1
|
Aslam MW, Meng B, Ali W, Abrar MM, Abdelhafiz MA, Feng X. Low mercury risks in paddy soils across the Pakistan. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 943:173879. [PMID: 38857798 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173879] [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: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a globally distributed heavy metal. Here, we study Hg concentration and isotopic composition to understand the status of Hg pollution and its sources in Pakistan's paddy soil. The collected paddy soils (n = 500) across the country have an average THg concentration of 22.30 ± 21.74 ng/g. This low mean concentration suggests Hg pollution in Pakistan was not as severe as previously thought. Meanwhile, samples collected near brick kilns and industrial areas were significantly higher in THg than others, suggesting the influence of Hg emitted from point sources in certain areas. Soil physicochemical properties showed typical characteristic of mineral soils due to the study area's arid to semi-arid climate. Hg stable isotopes analysis, depicted mean Δ199Hg of -0.05 ± 0.12‰ and mean δ202Hg -0.45 ± 0.35‰, respectively, for contaminated sites, depicting Hg was primarily sourced from coal combustion by local anthropogenic sources. While uncontaminated sites show mean Δ199Hg of 0.15 ± 0.08‰, mean Δ200Hg of 0.06 ± 0.07‰ and mean δ202Hg of -0.32 ± 0.28‰, implying long-range transboundry Hg transport through wet Hg(II) deposition as a dominant Hg source. This study fills a significant knowledge gap regarding the Hg pollution status in Pakistan and suggests that the Hg risk in Pakistan paddies is generally low.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Wajahat Aslam
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, PR China
| | - Bo Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, PR China.
| | - Waqar Ali
- Department of Ecological Sciences and Engineering, College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, PR China
| | - Muhammad Mohsin Abrar
- College of Resources and Environment, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, 510225 Guangzhou, China; Engineering and Technology Research Center for Agricultural Land Pollution and Integrated Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mahmoud A Abdelhafiz
- Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Curtis CJ, Rose NL, Yang H, Turner S, Langerman K, Fitchett J, Milner A, Kabba A, Shilland J. Contamination of depressional wetlands in the Mpumalanga Lake District of South Africa near a global emission hotspot. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 938:173493. [PMID: 38796003 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
The Mpumalanga Lake District (MLD) of South Africa hosts a regionally unique cluster of water bodies of great importance for wetland biodiversity. It is also located close to a global hotspot for coal-fired power station emissions but the local impacts from these sources of pollution are poorly understood. Sediment cores from three contrasting wetlands were 210Pb dated and analysed for a range of contaminants linked to fossil fuel combustion, including trace elements, Hg, sulphur and spheroidal carbonaceous fly-ash particles (SCPs). At the two sites with pre-industrial (1900) baseline sediments, Pb, Zn and especially Cr concentrations and fluxes showed significant increases in the impact period (post-1975). Mercury showed the greatest proportional increase in flux (>4-fold) of all trace metals. Mercury and sulphur concentrations and fluxes showed highly significant correlations with emissions over the corresponding periods, while SCPs in sediments also closely tracked emissions. In a global context, levels of sediment contamination are relatively minor compared with other heavily industrialised regions, with only Cr exceeding the sediment Probable Effects Concentration for biological impact post-1975. Despite the relatively large increases in Hg, concentrations do not reach the Threshold Effects Concentration. The unexpectedly low levels of contamination may be due to i) low levels of many trace contaminants in South African coals compared to global averages, ii) prevailing recirculation patterns which transport pollution away from the study area during the wet season, minimising wet deposition, and iii) pollutant remobilisation through desiccation of wetlands or volatilization. The effects of hydrology and sediment accumulation rates lead to differential transport and preservation of organic-associated and more volatile contaminants (e.g. Hg, S) relative to non-volatile trace elements in wetlands of the MLD. The greatest fluxes of Hg and S are recorded in the site with the highest catchment: lake area ratio, lowest salinity and greatest sediment organic matter content.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C J Curtis
- Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, 2006 Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - N L Rose
- Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, 2006 Johannesburg, South Africa; Environmental Change Research Centre, Department of Geography, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - H Yang
- Environmental Change Research Centre, Department of Geography, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - S Turner
- Environmental Change Research Centre, Department of Geography, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - K Langerman
- Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, 2006 Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - J Fitchett
- School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, 1 Jan Smuts Avenue, Braamfontein 2050, South Africa
| | - A Milner
- Department of Geography, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK
| | - A Kabba
- Environmental Change Research Centre, Department of Geography, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - J Shilland
- Environmental Change Research Centre, Department of Geography, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Liu X, Wang X, Wang D. Assessment of tree-ring mercury radial translocation and age effect in Masson pine: Implications for historical atmospheric mercury reconstruction. J Environ Sci (China) 2024; 138:266-276. [PMID: 38135394 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2022.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The tree ring has been regarded as an emerging archive to reconstruct historical atmospheric mercury (Hg) trends, but with the large knowledge gaps in the reliability. In this study, we comprehensively evaluated the Hg source, radial translocation and age effect of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) tree ring at Mt. Jinyun in Chongqing, to assess the suitability of such tree ring as the archive of atmospheric Hg. Results showed that distinct variabilities among Masson pine tree-ring Hg concentration profiles. The Hg concentration significantly increased along with stem height (P < 0.05), indicating the Hg in tree rings mainly derived from foliage uptake atmospheric Hg. We found a distinct age effect that the tree ring of young trees had the higher Hg concentration. Besides, we used the advection-diffusion model to demonstrate how Hg concentration shifted by the advection or/and diffusion in tree rings. The modeling results showed that the advection induced radial translocation during the young growth period of tree was a plausible mechanism to result in the tree-ring Hg record largely different from the trend of anthropogenic Hg emissions in Chongqing. We finally suggest that in further Hg dendrochemistry, better discarding the tree-ring Hg profile of the young growth period to reduce impacts of the radial translocation and age effect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xu Liu
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Dingyong Wang
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dórea JG, Monteiro LC, Elias Bernardi JV, Fernandes IO, Barbosa Oliveira SF, Rudrigues de Souza JP, Sarmento Rodrigues YO, Galli Vieira LC, Rodrigues de Souza J. Land use impact on mercury in sediments and macrophytes from a natural lake in the Brazilian savanna. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 337:122414. [PMID: 37598931 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Freshwater ecosystems are essential to human and wildlife survival. They harbor a wide biodiversity that contributes to ecosystem services. In the ecosystem of the Brazilian Savanna, anthropic activities related to environmental pollution that includes mercury (Hg) is of concern. We studied total mercury concentrations ([THg]) in bottom sediments and macrophytes to assess its short-term (2012 and 2019) impact on a natural lake. Temporal changes in [Hg] were assessed with the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and the sediment quality guidelines (SQG). The land use index (LUI) was used to assess differences in anthropogenic activities and the Normalized Difference Aquatic Vegetation Index (NDAVI) was used to assess macrophyte biomass density. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was used to assess Hg accumulation in macrophytes relative to sediments. The LUI showed an increase in the intensity of agricultural activities in the vicinities of the lake. The NDAVI indicated an increase in the density of macrophytes in the evaluated period. The Igeo indicated that in all sampling sites, pollution levels in sediments increased in 2019 (Igeo > 0), with concentrations exceeding the SQG in 2019. In 2012, [THg] in sediments ranged from 20.7 to 74.6 ng g-1, and in 2019 they ranged from 129.1 to 318.2 ng g-1. In macrophytes, [THg] ranged from 14.0 to 42.1 ng g-1 in 2012, to 53.0 and 175.3 ng g-1 in 2019. [THg] in bottom sediments and macrophytes were significantly higher in the second collection period (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in BAF values between the periods and no significant bioaccumulation in macrophytes (BAF <1). Our results demonstrated that the macrophytes are not sensitive indicators of Hg pollution in lentic environments of the Brazilian Savanna; however, the increased land use intensity (agriculture, automotive traffic, and urban infrastructure) could increase Hg accumulation in sediments and macrophytes in a short time interval.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José G Dórea
- Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil.
| | - Lucas Cabrera Monteiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil; Laboratório de Geoestatística e Geodésia, Faculdade UnB Planaltina, Universidade de Brasília, Planaltina, DF, 73345-010, Brazil; Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisas Ambientais e Limnológicas, Faculdade UnB Planaltina, Universidade de Brasília, Planaltina, DF, 73345-010, Brazil.
| | - José Vicente Elias Bernardi
- Laboratório de Geoestatística e Geodésia, Faculdade UnB Planaltina, Universidade de Brasília, Planaltina, DF, 73345-010, Brazil.
| | - Iara Oliveira Fernandes
- Laboratório de Geoestatística e Geodésia, Faculdade UnB Planaltina, Universidade de Brasília, Planaltina, DF, 73345-010, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Faculdade UnB Planaltina, Universidade de Brasília, Planaltina, DF, 73345-010, Brazil.
| | - Sandy Flora Barbosa Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Faculdade UnB Planaltina, Universidade de Brasília, Planaltina, DF, 73345-010, Brazil.
| | - João Pedro Rudrigues de Souza
- Laboratório de Química Analítica e Ambiental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, 70919-970, Brazil.
