1
|
Staniszewska KJ, Reyes AV, Cooke CA. Glacial Erosion Drives High Summer Mercury Exports from the Yukon River, Canada. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS 2023; 10:1117-1124. [PMID: 38025955 PMCID: PMC10653217 DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.3c00427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Mercury concentrations and yields in the Yukon River are the highest of the world's six largest panarctic drainages. Permafrost thaw has been implicated as the main driver of these high values. Alternative sources include mercury released from glacial melt and erosion, atmospheric mercury pollution, or surface mining. To determine the summer source and speciation of mercury across the Yukon River basin within Canada, we sampled water from 12 tributaries and the mainstem during July 2021. The total (unfiltered) mercury concentration in the glacier-fed White River was 57 ng/L, >10 times higher than all other sampled tributaries. The White River's high total mercury concentrations were driven by suspended sediment and persisted ∼300 km downstream of glacierized headwaters. Total mercury concentrations were lowest (typically <2 ng/L) in tributaries downstream of still-water landscape features (e.g., lakes and settling ponds), suggesting these features are effective sinks for sediment-bound mercury. Low total mercury concentrations (∼2 ng/L) were also observed in five tributaries across diverse thawing permafrost landscapes. These results suggest that glacial erosion and meltwater transport, not permafrost, drive enhanced exports of mercury with suspended sediment. Mercury exports may decline as glacial watersheds pass peak water. Other factors, including mercury released from permafrost thaw, are minor components at present.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kasia J. Staniszewska
- Department
of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University
of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Alberto V. Reyes
- Department
of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University
of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Colin A. Cooke
- Department
of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University
of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada
- Environment
and Protected Areas, Government of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2G6, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wang Y, Liu G, Fang Y, Liu P, Liu Y, Guo Y, Shi J, Hu L, Cai Y, Yin Y, Jiang G. Dark oxidation of mercury droplet: Mercurous [Hg(I)] species controls transformation kinetics. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 244:120472. [PMID: 37619304 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120472] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Liquid elemental mercury droplet (Hg(0)l) is an important species in heavy Hg-contaminated environments. The oxidation processes of Hg(0)l and its related mechanisms are still poorly understood. Herein, for the first time, it was verified that mercurous species [Hg(I)] was an important species in natural water contaminated by Hg(0)l as well as in the simulated dark oxidation of Hg(0)l. The formation and further transformation of Hg(I) controlled the overall oxidation process of Hg(0)l and were affected by different environmental factors. Through kinetic modeling using ACUCHEM program, oxidation of Hg(0) to Hg(I) (Hg(0) → Hg(I)) was determined to be the rate-limiting step in Hg(0)l oxidation because its k value ((8.7 ± 0.21) × 10-11s-1) is seven orders of magnitude lower than that of Hg(I) oxidation (Hg(I) → Hg(II), (4.7 ± 0.15) × 10-4s-1). Ligands like OH-, Cl-, and natural organic matter enhanced the formation of Hg(I) via promoting the constants of comproportionation (up to (9.5 ± 0.78) × 10-4s-1). These findings highlight the importance of Hg(I) in Hg(0)l oxidation process by controlling the transformation kinetics of Hg species, facilitating an improved understanding of the environmental redox cycles of Hg.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China; Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effect, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Guangliang Liu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, United States
| | - Yingying Fang
- Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effect, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Peng Liu
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Yanwei Liu
- Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effect, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yingying Guo
- Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effect, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jianbo Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Ligang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yong Cai
- Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effect, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yongguang Yin
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China; Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effect, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Guibin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Dastoor A, Wilson SJ, Travnikov O, Ryjkov A, Angot H, Christensen JH, Steenhuisen F, Muntean M. Arctic atmospheric mercury: Sources and changes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 839:156213. [PMID: 35623517 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Global anthropogenic and legacy mercury (Hg) emissions are the main sources of Arctic Hg contamination, primarily transported there via the atmosphere. This review summarizes the state of knowledge of the global anthropogenic sources of Hg emissions, and examines recent changes and source attribution of Hg transport and deposition to the Arctic using models. Estimated global anthropogenic Hg emissions to the atmosphere for 2015 were ~2220 Mg, ~20% higher than 2010. Global anthropogenic, legacy and geogenic Hg emissions were, respectively, responsible for 32%, 64% (wildfires: 6-10%) and 4% of the annual Arctic Hg deposition. Relative contributions to Arctic deposition of anthropogenic origin was dominated by sources in East Asia (32%), Commonwealth of Independent States (12%), and Africa (12%). Model results exhibit significant spatiotemporal variations in Arctic anthropogenic Hg deposition fluxes, driven by regional differences in Hg air transport routes, surface and precipitation uptake rates, and inter-seasonal differences in atmospheric circulation and deposition pathways. Model simulations reveal that changes in meteorology are having a profound impact on contemporary atmospheric Hg in the Arctic. Reversal of North Atlantic Oscillation phase from strongly negative in 2010 to positive in 2015, associated with lower temperature and more sea ice in the Canadian Arctic, Greenland and surrounding ocean, resulted in enhanced production of bromine species and Hg(0) oxidation and lower evasion of Hg(0) from ocean waters in 2015. This led to increased Hg(II) (and its deposition) and reduced Hg(0) air concentrations in these regions in line with High Arctic observations. However, combined changes in meteorology and anthropogenic emissions led to overall elevated modeled Arctic air Hg(0) levels in 2015 compared to 2010 contrary to observed declines at most monitoring sites, likely due to uncertainties in anthropogenic emission speciation, wildfire emissions and model representations of air-surface Hg fluxes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashu Dastoor
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2121 Trans-Canada Highway, Dorval, Québec H9P 1J3, Canada.
| | - Simon J Wilson
- Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP). The Fram Centre, Box 6606 Stakkevollan, 9296 Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Oleg Travnikov
- Meteorological Synthesizing Centre-East, EMEP, 2nd Roshchinsky proezd, 8/5, 115419 Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrei Ryjkov
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2121 Trans-Canada Highway, Dorval, Québec H9P 1J3, Canada
| | - Hélène Angot
- Extreme Environments Research Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Valais Wallis, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Jesper H Christensen
- Department of Environmental Science, iClimate, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Frits Steenhuisen
- Arctic Centre, University of Groningen, Aweg 30, 9718CW Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marilena Muntean
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Via E. Fermi 2749 (T.P. 123), I-21027 Ispra, VA, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
MacSween K, Stupple G, Aas W, Kyllönen K, Pfaffhuber KA, Skov H, Steffen A, Berg T, Mastromonaco MN. Updated trends for atmospheric mercury in the Arctic: 1995-2018. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 837:155802. [PMID: 35550896 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Arctic region forms a unique environment with specific physical, chemical, and biological processes affecting mercury (Hg) cycles and limited anthropogenic Hg sources. However, historic global emissions and long range atmospheric transport has led to elevated Hg in Arctic wildlife and waterways. Continuous atmospheric Hg measurements, spanning 20 years, and increased monitoring sites has allowed a more comprehensive understanding of how Arctic atmospheric mercury is changing over time. Time-series trend analysis of TGM (Total Gaseous Mercury) in air was performed from 10 circumpolar air monitoring stations, comprising of high-Arctic, and sub-Arctic sites. GOM (gaseous oxidised mercury) and PHg (particulate bound mercury) measurements were also available at 2 high-Arctic sites. Seasonal mean TGM for sub-Arctic sites were lowest during fall ranging from 1.1 ng m-3 Hyytiälä to 1.3 ng m-3, Little Fox Lake. Mean TGM concentrations at high-Arctic sites showed the greatest variability, with highest daily means in spring ranging between 4.2 ng m-3 at Amderma and 2.4 ng m-3 at Zeppelin, largely driven by local chemistry. Annual TGM trend analysis was negative for 8 of the 10 sites. High-Arctic seasonal TGM trends saw smallest decline during summer. Fall trends ranged from -0.8% to -2.6% yr-1. Across the sub-Arctic sites spring showed the largest significant decreases, ranging between -7.7% to -0.36% yr-1, while fall generally had no significant trends. High-Arctic speciation of GOM and PHg at Alert and Zeppelin showed that the timing and composition of atmospheric mercury deposition events are shifting. Alert GOM trends are increasing throughout the year, while PHg trends decreased or not significant. Zeppelin saw the opposite, moving towards increasing PHg and decreasing GOM. Atmospheric mercury trends over the last 20 years indicate that Hg concentrations are decreasing across the Arctic, though not uniformly. This is potentially driven by environmental change, such as plant productivity and sea ice dynamics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katrina MacSween
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada, Government of Canada, Canada.
| | - Geoff Stupple
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada, Government of Canada, Canada
| | - Wenche Aas
- NILU - Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Instituttveien 18, 2027 Kjeller, Norway
| | - Katriina Kyllönen
- Finnish Meteorological Institute, Air Quality, Erik Palménin aukio 1, FI-00560 Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Henrik Skov
- Department of Environmental Science, iClimate, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Alexandra Steffen
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada, Government of Canada, Canada
| | - Torunn Berg
- Norwegian University for Technology and Science, Department of Chemistry, Høgskoleringen 5, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Schartup AT, Soerensen AL, Angot H, Bowman K, Selin NE. What are the likely changes in mercury concentration in the Arctic atmosphere and ocean under future emissions scenarios? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 836:155477. [PMID: 35472347 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Arctic mercury (Hg) concentrations respond to changes in anthropogenic Hg emissions and environmental change. This manuscript, prepared for the 2021 Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme Mercury Assessment, explores the response of Arctic Ocean Hg concentrations to changing primary Hg emissions and to changing sea-ice cover, river inputs, and net primary production. To do this, we conduct a model analysis using a 2015 Hg inventory and future anthropogenic Hg emission scenarios. We model future atmospheric Hg deposition to the surface ocean as a flux to the surface water or sea ice using three scenarios: No Action, New Policy (NP), and Maximum Feasible Reduction (MFR). We then force a five-compartment box model of Hg cycling in the Arctic Ocean with these scenarios and literature-derived climate variables to simulate environmental change. No Action results in a 51% higher Hg deposition rate by 2050 while increasing Hg concentrations in the surface water by 22% and <9% at depth. Both "action" scenarios (NP and MFR), implemented in 2020 or 2035, result in lower Hg deposition ranging from 7% (NP delayed to 2035) to 30% (MFR implemented in 2020) by 2050. Under this last scenario, ocean Hg concentrations decline by 14% in the surface and 4% at depth. We find that the sea-ice cover decline exerts the strongest Hg reducing forcing on the Arctic Ocean while increasing river discharge increases Hg concentrations. When modified together the climate scenarios result in a ≤5% Hg decline by 2050 in the Arctic Ocean. Thus, we show that the magnitude of emissions-induced future changes in the Arctic Ocean is likely to be substantial compared to climate-induced effects. Furthermore, this study underscores the need for prompt and ambitious action for changing Hg concentrations in the Arctic, since delaying less ambitious reduction measures-like NP-until 2035 may become offset by Hg accumulated from pre-2035 emissions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amina T Schartup
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| | - Anne L Soerensen
- Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hélène Angot
- Extreme Environments Research Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Valais Wallis, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Katlin Bowman
- University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Sciences Department, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Noelle E Selin
- Institute for Data, Systems, and Society, and Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue [E17-381], Cambridge. MA 02139, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Mercury isotope evidence for Arctic summertime re-emission of mercury from the cryosphere. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4956. [PMID: 36002442 PMCID: PMC9402541 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32440-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
During Arctic springtime, halogen radicals oxidize atmospheric elemental mercury (Hg0), which deposits to the cryosphere. This is followed by a summertime atmospheric Hg0 peak that is thought to result mostly from terrestrial Hg inputs to the Arctic Ocean, followed by photoreduction and emission to air. The large terrestrial Hg contribution to the Arctic Ocean and global atmosphere has raised concern over the potential release of permafrost Hg, via rivers and coastal erosion, with Arctic warming. Here we investigate Hg isotope variability of Arctic atmospheric, marine, and terrestrial Hg. We observe highly characteristic Hg isotope signatures during the summertime peak that reflect re-emission of Hg deposited to the cryosphere during spring. Air mass back trajectories support a cryospheric Hg emission source but no major terrestrial source. This implies that terrestrial Hg inputs to the Arctic Ocean remain in the marine ecosystem, without substantial loss to the global atmosphere, but with possible effects on food webs. Arctic warming thaws permafrost, leading to enhanced soil mercury transport to the Arctic Ocean. Mercury isotope signatures in arctic rivers, ocean and atmosphere suggest that permafrost mercury is buried in marine sediment and not emitted to the global atmosphere
Collapse
|
7
|
Abstract
Under a warming climate, permafrost degradation has resulted in profound hydrogeological consequences. Here, we mainly review 240 recent relevant papers. Permafrost degradation has boosted groundwater storage and discharge to surface runoffs through improving hydraulic connectivity and reactivation of groundwater flow systems, resulting in reduced summer peaks, delayed autumn flow peaks, flattened annual hydrographs, and deepening and elongating flow paths. As a result of permafrost degradation, lowlands underlain by more continuous, colder, and thicker permafrost are getting wetter and uplands and mountain slopes, drier. However, additional contribution of melting ground ice to groundwater and stream-flows seems limited in most permafrost basins. As a result of permafrost degradation, the permafrost table and supra-permafrost water table are lowering; subaerial supra-permafrost taliks are forming; taliks are connecting and expanding; thermokarst activities are intensifying. These processes may profoundly impact on ecosystem structures and functions, terrestrial processes, surface and subsurface coupled flow systems, engineered infrastructures, and socioeconomic development. During the last 20 years, substantial and rapid progress has been made in many aspects in cryo-hydrogeology. However, these studies are still inadequate in desired spatiotemporal resolutions, multi-source data assimilation and integration, as well as cryo-hydrogeological modeling, particularly over rugged terrains in ice-rich, warm (>−1 °C) permafrost zones. Future research should be prioritized to the following aspects. First, we should better understand the concordant changes in processes, mechanisms, and trends for terrestrial processes, hydrometeorology, geocryology, hydrogeology, and ecohydrology in warm and thin permafrost regions. Second, we should aim towards revealing the physical and chemical mechanisms for the coupled processes of heat transfer and moisture migration in the vadose zone and expanding supra-permafrost taliks, towards the coupling of the hydrothermal dynamics of supra-, intra- and sub-permafrost waters, as well as that of water-resource changes and of hydrochemical and biogeochemical mechanisms for the coupled movements of solutes and pollutants in surface and subsurface waters as induced by warming and thawing permafrost. Third, we urgently need to establish and improve coupled predictive distributed cryo-hydrogeology models with optimized parameterization. In addition, we should also emphasize automatically, intelligently, and systematically monitoring, predicting, evaluating, and adapting to hydrogeological impacts from degrading permafrost at desired spatiotemporal scales. Systematic, in-depth, and predictive studies on and abilities for the hydrogeological impacts from degrading permafrost can greatly advance geocryology, cryo-hydrogeology, and cryo-ecohydrology and help better manage water, ecosystems, and land resources in permafrost regions in an adaptive and sustainable manner.
Collapse
|
8
|
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
|
9
|
Aksentov KI, Astakhov AS, Ivanov MV, Shi X, Hu L, Alatortsev AV, Sattarova VV, Mariash AA, Melgunov MS. Assessment of mercury levels in modern sediments of the East Siberian Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 168:112426. [PMID: 33940372 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is an important environmental indicator of anthropogenic pollution. In this study, the Hg content in the bottom sediments of the East Siberian Sea was observed to range from 13 to 92 ppb, with an average of 36 ppb. Facies dependence was also observed and expressed as an increase in the Hg concentration in fine-sized sediments on the shelf edge and continental slope, compared to that in the sandy silts and sands of the inner shelf. The Hg accumulation in bottom sediments of the eastern part has increased over the past 150 years due to an increase in global emissions of anthropogenic Hg, which is caused by the transboundary transport of Hg to the Arctic. Moreover, changes in the Hg value, which occur due to the plankton arriving at the bottom sediments because of changes in hydrology and primary production, are thought to be associated with global warming.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kirill I Aksentov
- V.I. Il'ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute (POI), Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (FEB RAS), 43 Baltiyskaya St., 690041 Vladivostok, Russia.
| | - Anatolii S Astakhov
- V.I. Il'ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute (POI), Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (FEB RAS), 43 Baltiyskaya St., 690041 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Maksim V Ivanov
- V.I. