Jiskra
- Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, GET-CNRS, CNRS – OMP, 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Noelle E. Selin
- Institute for Data, Systems, and Society and Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
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24
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Spatial Patterns and Temporal Changes in Atmospheric-Mercury Deposition for the Midwestern USA, 2001–2016. ATMOSPHERE 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos9010029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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25
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Nasr M, Arp PA. Relating Fish Hg to Variations in Sediment Hg, Climate and Atmospheric Deposition. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.4236/ajcc.2018.73024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Malcolm K, Dighton J, Barkay T. Mercury affects the phylloplane fungal community of blueberry leaves to a lesser extent than plant age. Mycology 2017; 9:49-58. [PMID: 30123661 PMCID: PMC6059040 DOI: 10.1080/21501203.2017.1397063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a toxic heavy metal pollutant that is globally distributed due to atmospheric deposition to non-point source locations. Leaf surfaces directly sequester atmospheric Hg. Little is known of how phylloplane (leaf surface) fungi are influenced by Hg pollution. Through culture-based methodology, this study analysed fungal phylloplane community identity following a single-dose response to HgCl2 concentrations between 0 and 20 times ambient levels for New Jersey. Time passed following the Hg addition had a strong influence on the fungal phylloplane community, associated with natural successional changes. Mercury, however, did not significantly affect the phylloplane community identity. Notably, the control group was not significantly different than any of the Hg treatments. How the phylloplane functional group responds to Hg pollution has not been previously investigated and more research is needed to fully understand how Hg influences fungal phylloplane ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katalin Malcolm
- Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Rutgers Pinelands Field Station, New Lisbon, NJ, USA
| | - John Dighton
- Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Rutgers Pinelands Field Station, New Lisbon, NJ, USA
| | - Tamar Barkay
- Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
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de Lima CAI, de Almeida MG, Pestana IA, Bastos WR, do Nascimento Recktenvald MCN, de Souza CMM, Pedrosa P. Impact of Land Use on the Mobility of Hg Species in Different Compartments of a Tropical Watershed in Brazil. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2017; 73:578-592. [PMID: 28889279 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-017-0449-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This study evaluated the levels of total Hg and CH3Hg+ from a comprehensive perspective, considering the retention, leaching, and deposition of these contaminants in the main compartments (soil, plant litter, and sediment) of three landscapes (Atlantic Forest, pasture, and agricultural area) in a watershed in northern Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Variables analyzed were total Hg, CH3Hg+, organic carbon, total nitrogen, grain size, and surface area. In soil samples, total Hg levels were the highest in agricultural soil followed by forest soil and pasture (97.3, 87.6, and 77.1 ng g-1, respectively), and CH3Hg+ was lower than 1.7%. Total Hg levels in leaf litter varied between 22.6 and 34.2 ng g-1, and CH3Hg+ was 4.37%. In sediment, Hg (60-180 ng g-1) and CH3Hg+ (<1%) indicate the transport of these contaminants from soils to this compartment and may be associated with soil use and cover. Multiple regressions were used to understand the dispersion of Hg species, and the effect of each variable varied with the landscape, showing that plant cover should not be ignored in investigations related to Hg species retention in a watershed. The landscapes surveyed in the present study clearly influence the quantitative and qualitative distribution of Hg species. On the other hand, anthropic processes associated with changes in soil use did not have any critical effects on the absolute levels of total Hg and CH3Hg+, meaning that the landscapes evaluated seem to represent the background concentration of these chemical species for the evaluated watershed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Ayume Ito de Lima
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000, Horto, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, 28015-620, Brazil.
| | - Marcelo Gomes de Almeida
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000, Horto, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, 28015-620, Brazil
| | - Inacio Abreu Pestana
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000, Horto, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, 28015-620, Brazil
| | - Wanderley R Bastos
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental Wolfgang C. Pfeiffer, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, 76815-800, Brazil
| | | | - Cristina Maria Magalhães de Souza
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000, Horto, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, 28015-620, Brazil
| | - Paulo Pedrosa
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000, Horto, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, 28015-620, Brazil
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Risch MR, DeWild JF, Gay DA, Zhang L, Boyer EW, Krabbenhoft DP. Atmospheric mercury deposition to forests in the eastern USA. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2017; 228:8-18. [PMID: 28501633 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Revised: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric mercury (Hg) deposition to forests is important because half of the land cover in the eastern USA is forest. Mercury was measured in autumn litterfall and weekly precipitation samples at a total of 27 National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) monitoring sites in deciduous and mixed deciduous-coniferous forests in 16 states in the eastern USA during 2007-2014. These simultaneous, uniform, repeated, annual measurements of forest Hg include the broadest area and longest time frame to date. The autumn litterfall-Hg concentrations and litterfall mass at the study sites each year were combined with annual precipitation-Hg data. Rates of litterfall-Hg deposition were higher than or equal to precipitation-Hg deposition rates in 70% of the annual data, which indicates a substantial contribution from litterfall to total atmospheric-Hg deposition. Annual litterfall-Hg deposition in this study had a median of 11.7 μg per square meter per year (μg/m2/yr) and ranged from 2.2 to 23.4 μg/m2/yr. It closely matched modeled dry-Hg deposition, based on land cover at selected NADP Hg-monitoring sites. Mean annual atmospheric-Hg deposition at forest study sites exhibited a spatial pattern partly explained by statistical differences among five forest-cover types and related to the mapped density of Hg emissions. Forest canopies apparently recorded changes in atmospheric-Hg concentrations over time because litterfall-Hg concentrations decreased year to year and litterfall-Hg concentrations were significantly higher in 2007-2009 than in 2012-2014. These findings reinforce reported decreases in Hg emissions and atmospheric elemental-Hg concentrations during this same time period. Methylmercury (MeHg) was detected in all litterfall samples at all sites, compared with MeHg detections in less than half the precipitation samples at selected sites during the study. These results indicate MeHg in litterfall is a pathway into the terrestrial food web where it can accumulate in the prey of songbirds, bats, and raptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin R Risch
- U.S. Geological Survey, 5957 Lakeside Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46278, United States.
| | - John F DeWild
- U.S. Geological Survey, 8505 Research Way, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
| | - David A Gay
- Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois, 2204 Griffith Drive, Champaign, IL, 61820, United States
| | - Leiming Zhang
- Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elizabeth W Boyer
- The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Ecosystem Science & Management, 304 Forest Resources Building, University Park, PA 16802, United States
| | - David P Krabbenhoft
- U.S. Geological Survey, 8505 Research Way, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
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29
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Mora-Zamorano F, Klingler R, Basu N, Head J, Murphy CA, Binkowski FP, Larson JK, Carvan MJ. Developmental Methylmercury Exposure Affects Swimming Behavior and Foraging Efficiency of Yellow Perch ( Perca flavescens) Larvae. ACS OMEGA 2017; 2:4870-4877. [PMID: 28884165 PMCID: PMC5579541 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.7b00227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a pervasive and ubiquitous environmental neurotoxicant within aquatic ecosystems, known to alter behavior in fish and other vertebrates. This study sought to assess the behavioral effects of developmental MeHg exposure on larval yellow perch (Perca flavescens)-a nonmodel fish species native to the Great Lakes. Embryos were exposed to MeHg (0, 30, 100, 300, and 1000 nM) for 20 h and then reared to 25 days post fertilization (dpf) for analyses of spontaneous swimming, visual motor response (VMR), and foraging efficiency. MeHg exposures rendered total mercury (THg) body burdens of 0.02, 0.21, 0.95, 3.14, and 14.93 μg/g (wet weight). Organisms exposed to 1000 nM exhibited high mortality; thus, they were excluded from downstream behavioral analyses. All MeHg exposures tested were associated with a reduction in spontaneous swimming at 17 and 25 dpf. Exposure to 30 and 100 nM MeHg caused altered locomotor output during the VMR assay at 21 dpf, whereas exposure to 100 nM MeHg was associated with decreased foraging efficiency at 25 dpf. For the sake of comparison, the second-lowest exposure tested here rendered a THg burden that represents the permissible level of consumable fish in the United States. Moreover, this dose is reported in roughly two-thirds of consumable fish species monitored in the United States, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Although the THg body burdens reported here were higher than expected in the environment, our study is the first to analyze the effects of MeHg exposure on fundamental survival behaviors of yellow perch larvae and advances in the exploration of the ecological relevance of behavioral end points.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco
X. Mora-Zamorano
- School
of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin
at Milwaukee, 600 E Greenfield
Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204, United States
| | - Rebekah Klingler
- School
of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin
at Milwaukee, 600 E Greenfield
Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204, United States
| | - Niladri Basu
- Department
of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, 845 Sherbrooke Street W, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Jessica Head
- Department
of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, 845 Sherbrooke Street W, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Cheryl A. Murphy
- Department
of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State
University, 220 Trowbridge
Road, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Frederick P. Binkowski
- School
of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin
at Milwaukee, 600 E Greenfield
Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204, United States
| | - Jeremy K. Larson
- School
of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin
at Milwaukee, 600 E Greenfield
Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204, United States
| | - Michael J. Carvan
- School
of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin
at Milwaukee, 600 E Greenfield
Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204, United States
- E-mail: . Tel: +1(414)-382-1700. Fax: +1(414)-382-1705
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30
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Johnston JM, Barber MC, Wolfe K, Galvin M, Cyterski M, Parmar R. An Integrated Ecological Modeling System for Assessing Impacts of Multiple Stressors on Stream and Riverine Ecosystem Services within River Basins. Ecol Modell 2017; 354:104-114. [PMID: 28966433 PMCID: PMC5612326 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2017.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate a novel, spatially explicit assessment of the current condition of aquatic ecosystem services, with limited sensitivity analysis for the atmospheric contaminant mercury. The Integrated Ecological Modeling System (IEMS) forecasts water quality and quantity, habitat suitability for aquatic biota, fish biomasses, population densities, productivities, and contamination by methylmercury across headwater watersheds. We applied this IEMS to the Coal River Basin (CRB), West Virginia (USA), an 8-digit hydrologic unit watershed, by simulating a network of 97 stream segments using the SWAT watershed model, a watershed mercury loading model, the WASP water quality model, the PiSCES fish community estimation model, a fish habitat suitability model, the BASS fish community and bioaccumulation model, and an ecoservices post-processer. Model application was facilitated by automated data retrieval and model setup and updated model wrappers and interfaces for data transfers between these models from a prior study. This companion study evaluates baseline predictions of ecoservices provided for 1990 - 2010 for the population of streams in the CRB and serves as a foundation for future model development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kurt Wolfe
- USEPA/ORD/NERL, 960 College Station Rd., Athens, GA 30605
| | - Mike Galvin
- USEPA/ORD/NERL, 960 College Station Rd., Athens, GA 30605
| | - Mike Cyterski
- USEPA/ORD/NERL, 960 College Station Rd., Athens, GA 30605
| | - Rajbir Parmar
- USEPA/ORD/NERL, 960 College Station Rd., Athens, GA 30605
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Giesler R, Clemmensen KE, Wardle DA, Klaminder J, Bindler R. Boreal Forests Sequester Large Amounts of Mercury over Millennial Time Scales in the Absence of Wildfire. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:2621-2627. [PMID: 28157285 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b06369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Alterations in fire activity due to climate change and fire suppression may have profound effects on the balance between storage and release of carbon (C) and associated volatile elements. Stored soil mercury (Hg) is known to volatilize due to wildfires and this could substantially affect the land-air exchange of Hg; conversely the absence of fires and human disturbance may increase the time period over which Hg is sequestered. Here we show for a wildfire chronosequence spanning over more than 5000 years in boreal forest in northern Sweden that belowground inventories of total Hg are strongly related to soil humus C accumulation (R2 = 0.94, p < 0.001). Our data clearly show that northern boreal forest soils have a strong sink capacity for Hg, and indicate that the sequestered Hg is bound in soil organic matter pools accumulating over millennia. Our results also suggest that more than half of the Hg stock in the sites with the longest time since fire originates from deposition predating the onset of large-scale anthropogenic emissions. This study emphasizes the importance of boreal forest humus soils for Hg storage and reveals that this pool is likely to persist over millennial time scales in the prolonged absence of fire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reiner Giesler
- Climate Impacts Research Centre, Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University , 981 07 Abisko, Sweden
| | - Karina E Clemmensen
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences , 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - David A Wardle
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences , 901 83 Umeå, Sweden
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University , 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798
| | - Jonatan Klaminder
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University , 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Richard Bindler
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University , 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
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32
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Teixeira DC, Lacerda LD, Silva-Filho EV. Mercury sequestration by rainforests: The influence of microclimate and different successional stages. CHEMOSPHERE 2017; 168:1186-1193. [PMID: 27816281 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.10.081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) concentrations in tropical forest soils and litter are up to 10 times higher than those from temperate and boreal forests. The majority of Hg that has been stored in tropical soils, as the forest is left intact, could be trapped in deeper layers of soil and only small quantities are exported to water bodies. The quantitative approach to the Hg cycle in tropical forests is uncommon; the South America Atlantic Forest indeed is a hotspot for species conservation and also seems to be for the Hg's cycle. This study reports on a biannual dynamics of Hg through different species assemblage of different successional stages in this biome, based on 24 litter traps used to collect litterfall from 3 different successional stages under a rainforest located at Brazilian Southeast. The mean Hg litterfall flux obtained was 6.1 ± 0.15 μg ha-1 yr-1, while the mean Hg concentration in litter was 57 ± 16 ng g-1 and the accumulation of Hg via litterfall flux was 34.6 ± 1.2 μg m-2 yr-1. These inventories are close to those found for tropical areas in the Amazon, but they were lower than those assessed for Atlantic Forest biome studies. These low concentrations are related to the remoteness of the area from pollution sources and probably to the climatic limitation, due to the altitude effects over the forest's eco-physiology. The mercury fluxes found in each different successional stage, correlated with time variations of global radiation, suggesting a mandatory role of the forest primary production over Hg deposition to the soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Teixeira
- Universidade Federal Fluminense, Programa de Pós Graduação em Geociências (Geoquímica), Niterói, 24020-141, RJ, Brazil
| | - Luiz D Lacerda
- Universidade Federal do Ceará, Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Fortaleza, 60165-081, CE, Brazil
| | - Emmanoel V Silva-Filho
- Universidade Federal Fluminense, Programa de Pós Graduação em Geociências (Geoquímica), Niterói, 24020-141, RJ, Brazil.
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33
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Zhang L, Wu Z, Cheng I, Wright LP, Olson ML, Gay DA, Risch MR, Brooks S, Castro MS, Conley GD, Edgerton ES, Holsen TM, Luke W, Tordon R, Weiss-Penzias P. The Estimated Six-Year Mercury Dry Deposition Across North America. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:12864-12873. [PMID: 27934281 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b04276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Dry deposition of atmospheric mercury (Hg) to various land covers surrounding 24 sites in North America was estimated for the years 2009 to 2014. Depending on location, multiyear mean annual Hg dry deposition was estimated to range from 5.1 to 23.8 μg m-2 yr-1 to forested canopies, 2.6 to 20.8 μg m-2 yr-1 to nonforest vegetated canopies, 2.4 to 11.2 μg m-2 yr-1 to urban and built up land covers, and 1.0 to 3.2 μg m-2 yr-1 to water surfaces. In the rural or remote environment in North America, annual Hg dry deposition to vegetated surfaces is dominated by leaf uptake of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), contrary to what was commonly assumed in earlier studies which frequently omitted GEM dry deposition as an important process. Dry deposition exceeded wet deposition by a large margin in all of the seasons except in the summer at the majority of the sites. GEM dry deposition over vegetated surfaces will not decrease at the same pace, and sometimes may even increase with decreasing anthropogenic emissions, suggesting that Hg emission reductions should be a long-term policy sustained by global cooperation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leiming Zhang
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zhiyong Wu
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Irene Cheng
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - L Paige Wright
- Independent Researcher, Stratford, Prince Edward Island, Canada
| | - Mark L Olson
- National Atmospheric Deposition Program, University of Illinois , Champaign, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - David A Gay
- National Atmospheric Deposition Program, University of Illinois , Champaign, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Martin R Risch
- U.S. Geological Survey, Indianapolis, Indiana 46278, United States
| | - Steven Brooks
- The University of Tennessee Space Institute , Tullahoma, Tennessee 37388, United States
| | - Mark S Castro
- University of Maryland , Frostburg, Maryland 21532, United States
| | | | - Eric S Edgerton
- Atmospheric Research & Analysis, Inc., Cary, North Carolina 27513, United States
| | - Thomas M Holsen
- Clarkson University , Potsdam, New York 13699, United States
| | - Winston Luke
- NOAA Air Resources Laboratory, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Robert Tordon
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Gerson JR, Driscoll CT. Is Mercury in a Remote Forested Watershed of the Adirondack Mountains Responding to Recent Decreases in Emissions? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:10943-10950. [PMID: 27649379 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b02127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Although there has been a decline in U.S. mercury emissions, the effects of this change on remote ecosystems are not well understood. We examine decadal (2004-2015) responses of atmospheric mercury deposition, along with total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations and fluxes, to decrease in mercury emissions at Arbutus Lake-watershed in the remote forested Adirondack region of New York, a biological mercury hotspot. Although wet mercury deposition remains constant, THg deposition has decreased through decreases in litter mercury inputs (17.9 to 10.8 μg/m2-yr) apparently driven by decreases in atmospheric concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury (Hgo). While the lake is a net sink for THg and MeHg, concentrations and fluxes of THg and MeHg have decreased in the inlet stream and lake water apparently in response to decreases in Hgo deposition. Decreases in surface water mercury have occurred despite decadal increases in concentrations of dissolved organic carbon. Moreover, the fraction of THg as MeHg at the inlet has not changed despite decadal decreases in atmospheric sulfate deposition and surface water concentrations of sulfate. Our results indicate that recent decreases in U.S. mercury emissions have resulted in decreases in litter mercury deposition, and stream and lake THg and MeHg concentrations and fluxes, suggesting the first steps toward ecosystem recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline R Gerson
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University , 151 Link Hall, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Charles T Driscoll
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University , 151 Link Hall, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
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Domagalski J, Majewski MS, Alpers CN, Eckley CS, Eagles-Smith CA, Schenk L, Wherry S. Comparison of mercury mass loading in streams to atmospheric deposition in watersheds of Western North America: Evidence for non-atmospheric mercury sources. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 568:638-650. [PMID: 27015962 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.02.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2015] [Revised: 02/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Annual stream loads of mercury (Hg) and inputs of wet and dry atmospheric Hg deposition to the landscape were investigated in watersheds of the Western United States and the Canadian-Alaskan Arctic. Mercury concentration and discharge data from flow gauging stations were used to compute annual mass loads with regression models. Measured wet and modeled dry deposition were compared to annual stream loads to compute ratios of Hg stream load to total Hg atmospheric deposition. Watershed land uses or cover included mining, undeveloped, urbanized, and mixed. Of 27 watersheds that were investigated, 15 had some degree of mining, either of Hg or precious metals (gold or silver), where Hg was used in the amalgamation process. Stream loads in excess of annual Hg atmospheric deposition (ratio>1) were observed in watersheds containing Hg mines and in relatively small and medium-sized watersheds with gold or silver mines, however, larger watersheds containing gold or silver mines, some of which also contain large dams that trap sediment, were sometimes associated with lower load ratios (<0.2). In the non-Arctic regions, watersheds with natural vegetation tended to have low ratios of stream load to Hg deposition (<0.1), whereas urbanized areas had higher ratios (0.34-1.0) because of impervious surfaces. This indicated that, in ecosystems with natural vegetation, Hg is retained in the soil and may be transported subsequently to streams as a result of erosion or in association with dissolved organic carbon. Arctic watersheds (Mackenzie and Yukon Rivers) had a relatively elevated ratio of stream load to atmospheric deposition (0.27 and 0.74), possibly because of melting glaciers or permafrost releasing previously stored Hg to the streams. Overall, our research highlights the important role of watershed characteristics in determining whether a landscape is a net source of Hg or a net sink of atmospheric Hg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Domagalski
- U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, 6000 J Street, Placer Hall, Sacramento, CA 95819, United States.
| | - Michael S Majewski
- U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, 6000 J Street, Placer Hall, Sacramento, CA 95819, United States
| | - Charles N Alpers
- U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, 6000 J Street, Placer Hall, Sacramento, CA 95819, United States
| | - Chris S Eckley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Assessment, EPA-Region 10, 1200 6th Ave., Suite 900, Seattle, WA 98101, United States
| | - Collin A Eagles-Smith
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States
| | - Liam Schenk
- U.S. Geological Survey, Oregon Water Science Center, 2795 Anderson Ave., Suite 106, Klamath Falls, OR 97603, United States
| | - Susan Wherry
- U.S. Geological Survey, Oregon Water Science Center, 2130 SW 5th Ave., Portland, OR 97201, United States
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36
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Eckley CS, Tate MT, Lin CJ, Gustin M, Dent S, Eagles-Smith C, Lutz MA, Wickland KP, Wang B, Gray JE, Edwards GC, Krabbenhoft DP, Smith DB. Surface-air mercury fluxes across Western North America: A synthesis of spatial trends and controlling variables. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 568:651-665. [PMID: 26936663 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.02.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Revised: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/17/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) emission and deposition can occur to and from soils, and are an important component of the global atmospheric Hg budget. This paper focuses on synthesizing existing surface-air Hg flux data collected throughout the Western North American region and is part of a series of geographically focused Hg synthesis projects. A database of existing Hg flux data collected using the dynamic flux chamber (DFC) approach from almost a thousand locations was created for the Western North America region. Statistical analysis was performed on the data to identify the important variables controlling Hg fluxes and to allow spatiotemporal scaling. The results indicated that most of the variability in soil-air Hg fluxes could be explained by variations in soil-Hg concentrations, solar radiation, and soil moisture. This analysis also identified that variations in DFC methodological approaches were detectable among the field studies, with the chamber material and sampling flushing flow rate influencing the magnitude of calculated emissions. The spatiotemporal scaling of soil-air Hg fluxes identified that the largest emissions occurred from irrigated agricultural landscapes in California. Vegetation was shown to have a large impact on surface-air Hg fluxes due to both a reduction in solar radiation reaching the soil as well as from direct uptake of Hg in foliage. Despite high soil Hg emissions from some forested and other heavily vegetated regions, the net ecosystem flux (soil flux+vegetation uptake) was low. Conversely, sparsely vegetated regions showed larger net ecosystem emissions, which were similar in magnitude to atmospheric Hg deposition (except for the Mediterranean California region where soil emissions were higher). The net ecosystem flux results highlight the important role of landscape characteristics in effecting the balance between Hg sequestration and (re-)emission to the atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris S Eckley
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Region-10, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.
| | - Mike T Tate
- US Geological Survey, Middleton, WI 53562, USA
| | - Che-Jen Lin
- Center for Advances on Water and Air quality, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX 77710, USA
| | - Mae Gustin
- Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Grant C Edwards
- Department of Environment and Geography, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia
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37
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Huang M, Deng S, Dong H, Dai W, Pang J, Wang X. Impacts of Atmospheric Mercury Deposition on Human Multimedia Exposure: Projection from Observations in the Pearl River Delta Region, South China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:10625-10634. [PMID: 27577539 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b00514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
A preliminary projection was performed to determine human multimedia exposure to mercury (Hg) based on deposition flux observations and to identify the impacts of atmospheric Hg deposition in Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, South China. The Monte Carlo technique was used to propagate the variability throughout the projection. The regional specific probability density functions (PDFs) of the studied parameters were regressed from the provincial/national published data, except when the data were deficient. The atmospheric Hg deposition flux ranged from 43.70 to 321.19 μg/m2/year and did not significantly contribute to Hg accumulation in the regional topsoil, freshwater bodies, and most food items except fish. The consumption of fish and milk/dairy products was the major contributor to the total exposure for adults (>18 years)/6- to 12-year children and 0- to 6-year children, respectively. The projected concentrations and exposure levels were the results combining MeHg and inorganic Hg (Hg2+). Under the 30-year projection, the probability of risks caused by Hg deposition (combining Hg2+ and MeHg) was the highest for 0- to 6-year children, followed by 6- to 12-year children and adults. The ground effects driven by precipitation had a significantly greater effect relative to the mass transport effects in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minjuan Huang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, ‡School of Environmental Science and Engineering, and §Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou 510275, P R China
| | - Sixin Deng
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, ‡School of Environmental Science and Engineering, and §Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou 510275, P R China
| | - Hanying Dong
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, ‡School of Environmental Science and Engineering, and §Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou 510275, P R China
| | - Wei Dai
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, ‡School of Environmental Science and Engineering, and §Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou 510275, P R China
| | - Jiongming Pang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, ‡School of Environmental Science and Engineering, and §Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou 510275, P R China
| | - Xuemei Wang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, ‡School of Environmental Science and Engineering, and §Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou 510275, P R China
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38
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39
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Wang X, Bao Z, Lin CJ, Yuan W, Feng X. Assessment of Global Mercury Deposition through Litterfall. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:8548-57. [PMID: 27418119 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b06351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
There is a large uncertainty in the estimate of global dry deposition of atmospheric mercury (Hg). Hg deposition through litterfall represents an important input to terrestrial forest ecosystems via cumulative uptake of atmospheric Hg (most Hg(0)) to foliage. In this study, we estimate the quantity of global Hg deposition through litterfall using statistical modeling (Monte Carlo simulation) of published data sets of litterfall biomass production, tree density, and Hg concentration in litter samples. On the basis of the model results, the global annual Hg deposition through litterfall is estimated to be 1180 ± 710 Mg yr(-1), more than two times greater than the estimate by GEOS-Chem. Spatial distribution of Hg deposition through litterfall suggests that deposition flux decreases spatially from tropical to temperate and boreal regions. Approximately 70% of global Hg(0) dry deposition occurs in the tropical and subtropical regions. A major source of uncertainty in this study is the heterogeneous geospatial distribution of available data. More observational data in regions (Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America) where few data sets exist will greatly improve the accuracy of the current estimate. Given that the quantity of global Hg deposition via litterfall is typically 2-6 times higher than Hg(0) evasion from forest floor, global forest ecosystems represent a strong Hg(0) sink.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Guiyang 550081, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhengduo Bao
- Center for Advances in Water and Air Quality, Lamar University , Beaumont, Texas 77710-0080, United States
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Lamar University , Beaumont, Texas 77710-0080, United States
| | - Che-Jen Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Guiyang 550081, China
- Center for Advances in Water and Air Quality, Lamar University , Beaumont, Texas 77710-0080, United States
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Lamar University , Beaumont, Texas 77710-0080, United States
| | - Wei Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Guiyang 550081, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Guiyang 550081, China
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40
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Enrico M, Roux GL, Marusczak N, Heimbürger LE, Claustres A, Fu X, Sun R, Sonke JE. Atmospheric Mercury Transfer to Peat Bogs Dominated by Gaseous Elemental Mercury Dry Deposition. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:2405-12. [PMID: 26849121 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b06058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) is the dominant form of mercury in the atmosphere. Its conversion into oxidized gaseous and particulate forms is thought to drive atmospheric mercury wet deposition to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, where it can be subsequently transformed into toxic methylmercury. The contribution of mercury dry deposition is however largely unconstrained. Here we examine mercury mass balance and mercury stable isotope composition in a peat bog ecosystem. We find that isotope signatures of living sphagnum moss (Δ(199)Hg = -0.11 ± 0.09‰, Δ(200)Hg = 0.03 ± 0.02‰, 1σ) and recently accumulated peat (Δ(199)Hg = -0.22 ± 0.06‰, Δ(200)Hg = 0.00 ± 0.04‰, 1σ) are characteristic of GEM (Δ(199)Hg = -0.17 ± 0.07‰, Δ(200)Hg = -0.05 ± 0.02‰, 1σ), and differs from wet deposition (Δ(199)Hg = 0.73 ± 0.15‰, Δ(200)Hg = 0.21 ± 0.04‰, 1σ). Sphagnum covered during three years by transparent and opaque surfaces, which eliminate wet deposition, continue to accumulate Hg. Sphagnum Hg isotope signatures indicate accumulation to take place by GEM dry deposition, and indicate little photochemical re-emission. We estimate that atmospheric mercury deposition to the peat bog surface is dominated by GEM dry deposition (79%) rather than wet deposition (21%). Consequently, peat deposits are potential records of past atmospheric GEM concentrations and isotopic composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Enrico
- ECOLAB, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, France; ENSAT, Avenue de l'Agrobiopole, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD/Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III , 14 avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Gaël Le Roux
- ECOLAB, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, France; ENSAT, Avenue de l'Agrobiopole, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France
| | - Nicolas Marusczak
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD/Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III , 14 avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Lars-Eric Heimbürger
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD/Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III , 14 avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Adrien Claustres
- ECOLAB, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, France; ENSAT, Avenue de l'Agrobiopole, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France
| | - Xuewu Fu
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD/Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III , 14 avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Ruoyu Sun
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD/Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III , 14 avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Jeroen E Sonke
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD/Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III , 14 avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
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41
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Castro MS, Sherwell J. Effectiveness of Emission Controls to Reduce the Atmospheric Concentrations of Mercury. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:14000-14007. [PMID: 26606506 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b03576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Coal-fired power plants in the United States are required to reduce their emissions of mercury (Hg) into the atmosphere to lower the exposure of Hg to humans. The effectiveness of power-plant emission controls on the atmospheric concentrations of Hg in the United States is largely unknown because there are few long-term high-quality atmospheric Hg data sets. Here, we present the atmospheric concentrations of Hg and sulfur dioxide (SO2) measured from 2006 to 2015 at a relatively pristine location in western Maryland that is several (>50 km) kilometers downwind of power plants in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Annual average atmospheric concentrations of gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM), SO2, fine particulate mercury (PBM2.5), and gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) declined by 75%, 75%, 43%, and 13%, respectively, and were strongly correlated with power-plant Hg emissions from the upwind states. These results provide compelling evidence that reductions in Hg emissions from power plants in the United States had their intended impact to reduce regional Hg pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S Castro
- Appalachian Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science , 301 Braddock Road, Frostburg, Maryland 21532, United States
| | - John Sherwell
- Power Plant Research Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources , Annapolis, Maryland 21401, United States
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Homann PS, Darbyshire RL, Bormann BT, Morrissette BA. Forest Structure Affects Soil Mercury Losses in the Presence and Absence of Wildfire. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:12714-12722. [PMID: 26485585 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b03355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Soil is an important, dynamic component of regional and global mercury (Hg) cycles. This study evaluated how changes in forest soil Hg masses caused by atmospheric deposition and wildfire are affected by forest structure. Pre and postfire soil Hg measurements were made over two decades on replicate experimental units of three prefire forest structures (mature unthinned, mature thinned, clear-cut) in Douglas-fir dominated forest of southwestern Oregon. In the absence of wildfire, O-horizon Hg decreased by 60% during the 14 years after clearcutting, possibly the result of decreased atmospheric deposition due to the smaller-stature vegetative canopy; in contrast, no change was observed in mature unthinned and thinned forest. Wildfire decreased O-horizon Hg by >88% across all forest structures and decreased mineral-soil (0 to 66 mm depth) Hg by 50% in thinned forest and clear-cut. The wildfire-associated soil Hg loss was positively related to the amount of surface fine wood that burned during the fire, the proportion of area that burned at >700 °C, fire severity as indicated by tree mortality, and soil C loss. Loss of soil Hg due to the 200,000 ha wildfire was more than four times the annual atmospheric Hg emissions from human activities in Oregon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter S Homann
- Huxley College of the Environment, Western Washington University , Bellingham, Washington 98225-9181, United States
| | - Robyn L Darbyshire
- Pacific Northwest Region, USDA Forest Service , Portland, Oregon 97204-3440, United States
| | - Bernard T Bormann
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, College of the Environment, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Brett A Morrissette
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University , Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
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Gamby RL, Hammerschmidt CR, Costello DM, Lamborg CH, Runkle JR. Deforestation and cultivation mobilize mercury from topsoil. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 532:467-473. [PMID: 26100725 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Revised: 06/04/2015] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Terrestrial biomass and soils are a primary global reservoir of mercury (Hg) derived from natural and anthropogenic sources; however, relatively little is known about the fate and stability of Hg in the surface soil reservoir and its susceptibility to change as a result of deforestation and cultivation. In southwest Ohio, we measured Hg concentrations in soils of deciduous old- and new-growth forests, as well as fallow grassland and agricultural soils that had once been forested to examine how, over decadal to century time scales, man-made deforestation and cultivation influence Hg mobility from temperate surface soils. Mercury concentrations in surficial soils were significantly greater in the old-growth than new-growth forest, and both forest soils had greater Hg concentrations than cultivated and fallow fields. Differences in Hg:lead ratios between old-growth forest and agricultural topsoils suggest that about half of the Hg lost from deforested and cultivated Ohio soils may have been volatilized and the other half eroded. The estimated mobilization potential of Hg as a result of deforestation was 4.1 mg m(-2), which was proportional to mobilization potentials measured at multiple locations in the Amazon relative to concentrations in forested surface soils. Based on this relationship and an estimate of the global average of Hg concentrations in forested soils, we approximate that about 550 M mol of Hg has been mobilized globally from soil as a result of deforestation during the past two centuries. This estimate is comparable to, if not greater than, the amount of anthropogenic Hg hypothesized by others to have been sequestered by the soil reservoir since Industrialization. Our results suggest that deforestation and soil cultivation are significant anthropogenic processes that exacerbate Hg mobilization from soil and its cycling in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Gamby
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Dayton, OH 45435, United States.
| | - Chad R Hammerschmidt
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Dayton, OH 45435, United States.
| | - David M Costello
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, United States.
| | - Carl H Lamborg
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, United States; Department of Ocean Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, United States.
| | - James R Runkle
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Dayton, OH 45435, United States.
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Fostier AH, Melendez-Perez JJ, Richter L. Litter mercury deposition in the Amazonian rainforest. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2015; 206:605-10. [PMID: 26312742 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2015.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2015] [Revised: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 08/08/2015] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this work was to assess the flux of atmospheric mercury transferred to the soil of the Amazonian rainforest by litterfall. Calculations were based on a large survey of published and unpublished data on litterfall and Hg concentrations in litterfall samples from the Amazonian region. Litterfall based on 65 sites located in the Amazon rainforest averaged 8.15 ± 2.25 Mg ha(-1) y(-1). Average Hg concentrations were calculated from nine datasets for fresh tree leaves and ten datasets for litter, and a median concentration of 60.5 ng Hg g(-1) was considered for Hg deposition in litterfall, which averaged 49 ± 14 μg m(-2) yr(-1). This value was used to estimate that in the Amazonian rainforest, litterfall would be responsible for the annual removing of 268 ± 77 Mg of Hg, approximately 8% of the total atmospheric Hg deposition to land. The impact of the Amazon deforestation on the Hg biogeochemical cycle is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Hélène Fostier
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, UNICAMP, P.O. Box 6154, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
| | | | - Larissa Richter
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, UNICAMP, P.O. Box 6154, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil
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Buch AC, Correia MEF, Teixeira DC, Silva-Filho EV. Characterization of soil fauna under the influence of mercury atmospheric deposition in Atlantic Forest, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. J Environ Sci (China) 2015; 32:217-227. [PMID: 26040748 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2015.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2014] [Revised: 12/20/2014] [Accepted: 12/26/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The increasing levels of mercury (Hg) found in the atmosphere arising from anthropogenic sources, have been the object of great concern in the past two decades in industrialized countries. Brazil is the seventh country with the highest rate of mercury in the atmosphere. The major input of Hg to ecosystems is through atmospheric deposition (wet and dry), being transported in the atmosphere over large distances. The forest biomes are of strong importance in the atmosphere/soil cycling of elemental Hg through foliar uptake and subsequent transference to the soil through litter, playing an important role as sink of this element. Soil microarthropods are keys to understanding the soil ecosystem, and for such purpose were characterized by the soil fauna of two Units of Forest Conservation of the state of the Rio de Janeiro, inwhich one of the areas suffer quite interference from petrochemicals and industrial anthropogenic activities and other area almost exempts of these perturbations. The results showed that soil and litter of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil tend to stock high mercury concentrations, which could affect the abundance and richness of soil fauna, endangering its biodiversity and thereby the functioning of ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andressa Cristhy Buch
- Departamento de Geoquímica, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ 24020-007, Brazil.
| | | | - Daniel Cabral Teixeira
- Departamento de Geoquímica, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ 24020-007, Brazil
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Rolfhus KR, Wiener JG, Haro RJ, Sandheinrich MB, Bailey SW, Seitz BR. Mercury in streams at Grand Portage National Monument (Minnesota, USA): assessment of ecosystem sensitivity and ecological risk. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 514:192-201. [PMID: 25666279 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.01.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2014] [Revised: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/24/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) in water, sediment, soils, seston, and biota were quantified for three streams in the Grand Portage National Monument (GRPO) in far northeastern Minnesota to assess ecosystem contamination and the potential for harmful exposure of piscivorous fish, wildlife, and humans to methylmercury (MeHg). Concentrations of total Hg in water, sediment, and soil were typical of those in forest ecosystems within the region, whereas MeHg concentrations and percent MeHg in these ecosystem components were markedly higher than values reported elsewhere in the western Great Lakes Region. Soils and sediment were Hg-enriched, containing approximately 4-fold more total Hg per unit of organic matter. We hypothesized that localized Hg enrichment was due in part to anthropogenic pollution associated with historic fur-trading activity. Bottom-up forcing of bioaccumulation was evidenced by MeHg concentrations in larval dragonflies, which were near the maxima for dragonflies sampled concurrently from five other national park units in the region. Despite its semi-remote location, GRPO is a Hg-sensitive landscape in which MeHg is produced and bioaccumulated in aquatic food webs to concentrations that pose ecological risks to MeHg-sensitive piscivores, including predatory fish, belted kingfisher, and mink.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristofer R Rolfhus
- University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, River Studies Center, 1725 State Street, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA.
| | - James G Wiener
- University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, River Studies Center, 1725 State Street, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA.
| | - Roger J Haro
- University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, River Studies Center, 1725 State Street, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA.
| | - Mark B Sandheinrich
- University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, River Studies Center, 1725 State Street, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA.
| | - Sean W Bailey
- University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, River Studies Center, 1725 State Street, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA.
| | - Brandon R Seitz
- National Park Service, Grand Portage National Monument, P.O. Box 426, 170 Mile Creek Road, Grand Portage, MN 55605, USA.
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Hutnik RJ, McClenahen JR, Long RP, Davis DD. Mercury Accumulation inPinus nigra(Austrian Pine). Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2014. [DOI: 10.1656/045.021.0402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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48
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Yu X, Driscoll CT, Warby RAF, Montesdeoca M, Johnson CE. Soil mercury and its response to atmospheric mercury deposition across the northeastern United States. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2014; 24:812-822. [PMID: 24988778 DOI: 10.1890/13-0212.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Terrestrial soil is a large reservoir of atmospherically deposited mercury (Hg). However, few studies have evaluated the accumulation of Hg in terrestrial ecosystems in the northeastern United States, a region which is sensitive to atmospheric Hg deposition. We characterized Hg and organic matter in soil profiles from 139 sampling sites for five subregions across the northeastern United States and estimated atmospheric Hg deposition to these sites by combining numerical modeling with experimental data from the literature. We did not observe any significant relationships between current net atmospheric Hg deposition and soil Hg concentrations or pools, even though soils are a net sink for Hg inputs. Soil Hg appears to be preserved relative to organic carbon (OC) and/or nitrogen (N) in the soil matrix, as a significant negative relationship was observed between the ratios of Hg/OC and OC/N (r = 0.54, P < 0.0001) that shapes the horizonal distribution patterns. We estimated that atmospheric Hg deposition since 1850 (3.97 mg/m2) accounts for 102% of the Hg pool in the organic horizons (3.88 mg/m2) and 19% of the total soil Hg pool (21.32 mg/m2), except for the southern New England (SNE) subregion. The mean residence time for soil Hg was estimated to be 1800 years, except SNE which was 800 years. These patterns suggest that in addition to atmospheric deposition, the accumulation of soil Hg is linked to the mineral diagenetic and soil development processes in the region.
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49
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Gong P, Wang XP, Xue YG, Xu BQ, Yao TD. Mercury distribution in the foliage and soil profiles of the Tibetan forest: processes and implications for regional cycling. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2014; 188:94-101. [PMID: 24568793 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2014.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2013] [Revised: 01/23/2014] [Accepted: 01/25/2014] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Remote forests are considered a pool of Mercury (Hg) in the global Hg cycle. However, notably few studies have investigated the fate of Hg in the Tibetan forest. In this study, fifty-two foliage samples and seven litter/soil profiles were collected throughout the Tibetan forest. The concentrations of total Hg (THg) in foliage were positively correlated with longitude and negatively correlated with altitude, indicating that the emission of Hg is expected to decrease with increasing distance from emission sources to the Tibetan forest. The deposition flux of THg in the Tibetan forest (with an air-to-forest ground flux of 9.2 μg/m(2)/year) is ∼2 times the flux in clearings, which is suggestive of enhanced Hg deposition by the forest. The depositional Hg is eventually stored in the forest soil, and the soil acts as a net 'sink' for Hg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Gong
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environmental Changes and Land Surface Process, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xiao-ping Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environmental Changes and Land Surface Process, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Yong-gang Xue
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environmental Changes and Land Surface Process, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100101, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bai-qing Xu
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environmental Changes and Land Surface Process, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Tan-dong Yao
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environmental Changes and Land Surface Process, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100101, China
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50
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Lynam MM, Dvonch JT, Hall NL, Morishita M, Barres JA. Spatial patterns in wet and dry deposition of atmospheric mercury and trace elements in central Illinois, USA. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 21:4032-4043. [PMID: 23943079 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-013-2011-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2013] [Accepted: 07/12/2013] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
An intensive 1-month atmospheric sampling campaign was conducted concurrently at eight monitoring sites in central Illinois, USA, from June 9 to July 3, 2011 to assess spatial patterns in wet and dry deposition of mercury and other trace elements. Summed wet deposition of mercury ranged from 3.1 to 5.4 μg/m(2) across sites for the total study period, while summed dry deposition of reactive mercury (gaseous oxidized mercury plus particulate bound mercury) ranged from 0.7 to 1.6 μg/m(2), with no statistically significant differences found spatially between northern and southern sites. Ratios of summed wet to summed dry mercury deposition across sites ranged from 2.2 to 4.9 indicating that wet deposition of mercury was dominant during the study period. Volume-weighted mean mercury concentrations in precipitation were found to be significantly higher at northern sites, while precipitation depth was significantly higher at southern sites. These results showed that substantial amounts of mercury deposition, especially wet deposition, occurred during the study period relative to typical annual wet deposition levels. Summed wet deposition of anthropogenic trace elements was much higher, compared to summed dry deposition, for sulfur, selenium, and copper, while at some sites summed dry deposition dominated summed wet deposition for lead and zinc. This study highlights that while wet deposition of Hg was dominant during this spring/summer-season study, Hg dry deposition also contributed an important fraction and should be considered for implementation in future Hg deposition monitoring studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary M Lynam
- University of Michigan Air Quality Laboratory, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,
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