| | - Ygor Oliveira Sarmento Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Geoestatística e Geodésia, Faculdade UnB Planaltina, Universidade de Brasília, Planaltina, DF, 73345-010, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Faculdade UnB Planaltina, Universidade de Brasília, Planaltina, DF, 73345-010, Brazil.
| | - Ludgero Cardoso Galli Vieira
- Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisas Ambientais e Limnológicas, Faculdade UnB Planaltina, Universidade de Brasília, Planaltina, DF, 73345-010, Brazil.
| | - Jurandir Rodrigues de Souza
- Laboratório de Química Analítica e Ambiental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, 70919-970, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Gomes PR, Pestana IA, de Almeida MG, de Rezende CE. The Paraíba do Sul River Basin and its coastal area as a study model of the mercury cycle: A meta-analytical review of three decades of research. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 460:132442. [PMID: 37683351 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
The Paraíba do Sul River (PSR) Basin is a crucial drainage basin in Southeast Brazil, being the most industrialized and densely populated region in the country. Over the last three decades, the basin has been the subject of numerous studies due to its long history of mercury (Hg) contamination. This makes the PSR Basin an excellent model to evaluate Hg cycling, which is a priority for signatory countries of the Minamata Convention, which includes Brazil. This review compiled data on Hg from five environmental compartments (animals, plants, sediment, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and water), three different sectors (upper, middle, and lower) and five different ecosystems (reservoir, mangrove, fluvial, estuarine, and coastal) from 60 published studies, aiming to understand the Hg cycling through meta-analyses. The highest concentrations of Hg were observed in the upper and middle sectors of the basin, which are areas with high industrialization and urbanization levels. Among the evaluated ecosystems, hydropower reservoirs showed the highest medians and were also frequent in the upper and middle portions of the PSR basin. Over the years, all environmental compartments showed a decline in Hg concentrations due to the implementation of federal and state environmental policies. The main source of Hg for the basin was Hg-rich soils from past activities (such as artisanal small-scale gold mining and the use of organomercurial fungicides in sugarcane plantations). These results can assist decision-makers in the management of the basin's ecosystems and can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing the Minamata Convention in the region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philipe Ribeiro Gomes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 - Parque Califórnia - CEP: 28013-602, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Inácio Abreu Pestana
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 - Parque Califórnia - CEP: 28013-602, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Gomes de Almeida
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 - Parque Califórnia - CEP: 28013-602, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carlos Eduardo de Rezende
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 - Parque Califórnia - CEP: 28013-602, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Yang H, Macario-González L, Cohuo S, Whitmore TJ, Salgado J, Peréz L, Schwalb A, Rose NL, Holmes J, Riedinger-Whitmore MA, Hoelzmann P, O’Dea A. Mercury Pollution History in Tropical and Subtropical American Lakes: Multiple Impacts and the Possible Relationship with Climate Change. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:3680-3690. [PMID: 36802450 PMCID: PMC9996825 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c09870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Sediment cores obtained from 11 tropical and subtropical American lakes revealed that local human activities significantly increased mercury (Hg) inputs and pollution levels. Remote lakes also have been contaminated by anthropogenic Hg through atmospheric depositions. Long-term sediment-core profiles revealed an approximately 3-fold increase in Hg fluxes to sediments from c. 1850 to 2000. Generalized additive models indicate that c. 3-fold increases in Hg fluxes also occurred since 2000 in the remote sites, while Hg emissions from anthropogenic sources have remained relatively stable. The tropical and subtropical Americas are vulnerable to extreme weather events. Air temperatures in this region have shown a marked increase since the 1990s, and extreme weather events arising from climate change have increased. When comparing Hg fluxes to recent (1950-2016) climatic changes, results show marked increases in Hg fluxes to sediments during dry periods. The Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) time series indicate a tendency toward more extreme drier conditions across the study region since the mid-1990s, suggesting that instabilities in catchment surfaces caused by climate change are responsible for the elevated Hg flux rates. Drier conditions since c. 2000 appear to be promoting Hg fluxes from catchments to lakes, a process that will likely be exacerbated under future climate-change scenarios.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Handong Yang
- Environmental
Change Research Centre, University College
London, Gower Street, London WC1E
6BT, U.K.
| | - Laura Macario-González
- Institut
für Geosysteme und Bioindikation, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany
- Tecnológico
Nacional de México−I. T. de la Zona Maya, Carretera Chetumal-Escárcega
Km 21.5, Ejido Juan Sarabia, 77965 Juan Sarabia, Quintana
Roo, Mexico
| | - Sergio Cohuo
- Institut
für Geosysteme und Bioindikation, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany
- Tecnológico
Nacional de México−I. T. Chetumal, Av. Insurgentes 330, Chetumal 77013, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | - Thomas J. Whitmore
- University
of South Florida, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701, United States
| | - Jorge Salgado
- Environmental
Change Research Centre, University College
London, Gower Street, London WC1E
6BT, U.K.
- Programa
de Ingeniería Civil, Grupo de Infraestructura y Desarrollo
Sostenible, Universidad Católica
de Colombia, Bogotá 111311, Colombia
- School
of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
- Smithsonian
Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 0843-03092, Balboa 0843-03092, Panama
| | - Liseth Peréz
- Institut
für Geosysteme und Bioindikation, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Antje Schwalb
- Institut
für Geosysteme und Bioindikation, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Neil L. Rose
- Environmental
Change Research Centre, University College
London, Gower Street, London WC1E
6BT, U.K.
| | - Jonathan Holmes
- Environmental
Change Research Centre, University College
London, Gower Street, London WC1E
6BT, U.K.
| | | | - Philipp Hoelzmann
- Institut
für Geographische Wissenschaften, Freie Universität Berlin, Malteser Strasse 74-100, D-12249 Berlin, Germany
| | - Aaron O’Dea
- Smithsonian
Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 0843-03092, Balboa 0843-03092, Panama
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Peng H, Rong Y, Chen D, Sun R, Huang J, Ding H, Olid C, Yan H. Anthropogenic activity and millennial climate variability affect Holocene mercury deposition of an alpine wetland near the largest mercury mine in China. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 316:137855. [PMID: 36642145 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137855] [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: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a potentially toxic element that can be transported globally through the atmosphere, once deposited in the environment, has strong bioaccumulation and extreme toxicity in food webs, especially in wetland ecosystems. Anthropogenic Hg emissions have enhanced Hg deposition by 3-5 times since the industrial revolution, and the mining and smelting of Hg ore are important emission sources. However, the dynamics in Hg deposition around the largest Hg mine in China before the industrial revolution and their driving forces remain poorly explored. Here we reconstruct the atmospheric Hg depositional fluxes (named here Hg influx (Hginflux)) during the Holocene using a 450-cm alpine wetland sediment core taken from the Jiulongchi wetland, which is only 65 km to the Wanshan Mercury Mine. Our record shows an abrupt rapid increase in Hg concentration since 2500 cal yr BP, suggesting that Hg mining in southwest China may have started before the establishment of the Qin dynasty. Two major Hginflux peaks were found during the periods 10,000-6000 and 6000 - 3800 cal yr BP, with an increase in Hg deposition by a factor of 4-8. These two peaks are also found in other terrestrial archives from several sites across the Northern Hemisphere. We speculate that critical millennial-scale climate changes, i.e., the Holocene Climatic Optimum (HCO) and the Mid-Holocene Transition (MHT), were the potential triggers of these two Hginflux peaks. This study highlights the importance of climatic variability and local Hg mining in controlling atmospheric Hg deposition during the Holocene.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haijun Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, Xi'an, 710061, China.
| | - Yimeng Rong
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Di Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ruiyang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jie Huang
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Hanwei Ding
- 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
| | - Carolina Olid
- UB-Geomodels Research Institute, Departament de Dinàmica de la Terra i l'Oceà, Facultat de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Haiyu Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Laske SM, Burke SM, Carey MP, Swanson HK, Zimmerman CE. Investigating effects of climate-induced changes in water temperature and diet on mercury concentrations in an Arctic freshwater forage fish. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 218:114851. [PMID: 36414108 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114851] [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: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The amount of mercury (Hg) in Arctic lake food webs is, and will continue to be, affected by rapid, ongoing climate change. At warmer temperatures, fish require more energy to sustain growth; changes in their metabolic rates and consuming prey with potentially higher Hg concentrations could result in increased Hg accumulation. To examine the potential implications of climate warming on forage fish Hg accumulation in Arctic lakes, we quantified growth and Hg accumulation in Ninespine Stickleback Pungitius pungitius under different temperature and diet scenarios using bioenergetics models. Four scenarios were considered that examined the role of climate, diet, climate × diet, and climate × diet × elevated prey Hg. As expected, annual fish growth increased with warmer temperatures, but growth rates and Hg accumulation were largely diet dependent. Compared to current growth rates of 0.3 g⋅y-1, fish growth increased at least 200% for fish consuming energy-dense benthic prey and decreased at least 40% for fish consuming pelagic prey. Compared to baseline levels, the Hg burden per kilocalorie of Ninespine Stickleback declined up to 43% with benthic consumption - indicating strong somatic growth dilution - but no more than 4% with pelagic consumption; elevated prey Hg concentrations led to moderate Hg declines in benthic-foraging fish and Hg increases in pelagic-foraging fish. Bioenergetics models demonstrated the complex interaction of water temperature, growth, prey proportions, and prey Hg concentrations that respond to climate change. Further work is needed to resolve mechanisms and rates linking climate change to Hg availability and uptake in Arctic freshwater systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Laske
- U. S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK, USA.
| | - Samantha M Burke
- Department of Biology and Water Institute, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael P Carey
- U. S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | - Heidi K Swanson
- Department of Biology and Water Institute, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Neupane B, Bao K, Chen M, Thapa P, Meadows ME. The timing and magnitude of anthropogenic mercury pollution: A 200-year record from multi-lake sediment cores in northeast China. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 309:136803. [PMID: 36223823 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The recent substantial expansion of human activities in northeast (NE) China has resulted in increased emission of environmental pollutants. Longer-term records of such environmental pollutants provide a benchmark against which it is possible to evaluate the nature, extent and timing of anthropogenic environmental changes. Based on measurements of mercury (Hg) concentrations and accumulation rates in 11 lake sediment cores from the Songnen Plain in NE China, we here present a reconstruction of the historical deposition of Hg as an indicator of the changing scale of human impact. The results demonstrate an increasing trend of Hg concentration, concurrent with elevated anthropogenic emissions, beginning from the early 1900s, accelerating through the mid-1950s and slightly decreasing from the late 1990s onwards. The increase in anthropogenic Hg coincides with the reform and opening up of China, which precipitated social and economic transformation, and rapid industrial and economic growth. Measurements of the Hg enrichment factor in all the cores enables identification of the anthropogenic contribution to Hg accumulation. The geoaccumulation index indicates that the lakes are in general moderately polluted by Hg. The historical trend of Hg accumulation rate parallels the temporal progression of biomass burning and fossil fuel consumption in the region. The findings elucidate the extent of anthropogenic pollution in the Anthropocene and underline the importance of identifying Hg sources to reduce emissions and guide the implementation of effective mitigation strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bigyan Neupane
- School of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China; Institute of Fundamental Research and Studies (InFeRS), Kathmandu, 44600, Nepal
| | - Kunshan Bao
- School of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.
| | - Minqi Chen
- School of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Poonam Thapa
- Xiaoliang Research Station of Tropical Coastal Ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China
| | - Michael E Meadows
- School of Geography and Ocean Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China; Department of Environmental & Geographical Science, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Taylor VF, Landis JD, Janssen SE. Tracing the sources and depositional history of mercury to coastal northeastern U.S. lakes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2022; 24:1805-1820. [PMID: 36065894 DOI: 10.1039/d2em00214k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) deposition was reconstructed in sediment cores from lakes in two coastal U.S. National Parks: Acadia National Park (ANP) and Cape Cod National Seashore (CCNS), to fill an important spatial gap in Hg deposition records and to explore changing sources of Hg and processes affecting Hg accumulation in these coastal sites. Recent Hg deposition chronology was assessed using (1) a newly developed lead-210 (210Pb) based sediment age model which employs 7Be to constrain deposition and sediment mixing of 210Pb-excess, (2) coinciding Pb flux and isotope ratios (206Pb/207Pb), and (3) Hg isotope ratios and their response to changes in Hg flux. At both sites, Hg flux increased substantially from pre-1850 levels, with accumulation in ANP peaking in the 1970s, whereas in CCNS, Hg levels were highest in recent sediments. Negative values of δ202Hg and Δ199Hg indicated terrestrially-derived Hg was a major constituent of Hg flux to Sargent Mountain Pond, ANP, although recent decreases in Hg flux were in agreement with precipitation Hg records, indicating a rapid watershed response. By contrast, δ202Hg and Δ199Hg profiles in Long Pond, CNNS reflect direct Hg deposition, but disturbances in the sedimentary record were indicated by bomb fallout radionuclide inventories and by peaks in both Pb and Hg isotope depth profiles. These cores provided poor reconstructions of atmospheric deposition and reveal responses that are decoupled from emissions reduction due to complex post-depositional redistribution of atmospheric metals including Hg. The application of multiple tracers of Hg deposition provide insight into the sources and pathways governing Hg accumulation in these lakes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vivien F Taylor
- Department of Earth Science, 6105 Fairchild Hall, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
| | - Joshua D Landis
- Department of Earth Science, 6105 Fairchild Hall, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
| | - Sarah E Janssen
- U.S. Geological Survey Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Mercury Research Lab, 1 Gifford Pinchot Dr, Madison, WI 53726, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Wang W, Wang Y, Li Y, Song Y, Liu G, Yin Y, Cai Y. Effects of physical disturbance of sediment on the cycling of mercury in coastal regions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156298. [PMID: 35660443 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156298] [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: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant of health concern due to formation and bioaccumulation of methylmercury (MeHg) during its biogeochemical cycle. Coastal areas are important regions in the biogeochemical cycling of Hg (Liu et al., 2017), where often-occurring natural and anthropogenic perturbations affect Hg transport and transformation and the associated health risk from Hg. The rapidly growing mariculture associated with the rising global demand for food may have a profound effect on coastal Hg cycling, due to the environmental alterations (e.g., resuspension and sedimentation) caused by maricultural activities (e.g., bottom sowing and harvesting). Through simulating the effect of water scouring, a common harvesting method, this study investigated Hg migration and distribution in particulate and dissolved phases in Laizhou Bay of Bohai Sea, China, where mariculture exists extensively. Particulate total and methyl Hg (PTHg and PMeHg) in water (expressed as ng/L) increased sharply due to the resuspension of sediment, but decreased rapidly after a one-off scouring event. When normalized by particle mass, PTHg and PMeHg (ng/g) in suspended sediment particles were significantly higher than that in the initial sediment, suggesting a higher distribution coefficient and higher affinity to bind Hg in the suspended particles. This may be due to the smaller particle sizes, and higher contents of organic matter and Fe/Mn of suspended sediments compared to the initial sediment. While the concentrations of dissolved THg (DTHg) in water column showed minimum changes or decreased, dissolved MeHg (DMeHg) concentrations increased sharply after the perturbation, due to the possible release of MeHg from porewater and potential Hg methylation during the event. These results provide fundamental information needed for ecological and health risk assessment of Hg in mariculture, and highlights the increased mobility and bioaccumulation of MeHg during anthropogenic perturbations in these areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenjie Wang
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yingjun Wang
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China.
| | - Yanbin Li
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China.
| | - Yue Song
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Guangliang Liu
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States
| | - Yongguang Yin
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yong Cai
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China; Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Liang M, Liu E, Wang X, Zhang Q, Xu J, Ji M, Zhang E. Historical trends in atmospheric metal(loid) contamination in North China over the past half-millennium reconstructed from subalpine lake sediment. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 304:119195. [PMID: 35339617 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Trace metal (loid) contamination in the atmosphere is widely monitored, but there is a gap in understanding its long-term patterns, especially in North China, which is currently a global contamination hotspot mainly caused by heavy industry emissions and coal combustion. Herein, historical trends of atmospheric As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn contamination in North China over the past ∼500 years are comparatively studied with sediment cores from two subalpine lakes (Gonghai and Muhai). Arsenic, Pb, Cd and Hg were main pollutants according to Pb isotopes and enrichment factors. Mercury contamination has increased continuously since the late 1800s and increasing As, Pb and Cd contamination started in the 1950s in Gonghai. In contrast, the contamination in Muhai lagged two decades for As, Cd and Pb and a half-century for Hg behind that in Gonghai, although the trends were similar. This contamination lag was attributed to the low sensitivity of Muhai sediment to early weak atmospheric metal contamination under 2.1-fold higher detrital sedimentation. As, Pb and Cd contamination has intensified since the 1980s, and the metals showed similar sedimentary fluxes in the cores. However, sedimentary fluxes of Hg contamination were 3.4-fold higher in Gonghai than in Muhai due to combination with organic matter. No obvious Cr, Cu and Ni contamination in the cores was mainly because of the low atmospheric deposition from anthropogenic sources relative to detrital input, although some of their atmospheric emissions were higher than those of As, Cd and Hg. Atmospheric As, Pb and Cd contamination was mainly from domestic sources of coal combustion and nonferrous smelting. Mercury contamination was mainly from global and Asian sources in the first half of the 20th century, and domestic emissions gradually dominated Hg contamination after the mid-1900s.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengyao Liang
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Ji'nan, 250358, PR China; College of Marine Geosciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, PR China
| | - Enfeng Liu
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Ji'nan, 250358, PR China.
| | - Xiaoyu Wang
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Ji'nan, 250358, PR China
| | - Qinghui Zhang
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Ji'nan, 250358, PR China
| | - Jinling Xu
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Ji'nan, 250358, PR China
| | - Ming Ji
- School of Chemistry, Biology and Environment, Yuxi Normal University, Yuxi, 653100, PR China
| | - Enlou Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Chételat J, McKinney MA, Amyot M, Dastoor A, Douglas TA, Heimbürger-Boavida LE, Kirk J, Kahilainen KK, Outridge PM, Pelletier N, Skov H, St Pierre K, Vuorenmaa J, Wang F. Climate change and mercury in the Arctic: Abiotic interactions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 824:153715. [PMID: 35149079 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Dramatic environmental shifts are occuring throughout the Arctic from climate change, with consequences for the cycling of mercury (Hg). This review summarizes the latest science on how climate change is influencing Hg transport and biogeochemical cycling in Arctic terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. As environmental changes in the Arctic continue to accelerate, a clearer picture is emerging of the profound shifts in the climate and cryosphere, and their connections to Hg cycling. Modeling results suggest climate influences seasonal and interannual variability of atmospheric Hg deposition. The clearest evidence of current climate change effects is for Hg transport from terrestrial catchments, where widespread permafrost thaw, glacier melt and coastal erosion are increasing the export of Hg to downstream environments. Recent estimates suggest Arctic permafrost is a large global reservoir of Hg, which is vulnerable to degradation with climate warming, although the fate of permafrost soil Hg is unclear. The increasing development of thermokarst features, the formation and expansion of thaw lakes, and increased soil erosion in terrestrial landscapes are increasing river transport of particulate-bound Hg and altering conditions for aquatic Hg transformations. Greater organic matter transport may also be influencing the downstream transport and fate of Hg. More severe and frequent wildfires within the Arctic and across boreal regions may be contributing to the atmospheric pool of Hg. Climate change influences on Hg biogeochemical cycling remain poorly understood. Seasonal evasion and retention of inorganic Hg may be altered by reduced sea-ice cover and higher chloride content in snow. Experimental evidence indicates warmer temperatures enhance methylmercury production in ocean and lake sediments as well as in tundra soils. Improved geographic coverage of measurements and modeling approaches are needed to better evaluate net effects of climate change and long-term implications for Hg contamination in the Arctic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John Chételat
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada.
| | - Melissa A McKinney
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Marc Amyot
- Groupe de recherche interuniversitaire en limnologie (GRIL), Département de sciences biologiques, Complexe des Sciences, Montréal, QC H2V 0B3, Canada
| | - Ashu Dastoor
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Air Quality Research Division, Dorval, QC H9P 1J3, Canada
| | - Thomas A Douglas
- U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Fort Wainwright, AK 99709, USA
| | - Lars-Eric Heimbürger-Boavida
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS/INSU, Université de Toulon, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) UM 110, Marseille, France
| | - Jane Kirk
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Burlington, ON L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Kimmo K Kahilainen
- Lammi Biological Station, University of Helsinki, Pääjärventie 320, FI-16900 Lammi, Finland
| | - Peter M Outridge
- Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0E8, Canada
| | - Nicolas Pelletier
- Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Henrik Skov
- Department of Environmental Science, iClimate, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Kyra St Pierre
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Jussi Vuorenmaa
- Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Feiyue Wang
- Centre for Earth Observation Sciences (CEOS), Dept. of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Roberts SL, Kirk JL, Muir DCG, Wiklund JA, Evans MS, Gleason A, Tam A, Drevnick PE, Dastoor A, Ryjkov A, Yang F, Wang X, Lawson G, Pilote M, Keating J, Barst BD, Ahad JME, Cooke CA. Quantification of Spatial and Temporal Trends in Atmospheric Mercury Deposition across Canada over the Past 30 Years. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:15766-15775. [PMID: 34792335 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a pollutant of concern across Canada and transboundary anthropogenic Hg sources presently account for over 95% of national anthropogenic Hg deposition. This study applies novel statistical analyses of 82 high-resolution dated lake sediment cores collected from 19 regions across Canada, including nearby point sources and in remote regions and spanning a full west-east geographical range of ∼4900 km (south of 60°N and between 132 and 64°W) to quantify the recent (1990-2018) spatial and temporal trends in anthropogenic atmospheric Hg deposition. Temporal trend analysis shows significant synchronous decreasing trends in post-1990 anthropogenic Hg fluxes in western Canada in contrast to increasing trends in the east, with spatial patterns largely driven by longitude and proximity to known point source(s). Recent sediment-derived Hg fluxes agreed well with the available wet deposition monitoring. Sediment-derived atmospheric Hg deposition rates also compared well to the modeled values derived from the Hg model, when lake sites located nearby (<100 km) point sources were omitted due to difficulties in comparison between the sediment-derived and modeled values at deposition "hot spots". This highlights the applicability of multi-core approaches to quantify spatio-temporal changes in Hg deposition over broad geographic ranges and assess the effectiveness of regional and global Hg emission reductions to address global Hg pollution concerns.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Roberts
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, Canada
| | - Jane L Kirk
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, Canada
| | - Derek C G Muir
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, Canada
| | - Johan A Wiklund
- Biology Department, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Marlene S Evans
- Watershed Hydrology and Ecology Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3H5, Canada
| | - Amber Gleason
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, Canada
| | - Allison Tam
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, Canada
| | - Paul E Drevnick
- Alberta Environment and Parks, 3535 Research Road NW, Calgary, Alberta T2L 2K8, Canada
- National Institute of Scientific Research, Centre Eau Terre Environment, 490 rue de la Couronne, Québec, Québec G1K 9A9, Canada
| | - Ashu Dastoor
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Québec H9P 1J3, Canada
| | - Andrei Ryjkov
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Québec H9P 1J3, Canada
| | - Fan Yang
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, Canada
| | - Xiaowa Wang
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, Canada
| | - Greg Lawson
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, Canada
| | - Martin Pilote
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Montréal, Québec H2Y 2E7, Canada
| | - Jonathan Keating
- Watershed Hydrology and Ecology Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3H5, Canada
| | - Benjamin D Barst
- National Institute of Scientific Research, Centre Eau Terre Environment, 490 rue de la Couronne, Québec, Québec G1K 9A9, Canada
- Water and Environment Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, United States
| | - Jason M E Ahad
- Geological Survey of Canada─Québec Division, Québec G1K 9A9, Canada
| | - Colin A Cooke
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada
- Alberta Environment and Parks, 9888 Jasper Ave, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 5C6, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Razavi NR, Halfman JD, Cushman SF, Massey T, Beutner R, Foust J, Gilman B, Cleckner LB. Mercury concentrations in fish and invertebrates of the Finger Lakes in central New York, USA. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2020; 29:1673-1685. [PMID: 31820166 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-019-02132-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Deleterious health effects in humans and wildlife are associated with the consumption of fish contaminated by mercury (Hg). This study was conducted to assess Hg concentrations in biota of the Finger Lakes (New York, USA), a region where fisheries are important for the economy but where no assessment of the drivers of food web Hg dynamics exists to date. Additionally, this region is of interest for the study of Hg bioaccumulation because of the importance of agricultural land cover, which can affect lake trophic status and thus the bioavailability of methyl Hg (MeHg). The study objectives were to (1) assess if fish Hg concentrations were of concern to humans and wildlife, (2) determine if differences in biota Hg concentrations exist among lakes, and (3) assess models developed for New York State as predictors of present day Finger Lakes fish Hg concentrations. Exploratory analyses were also conducted to assess predictors of fish Hg concentrations using lower trophic level MeHg concentrations, water quality, and lake and land cover characteristics. Fish concentrations were above the EPA criterion (300 ng/g wet weight, ww) in 24% of fish, but only Walleye (Sander vitreus) from Owasco Lake exceeded New York State Department of Health consumption guidelines (1000 ng/g ww). The threshold indicating biological changes within fish (500 ng/g ww) was exceeded in 11% of the individuals sampled. Significant differences were found among lakes for all fish species except Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides). Notably, Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) had significantly lower Hg concentrations in Cayuga Lake compared to other Finger Lakes. This trend was not mirrored in the lower food web, as benthic invertebrates had higher MeHg concentrations in Cayuga Lake. Using models developed for New York State in 2003-2005, observed concentrations in 90% of fish were different (±200 ng/g ww) than expected. Findings from this study suggest Hg dynamics in the Finger Lakes require consideration of fish age, growth rates, and food web structure to accurately predict fish Hg concentrations among lakes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N Roxanna Razavi
- Finger Lakes Institute, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY, 14556, USA.
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA.
| | - John D Halfman
- Finger Lakes Institute, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY, 14556, USA
- Department of Geoscience, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY, 14556, USA
- Environmental Studies Program, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY, 14556, USA
| | - Susan F Cushman
- Finger Lakes Institute, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY, 14556, USA
- Environmental Studies Program, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY, 14556, USA
- Department of Biology, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY, 14556, USA
| | - Trevor Massey
- Finger Lakes Institute, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY, 14556, USA
| | - Robert Beutner
- IT Services, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY, 14556, USA
| | - John Foust
- Environmental Conservation and Horticulture, Finger Lakes Community College, Canandaigua, NY, 14424, USA
| | - Bruce Gilman
- Environmental Conservation and Horticulture, Finger Lakes Community College, Canandaigua, NY, 14424, USA
| | - Lisa B Cleckner
- Finger Lakes Institute, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY, 14556, USA
- Environmental Studies Program, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY, 14556, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Chellman N, Csank A, Gustin MS, Arienzo MM, Vargas Estrada M, McConnell JR. Comparison of co-located ice-core and tree-ring mercury records indicates potential radial translocation of mercury in whitebark pine. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 743:140695. [PMID: 32679494 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140695] [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: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Tree-ring records are a potential archive for reconstructing long-term historical trends in atmospheric mercury (Hg) concentrations. Although Hg preserved in tree rings has been shown to be derived largely from the atmosphere, quantitative relationships linking atmospheric concentrations to those in tree rings are limited. In addition, few tree-ring-based Hg records have been evaluated against co-located proxies of atmospheric Hg deposition or direct atmospheric measurements. Here we develop long-term Hg records extending from 1800 to 2018 CE using cores collected from two stands of whitebark pine located near the Upper Fremont Glacier in the Wind River Range, Wyoming, where a long-term record of atmospheric Hg deposition previously was developed from an ice core. The tree ring record showed that Hg concentrations increased beginning in 1800 CE to a broad peak centered at ~1960 CE, before decreasing to present, generally paralleling the ice-core record of Hg deposition. The exact timing and magnitude of the Hg increases in the trees, however, is offset earlier relative to the ice-core record. These discrepancies potentially arise from biotic processes that impact Hg uptake and preservation in whitebark pine, and results from an advection-diffusion model indicate that the temporal differences are consistent with radial movement of Hg within the trees. The forms of atmospheric Hg and seasonality may also impact the Hg record preserved by each archive, but are less likely to affect long-term trends. Further work is needed to assess radial Hg translocation in more controlled studies with larger sample sizes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Chellman
- Desert Research Institute, Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Reno, NV 89512, United States; Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, United States.
| | - Adam Csank
- Department of Geography, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, United States
| | - Mae Sexauer Gustin
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, United States
| | - Monica M Arienzo
- Desert Research Institute, Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Reno, NV 89512, United States
| | - Margarita Vargas Estrada
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, United States
| | - Joseph R McConnell
- Desert Research Institute, Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Reno, NV 89512, United States
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Lepak RF, Janssen SE, Engstrom DR, Krabbenhoft DP, Tate MT, Yin R, Fitzgerald WF, Nagorski SA, Hurley JP. Resolving Atmospheric Mercury Loading and Source Trends from Isotopic Records of Remote North American Lake Sediments. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:9325-9333. [PMID: 32597170 PMCID: PMC7781044 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c00579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The strongest evidence for anthropogenic alterations to the global mercury (Hg) cycle comes from historical records of mercury deposition preserved in lake sediments. Hg isotopes have added a new dimension to these sedimentary archives, promising additional insights into Hg source apportionment and biogeochemical processing. Presently, most interpretations of historical changes are constrained to a small number of locally contaminated ecosystems. Here, we describe changes in natural Hg isotope records from a suite of dated sediment cores collected from various remote lakes of North America. In nearly all cases, the rise in industrial-use Hg is accompanied by an increase in δ202Hg and Δ199Hg values. These trends can be attributed to large-scale industrial emission of Hg into the atmosphere and are consistent with positive Δ199Hg values measured in modern-day precipitation and modeled increases in δ202Hg values from global emission inventories. Despite similar temporal trends among cores, the baseline isotopic values vary considerably among the different study regions, likely attributable to differences in the fractionation produced in situ as well as differing amounts of atmospherically delivered Hg. Differences among the study lakes in precipitation and watershed size provide an empirical framework for evaluating Hg isotopic signatures and global Hg cycling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan F. Lepak
- Environmental Chemistry and Technology Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 660 N. Park Street, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, USGS Mercury Research Laboratory, 8505 Research Way, Middleton, WI 53562, USA
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, USA
- corresponding author: Ryan Lepak, U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, USA –
| | - Sarah E. Janssen
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, USGS Mercury Research Laboratory, 8505 Research Way, Middleton, WI 53562, USA
| | - Daniel R. Engstrom
- St. Croix Watershed Research Station, Science Museum of Minnesota, 16910 152nd St. N., Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047, USA
| | - David P. Krabbenhoft
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, USGS Mercury Research Laboratory, 8505 Research Way, Middleton, WI 53562, USA
| | - Michael T. Tate
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, USGS Mercury Research Laboratory, 8505 Research Way, Middleton, WI 53562, USA
| | - Runsheng Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Lincheng West Road, Guanshanhu District, Guiyang, Guizhou 550081, China
| | | | - Sonia A. Nagorski
- University of Alaska Southeast, Department of Natural Sciences, Juneau, AK 99801, USA
| | - James P. Hurley
- Environmental Chemistry and Technology Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 660 N. Park Street, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- University of Wisconsin Aquatic Sciences Center, 1975 Willow Dr., Madison, WI 53706, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Historical Evolution of Sources and Pollution Levels of Heavy Metals in the Sediment of the Shuanglong Reservoir, China. WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12071855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the concentrations of seven heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Hg, and Pb) and Pb isotope in a sediment core from the Shuanglong reservoir, Southwestern China, were investigated. Based on the constant rate of supply (CRS) model, the age span of a 60 cm sediment sample was determined to range from the years 1944 to 2015. Combined with chronology and heavy metal content, the evolution of the sources and pollution levels of heavy metals showed a changing trend composed of various stages. The sources of heavy metals transitioned from natural origins in 1944–1964 to industrial origins in 1965–2004. The subsequent reduction in heavy metal content was mainly due to the vigorous implementation of environmental protection policies from 2005 to 2012. In recent years (2013–2015), the heavy metal content has increased due to frequent human activity. Principal component analysis (PCA), correlation analysis, and the coefficient of variation (CV) analysis indicated that Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and As were derived from natural processes, Pb mainly came from automobile manufacturing, and Hg was mainly from industrial sources. The values of the geo-accumulation index (Ig), single pollution index (Pi), and single potential ecological risk index (Er) showed that the contamination of Hg and Pb was slight to moderate. Moreover, the values of the potential ecological risk index (RI), pollution load index (PLI), and Nemerow index (PN) indicated that the Shuanglong reservoir is under low ecological risk.
Collapse
|
19
|
Peng D, Liu Z, Su X, Xiao Y, Wang Y, Middleton BA, Lei T. Spatial distribution of heavy metals in the West Dongting Lake floodplain, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2020; 22:1256-1265. [PMID: 32236176 DOI: 10.1039/c9em00536f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The protection of Dongting Lake is important because it is an overwintering and migration route for many rare and endangered birds of East Asia and Australasia, but an assessment of heavy metal contamination in West Dongting Lake is lacking. A total of 75 sediment samples (five sites × three sediment depths) were collected in West Dongting Lake in January 2017 to assess the spatial distribution and ecological risk of heavy metals in West Dongting Lake. Heavy metal values varied by sediment depth including As, Cd, Zn, and Cu, with the depth giving an indication of recent vs. historical deposition. The major input of Hg, Cu, and Ni may come from continued anthropogenic activities related to regional industrial activities within the Yuan River and Li River, whereas the major sources of Cd pollution may be from agricultural fertilizers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dong Peng
- Beijing Forestry, School of Nature Conservation, 35 Tsinghua East Road, Haidian Distinct, Beijing 100083, P.R. China. and Beijing Forestry, School of Nature Conservation, P.R. China.
| | - Ziyu Liu
- Beijing Forestry, School of Nature Conservation, 35 Tsinghua East Road, Haidian Distinct, Beijing 100083, P.R. China.
| | - Xinyue Su
- Beijing Forestry, School of Nature Conservation, 35 Tsinghua East Road, Haidian Distinct, Beijing 100083, P.R. China.
| | - Yaqian Xiao
- Beijing Forestry, School of Nature Conservation, 35 Tsinghua East Road, Haidian Distinct, Beijing 100083, P.R. China. and Beijing Normal University, No. 19, XinJieKouWai St., HaiDian District, Beijing 100875, P. R. China
| | - Yuechen Wang
- Beijing Forestry, School of Nature Conservation, 35 Tsinghua East Road, Haidian Distinct, Beijing 100083, P.R. China.
| | - Beth A Middleton
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, 700 Cajundome Boulevard, Lafayette, LA 70506 USA.
| | - Ting Lei
- Beijing Forestry, School of Nature Conservation, 35 Tsinghua East Road, Haidian Distinct, Beijing 100083, P.R. China.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Cooke CA, Martínez-Cortizas A, Bindler R, Sexauer Gustin M. Environmental archives of atmospheric Hg deposition - A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 709:134800. [PMID: 31887515 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Environmental archives offer an opportunity to reconstruct temporal trends in atmospheric Hg deposition at various timescales. Lake sediment and peat have been the most widely used archives; however, new records from ice, tree rings, and the measurement of Hg stable isotopes, are offering new insights into past Hg cycling. Preindustrial Hg deposition has been studied over decadal to millennial timescales extending as far back as the late Pleistocene. Exploitation of mercury deposits (mainly cinnabar) first began during the mid to late Holocene in South America, Europe, and Asia, but increased dramatically during the Colonial era (1532-1900) for silver production. However, evidence for preindustrial Hg pollution is restricted to regions directly downwind or downstream of cinnabar or precious metal mining centers. Excluding these areas, there has been an approximately four-fold increase in atmospheric deposition globally over the industrial era (i.e., since 1800-1850), though regional differences exist, especially during the early 20th Century. Lake sediments, peat, ice, and tree rings are all influenced by (and integrate) a range of processes. For example, lake sediments are influenced by atmospheric deposition, sediment focusing, and the input of allochthonous material from the watershed, peat records reflect atmospheric deposition and biotic uptake, ice cores are a record of Hg scrubbed during precipitation, and tree rings record atmospheric concentrations. No archive represents an absolute record of past Hg deposition or concentrations, and post-depositional transformation of Hg profiles remains an important topic of research. However, natural archives continue to provide important insight into atmospheric Hg cycling over various timescales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Colin A Cooke
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada; Environmental Monitoring and Science Division, Alberta Environment and Parks, Government of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 5C6 Canada.
| | - Antonio Martínez-Cortizas
- EcoPast (GI-1553), Facultade de Bioloxía, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Richard Bindler
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Mae Sexauer Gustin
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada-Reno Reno, Nevada 89557, United States
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Sakizadeh M. Novel hybrid methods applied for spatial prediction of mercury and variable selection of trace elements in coastal areas of USA. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 150:110779. [PMID: 31910526 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110779] [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: 02/04/2019] [Revised: 10/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This study was concerned with spatial analysis of mercury (Hg) in sediment samples of the USA coastal areas using more accurate and stable hybrid approaches compared to the conventional methods. An ensemble of simulated annealing along with least angle regression (SA-LAR) was applied for selection of predictors in spatial analysis. The latest algorithm was efficient with resultant RMSE and R2 of 0.066 and 0.705 compared to 0.099 and 0.571 for the traditional method of recursive feature elimination (RFE) approach. Using Cu, Pb and As as selected variables, it was tried to improve the spatial forecasting of Hg with either a hybrid of generalized boosted regression and ordinary kriging (GBROK) or inverse distance weighting (GBRIDW). According to the results, the variance explained by cross validation (VECV) was improved from 7.52% and 9.76% for IDW and OK to 40.41% and 41.94% for the GBRIDW and GBROK methods, respectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Sakizadeh
- Department for Management of Science and Technology Development, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Faculty of Environment and Labour Safety, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Melwani AR, Negrey J, Heim WA, Coale KH, Stephenson MD, Davis JA. Factors influencing methylmercury contamination of black bass from California reservoirs. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 251:850-861. [PMID: 31125815 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how mercury (Hg) accumulates in the aquatic food web requires information on the factors driving methylmercury (MeHg) contamination. This paper employs data on MeHg in muscle tissue of three black bass species (Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, and Smallmouth Bass) sampled from 21 reservoirs in California. During a two-year period, reservoirs were sampled for total Hg in sediment, total Hg and MeHg in water, chlorophyll a, organic carbon, sulfate, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, and temperature. These data, combined with land-use statistics and reservoir morphometry, were used to investigate relationships to size-normalized black bass MeHg concentrations. Significant correlations to black bass MeHg were observed for total Hg in sediment, total Hg and MeHg in surface water, and forested area. A multivariate statistical model predicted Largemouth Bass MeHg as a function of total Hg in sediment, MeHg in surface water, specific conductivity, total Hg in soils, and forested area. Comparison to historical reservoir sediment data suggested there has been no significant decline in sediment total Hg at five northern California reservoirs during the past 20 years. Overall, total Hg in sediment was indicated as the most influential factor associated with black bass MeHg contamination. The results of this study improve understanding of how MeHg varies in California reservoirs and the factors that correlate with fish MeHg contamination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aroon R Melwani
- San Francisco Estuary Institute, 4911 Central Ave, Richmond, CA, 94804, USA.
| | - John Negrey
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, 7544 Sandholdt Road, Moss Landing, CA, 95039, USA
| | - Wes A Heim
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, 7544 Sandholdt Road, Moss Landing, CA, 95039, USA
| | - Kenneth H Coale
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, 8272 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, CA, 95039, USA
| | - Mark D Stephenson
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, 7544 Sandholdt Road, Moss Landing, CA, 95039, USA
| | - Jay A Davis
- San Francisco Estuary Institute, 4911 Central Ave, Richmond, CA, 94804, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Wang F, Outridge PM, Feng X, Meng B, Heimbürger-Boavida LE, Mason RP. How closely do mercury trends in fish and other aquatic wildlife track those in the atmosphere? - Implications for evaluating the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 674:58-70. [PMID: 31003088 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The Minamata Convention to reduce anthropogenic mercury (Hg) emissions entered into force in 2017, and attention is now focused on how to best monitor its effectiveness at reducing Hg exposure to humans. A key question is how closely Hg concentrations in the human food chain, especially in fish and other aquatic wildlife, will track the changes in atmospheric Hg that are expected to occur following anthropogenic emission reductions. We investigated this question by evaluating several regional groups of case studies where Hg concentrations in aquatic biota have been monitored continuously or intermittently for several decades. Our analysis shows that in most cases Hg time trends in biota did not agree with concurrent Hg trends in atmospheric deposition or concentrations, and the divergence between the two trends has become more apparent over the past two decades. An over-arching general explanation for these results is that the impact of changing atmospheric inputs on biotic Hg is masked by two factors: 1) The aquatic environment contains a large inventory of legacy emitted Hg that remains available for bio-uptake leading to a substantial lag in biotic response time to a change in external inputs; and 2) Biotic Hg trends reflect the dominant effects of changes in multi-causal, local and regional processes (e.g., aquatic or terrestrial biogeochemical processes, feeding ecology, climate) that control the speciation, bioavailability, and bio-uptake of both present-day and legacy emitted Hg. Globally, climate change has become the most prevalent contributor to the divergence. A wide range of biotic Hg outcomes can thus be expected as anthropogenic atmospheric Hg emissions decline, depending on how these processes operate on specific regions and specific organisms. Therefore, evaluating the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention will require biomonitoring of multiple species that represent different trophic and ecological niches in multiple regions of the world.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Feiyue Wang
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, and Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.
| | - Peter M Outridge
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, and Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada; Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, 601 Booth St., Ottawa, ON K1A 0E8, Canada
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 46 Guanshui Road, Guiyang 550002, China
| | - Bo Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 46 Guanshui Road, Guiyang 550002, China
| | - Lars-Eric Heimbürger-Boavida
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS/INSU, Université de Toulon, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Robert P Mason
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, 1080 Shennecossett Road, Groton, CT 06340, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Navrátil T, Burns DA, Nováková T, Kaňa J, Rohovec J, Roll M, Ettler V. Stability of mercury concentration measurements in archived soil and peat samples. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 208:707-711. [PMID: 29894972 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.06.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Revised: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Archived soil samples can provide important information on the history of environmental contamination and by comparison with recently collected samples, temporal trends can be inferred. Little previous work has addressed whether mercury (Hg) concentrations in soil samples are stable with long-term storage under standard laboratory conditions. In this study, we have re-analyzed using cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy a set of archived soil samples that ranged from relatively pristine mountainous sites to a polluted site near a non-ferrous metal smelter with a wide range of Hg concentrations (6.7-6485 μg kg-1). Samples included organic and mineral soils and peats with a carbon content that ranged from 0.2 to 47.7%. Soil samples were stored in polyethylene bags or bottles and held in laboratory rooms where temperature was not kept to a constant value. Mercury concentrations in four subsets of samples were originally measured in 2000, 2005, 2006 and 2007, and re-analyzed in 2017, i.e. after 17, 12, 11 and 10 years of storage. Statistical analyses of either separated or lumped data yielded no significant differences between the original and current Hg concentrations. Based on these analyses, we show that archived soil and peat samples can be used to evaluate historical soil mercury contamination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Navrátil
- Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Science, Rozvojová 269, 165 00, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | | | - Tereza Nováková
- Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Science, Rozvojová 269, 165 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Kaňa
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Science, Institute of Hydrobiology, Na Sádkách 7, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Rohovec
- Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Science, Rozvojová 269, 165 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Roll
- Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Science, Rozvojová 269, 165 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtěch Ettler
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Praha 2, 128 43, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Fitzgerald WF, Engstrom DR, Hammerschmidt CR, Lamborg CH, Balcom PH, Lima-Braun AL, Bothner MH, Reddy CM. Global and Local Sources of Mercury Deposition in Coastal New England Reconstructed from a Multiproxy, High-Resolution, Estuarine Sediment Record. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:7614-7620. [PMID: 29897241 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b06122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Historical reconstruction of mercury (Hg) accumulation in natural archives, especially lake sediments, has been essential to understanding human perturbation of the global Hg cycle. Here we present a high-resolution chronology of Hg accumulation between 1727 and 1996 in a varved sediment core from the Pettaquamscutt River Estuary (PRE), Rhode Island. Mercury accumulation is examined relative to (1) historic deposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and lead (Pb) and its isotopes (206Pb/207Pb) in the same core, and (2) other reconstructions of Hg deposition in urban and remote settings. Mercury deposition in PRE parallels the temporal patterns of PAHs, and both track industrialization and regional coal use between 1850 and 1950 as well as rising petroleum use after 1950. There is little indication of increased Hg deposition from late 19th-century silver and gold mining in the western U.S. A broad maximum of Hg deposition during 1930-1980, and not found in remote sites, is consistent with the predicted influence of additional industrial sources and commercial products. Our results imply that a significant portion of global anthropogenic Hg emissions during the 20th century was deposited locally, near urban and industrial centers of Hg use and release.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William F Fitzgerald
- Department of Marine Sciences , University of Connecticut , Groton , Connecticut 06340 , United States
| | - Daniel R Engstrom
- St. Croix Watershed Research Station, Science Museum of Minnesota , Marine on St. Croix , Minnesota 55047 , United States
| | - Chad R Hammerschmidt
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences , Wright State University , Dayton , Ohio 45435 , United States
| | - Carl H Lamborg
- Department of Ocean Sciences , University of California Santa Cruz , Santa Cruz , California 95064 , United States
| | - Prentiss H Balcom
- Department of Marine Sciences , University of Connecticut , Groton , Connecticut 06340 , United States
| | - Ana L Lima-Braun
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry , Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution , Woods Hole , Massachusetts 02543 , United States
| | - Michael H Bothner
- United States Geological Survey, Woods Hole Science Center , Woods Hole , Massachusetts 02543 , United States
| | - Christopher M Reddy
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry , Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution , Woods Hole , Massachusetts 02543 , United States
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
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: 355] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.2] [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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Silverthorn VM, Bishop CA, Jardine T, Elliott JE, Morrissey CA. Impact of flow diversion by run-of-river dams on American dipper diet and mercury exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2018; 37:411-426. [PMID: 29092091 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Revised: 05/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Run-of-river dams produce lower greenhouse gas emissions than large hydropower projects, but there is a paucity of research on their potential ecotoxicological impacts through disruption of natural flow regimes. We used stable isotopes (δ13 C, δ15 N, δ34 S) to reconstruct diet and trace methylmercury in a predatory river-resident passerine, the American dipper (Cinclus mexicanus), at 7 regulated and 6 free-flowing mountain streams in coastal British Columbia, Canada. Assimilated diets were comparable among regulated and unregulated streams, dominated by benthic macroinvertebrates and resident freshwater fish, with negligible contributions from anadromous Pacific salmon. Although invertebrates at unregulated streams were isotopically similar along their gradient, dippers and invertebrates sampled below dams on regulated streams had 34 S-depleted tissues, suggesting increased activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria and more Hg methylation below the dams. Mercury concentrations in dipper blood (417.6 ± 74.1 standard error [SE] ng/g wet wt at regulated streams, 340.7 ± 42.7 SE ng/g wet wt at unregulated streams) and feathers (1564 .6 ± 367.2 SE ng/g dry wt regulated, 1149.0 ± 152.1 SE ng/g dry wt unregulated), however, were not significantly different between stream types. Relative to other passerines across western North America, dippers in these densely forested mountain streams experienced high mercury exposure; and one recently regulated stream supported dippers with mercury concentrations of potential toxicity concern (up to 8459.5 ng/g dry wt in feathers and 1824.6 ng/g wet wt in whole blood). Elevated mercury in dippers is likely attributable to the birds' relatively high trophic position and high regional inorganic mercury deposition; however, biogeochemical conditions in reservoirs of some regulated streams may be contributing to methylmercury production. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:411-426. © 2017 SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Christine A Bishop
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Wildlife and Landscape Science Division, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Timothy Jardine
- School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - John E Elliott
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Wildlife and Landscape Science Division, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Christy A Morrissey
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Álvarez D, Torrejón F, Climent MJ, Garcia-Orellana J, Araneda A, Urrutia R. Historical anthropogenic mercury in two lakes of Central Chile: comparison between an urban and rural lake. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:4596-4606. [PMID: 29192400 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-0622-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: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Mercury concentrations in the environment tend to decrease in recent years due to environmental restrictions. Lakes store mercury in their sediments, making them potential secondary contamination sources. In South America, the occurrence of mercury in lake systems has been associated mainly with volcanic emissions and only few records anthropogenic contamination in the pre-Hispanic period. The objective of this research was to study historical anthropogenic mercury concentration in two lakes in Central Chile (La Señoraza and Pillo), in order to establish background mercury levels and their variations from preindustrial to modern periods. Different background levels and mercury concentrations were found in each lake, with significantly higher concentrations in Lake La Señoraza during the last 150 years. Mining-related activities during the nineteenth century could have a negligible influence on mercury concentrations. Later on, the use of coal railroads and subsequent employment of mercury in the cellulose industry were associated with three- and fourfold increases in mercury concentration over the nineteenth century background levels, which decrease once these activities ceased. However, in the case of Lake Pillo, an important increase in mercury concentration can be observed between 1990 and the early twenty-first century, which could be related to a higher watershed/lake area ratio, extensive agriculture, and volcanic emission, being the latter that could have contributed with mercury to both systems. Nevertheless, sedimentological characteristics in Lake Pillo can be favorable to retain mercury in this aquatic system up to the present day.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Denisse Álvarez
- Aquatic Systems Research Unit, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, EULA-Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Barrio Universitario s/n, Concepción, Chile.
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Santo Tomás, Concepción, Chile.
| | - Fernando Torrejón
- Aquatic Systems Research Unit, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, EULA-Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Barrio Universitario s/n, Concepción, Chile
| | - María José Climent
- Aquatic Systems Research Unit, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, EULA-Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Barrio Universitario s/n, Concepción, Chile
| | - Jordi Garcia-Orellana
- Departament de Física, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alberto Araneda
- Aquatic Systems Research Unit, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, EULA-Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Barrio Universitario s/n, Concepción, Chile
| | - Roberto Urrutia
- Aquatic Systems Research Unit, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, EULA-Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Barrio Universitario s/n, Concepción, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Wiklund JA, Kirk JL, Muir DCG, Evans M, Yang F, Keating J, Parsons MT. Anthropogenic mercury deposition in Flin Flon Manitoba and the Experimental Lakes Area Ontario (Canada): A multi-lake sediment core reconstruction. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 586:685-695. [PMID: 28238379 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.02.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Revised: 02/05/2017] [Accepted: 02/05/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
High-resolution records of anthropogenic mercury (Hg) deposition were constructed from 9 lakes located 5-75km from the Flin Flon, Manitoba smelter (formerly one of North America's largest atmospheric Hg point sources) and 5 lakes in Experimental Lakes Area (ELA), Ontario; a region remote from major Hg point sources. Anthropogenic Hg deposition, as both a flux and inventory, was determined after accounting for lake-specific natural Hg background concentrations, changes in sedimentation and sediment focusing. Results show that records of anthropogenic flux and inventory of Hg were remarkably consistent among the ELA lakes, but varied by 2 orders of magnitude among Flin Flon lakes. The relation between Hg inventories (normalized for prevailing wind direction) and distance from the smelter was used to estimate the total Hg fallout within a 50km radius in 5year time-steps, thus providing a quantitative spatial-temporal Hg depositional history for the Flin Flon region. The same relation solved for 8 cardinal directions weighted by the inverse of the previously applied wind direction normalization generates a map of Hg inventory and deposition on the landscape (Supplementary video). This novel application of sediment core data constructs a landscape model and allows for a visualization of contaminant deposition with respect to a point major source in both space and time. The propensity for Hg to undergo long-range, even global transport explains why Hg deposition within 50km of Flin Flon was ~11% of estimated releases. That is until smelter releases were reduced >10-fold (post-2000), after which observed deposition exceeded smelter releases, suggesting landscape re-emission/remobilization of legacy Hg is a major ongoing regional source of Hg.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johan A Wiklund
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment Canada, Burlington, ON, Canada.
| | - Jane L Kirk
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment Canada, Burlington, ON, Canada
| | - Derek C G Muir
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment Canada, Burlington, ON, Canada
| | - Marlene Evans
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment Canada, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Fan Yang
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment Canada, Burlington, ON, Canada
| | - Jonathan Keating
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment Canada, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Drevnick PE, Brooks BA. Mercury in tunas and blue marlin in the North Pacific Ocean. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2017; 36:1365-1374. [PMID: 28264147 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Revised: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/03/2017] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Models and data from the North Pacific Ocean indicate that mercury concentrations in water and biota are increasing in response to (global or hemispheric) anthropogenic mercury releases. In the present study, we provide an updated record of mercury in yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) caught near Hawaii that confirms an earlier conclusion that mercury concentrations in these fish are increasing at a rate similar to that observed in waters shallower than 1000 m. We also compiled and reanalyzed data from bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) and blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) caught near Hawaii in the 1970s and 2000s. Increases in mercury concentrations in bigeye tuna are consistent with the trend found in yellowfin tuna, in both timing and magnitude. The data available for blue marlin do not allow for a fair comparison among years, because mercury concentrations differ between sexes for this species, and sex was identified (or reported) in only 3 of 7 studies. Also, mercury concentrations in blue marlin may be insensitive to modest changes in mercury exposure, because this species appears to have the ability to detoxify mercury. The North Pacific Ocean is a region of both relatively high rates of atmospheric mercury deposition and capture fisheries production. Other data sets that allow temporal comparisons in mercury concentrations, such as pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) in Alaskan waters and albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) off the US Pacific coast, should be explored further, to aid in understanding human health and ecological risks and to develop additional baseline knowledge for assessing changes in a region expected to respond strongly to reductions in anthropogenic mercury emissions. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:1365-1374. © 2017 SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul E Drevnick
- University of Michigan Biological Station and School of Natural Resources and Environment, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Environmental Monitoring and Science Division, Alberta Environment and Parks, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Barbara A Brooks
- Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office, Hawaii Department of Health, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Chellman N, McConnell JR, Arienzo M, Pederson GT, Aarons SM, Csank A. Reassessment of the Upper Fremont Glacier Ice-Core Chronologies by Synchronizing of Ice-Core-Water Isotopes to a Nearby Tree-Ring Chronology. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:4230-4238. [PMID: 28375598 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b06574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The Upper Fremont Glacier (UFG), Wyoming, is one of the few continental glaciers in the contiguous United States known to preserve environmental and climate records spanning recent centuries. A pair of ice cores taken from UFG have been studied extensively to document changes in climate and industrial pollution (most notably, mid-19th century increases in mercury pollution). Fundamental to these studies is the chronology used to map ice-core depth to age. Here, we present a revised chronology for the UFG ice cores based on new measurements and using a novel dating approach of synchronizing continuous water isotope measurements to a nearby tree-ring chronology. While consistent with the few unambiguous age controls underpinning the previous UFG chronologies, the new interpretation suggests a very different time scale for the UFG cores with changes of up to 80 years. Mercury increases previously associated with the mid-19th century Gold Rush now coincide with early-20th century industrial emissions, aligning the UFG record with other North American mercury records from ice and lake sediment cores. Additionally, new UFG records of industrial pollutants parallel changes documented in ice cores from southern Greenland, further validating the new UFG chronologies while documenting the extent of late 19th and early 20th century pollution in remote North America.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Chellman
- Desert Research Institute, Division of Hydrologic Sciences , Reno, Nevada 89512, United States
| | - Joseph R McConnell
- Desert Research Institute, Division of Hydrologic Sciences , Reno, Nevada 89512, United States
| | - Monica Arienzo
- Desert Research Institute, Division of Hydrologic Sciences , Reno, Nevada 89512, United States
| | - Gregory T Pederson
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center , Bozeman, Montana 59715, United States
| | - Sarah M Aarons
- Department of Earth System Science, University of California , Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Cyr A, Sergeant CJ, Lopez JA, O'Hara T. Assessing the influence of migration barriers and feeding ecology on total mercury concentrations in Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) from a glaciated and non-glaciated stream. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 580:710-718. [PMID: 27979620 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Revised: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Assimilation of mercury (Hg) into food webs is directly influenced by ecological factors such as local habitat characteristics, species feeding behavior, and movement patterns. Total Hg concentrations ([THg]) in biota from Subarctic latitudes are driven both by broad spatial processes such as long-range atmospheric transport and more local influences such as biovectors and geology. Thus, even relatively pristine protected lands such as national parks are experiencing Hg accumulation. We analyzed [THg] and stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) in 104 Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) collected from two rivers in southeastern Alaska, upstream and downstream of apparent anadromous migration barriers in watersheds with and without glacial coverage. To assess the potential magnitude of marine-derived THg returning to freshwater, we analyzed [THg] in ten adult pink salmon from each study system. There were no differences in Dolly Varden mean [THg] between sites after the data were standardized for fork length, but unadjusted [THg] varied relative to fish size and δ15N values. While previous studies generally show that [THg] increases with higher δ15N values, we found that Dolly Varden below migration barriers and foraging on salmon eggs had the highest δ15N values among all sampled individuals, but the lowest [THg]. Dolly Varden residing below anadromous barriers had δ13C values consistent with marine influence. Since salmon eggs typically have low [Hg], our results suggest that abundant salmon populations and the dietary subsidy they provide may reduce the annual exposure to [Hg] in egg-eating stream fishes such as Dolly Varden. In addition to identifying a suitable species for freshwater Hg monitoring in southeastern Alaska, our study more broadly implies that river characteristics, location within a river, fish size, and feeding ecology are important factors influencing Hg accumulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Cyr
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 905 N Koyukuk Dr, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220, USA.
| | - Christopher J Sergeant
- National Park Service, Inventory and Monitoring Program, 3100 National Park Road, Juneau 99801, AK, USA
| | - Juan Andres Lopez
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 905 N Koyukuk Dr, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220, USA; University of Alaska Museum of the North, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 907 Yukon Dr, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6960, USA
| | - Todd O'Hara
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 901 Koyukuk Dr, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7750, USA
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Yang H, Turner S, Rose NL. Mercury pollution in the lake sediments and catchment soils of anthropogenically-disturbed sites across England. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2016; 219:1092-1101. [PMID: 27639616 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Revised: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/05/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Sediment cores and soil samples were taken from nine lakes and their catchments across England with varying degrees of direct human disturbance. Mercury (Hg) analysis demonstrated a range of impacts, many from local sources, resulting from differing historical and contemporary site usage and management. Lakes located in industrially important areas showed clear evidence for early Hg pollution with concentrations in sediments reaching 400-1600 ng g-1 prior to the mid-19th century. Control of inputs resulting from local management practices and a greater than 90% reduction in UK Hg emissions since 1970 were reflected by reduced Hg pollution in some lakes. However, having been a sink for Hg deposition for centuries, polluted catchment soils are now the major Hg source for most lakes and consequently recovery from reduced Hg deposition is being delayed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Handong Yang
- Environmental Change Research Centre, University College London, Pearson Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
| | - Simon Turner
- Environmental Change Research Centre, University College London, Pearson Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Neil L Rose
- Environmental Change Research Centre, University College London, Pearson Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Eagles-Smith CA, Wiener JG, Eckley CS, Willacker JJ, Evers DC, Marvin-DiPasquale M, Obrist D, Fleck JA, Aiken GR, Lepak JM, Jackson AK, Webster JP, Stewart AR, Davis JA, Alpers CN, Ackerman JT. Mercury in western North America: A synthesis of environmental contamination, fluxes, bioaccumulation, and risk to fish and wildlife. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 568:1213-1226. [PMID: 27320732 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Revised: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/13/2016] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Western North America is a region defined by extreme gradients in geomorphology and climate, which support a diverse array of ecological communities and natural resources. The region also has extreme gradients in mercury (Hg) contamination due to a broad distribution of inorganic Hg sources. These diverse Hg sources and a varied landscape create a unique and complex mosaic of ecological risk from Hg impairment associated with differential methylmercury (MeHg) production and bioaccumulation. Understanding the landscape-scale variation in the magnitude and relative importance of processes associated with Hg transport, methylation, and MeHg bioaccumulation requires a multidisciplinary synthesis that transcends small-scale variability. The Western North America Mercury Synthesis compiled, analyzed, and interpreted spatial and temporal patterns and drivers of Hg and MeHg in air, soil, vegetation, sediments, fish, and wildlife across western North America. This collaboration evaluated the potential risk from Hg to fish, and wildlife health, human exposure, and examined resource management activities that influenced the risk of Hg contamination. This paper integrates the key information presented across the individual papers that comprise the synthesis. The compiled information indicates that Hg contamination is widespread, but heterogeneous, across western North America. The storage and transport of inorganic Hg across landscape gradients are largely regulated by climate and land-cover factors such as plant productivity and precipitation. Importantly, there was a striking lack of concordance between pools and sources of inorganic Hg, and MeHg in aquatic food webs. Additionally, water management had a widespread influence on MeHg bioaccumulation in aquatic ecosystems, whereas mining impacts where relatively localized. These results highlight the decoupling of inorganic Hg sources with MeHg production and bioaccumulation. Together the findings indicate that developing efforts to control MeHg production in the West may be particularly beneficial for reducing food web exposure instead of efforts to simply control inorganic Hg sources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Collin A Eagles-Smith
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
| | - James G Wiener
- University of Wisconsin La Crosse, River Studies Center, 1725 State Street, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA
| | - Chris S Eckley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region-10, 2100 6th Ave., Suite 900, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - James J Willacker
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - David C Evers
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME 04103, USA
| | | | - Daniel Obrist
- Desert Research Institute, Division of Atmospheric Sciences, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV 89512, USA
| | - Jacob A Fleck
- U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, 6000 J St., Placer Hall, Sacramento, CA 95819, USA
| | - George R Aiken
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, 3215 Marine St., Boulder, CO 80303, USA
| | - Jesse M Lepak
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 317 West Prospect Road, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
| | - Allyson K Jackson
- Oregon State University, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, 104 Nash Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Jackson P Webster
- University of Colorado, Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - A Robin Stewart
- U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Jay A Davis
- San Francisco Estuary Institute, 4911 Central Ave., Richmond, CA 94804, USA
| | - Charles N Alpers
- U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, 6000 J St., Placer Hall, Sacramento, CA 95819, USA
| | - Joshua T Ackerman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Dixon, CA 95620, USA
| |
Collapse
|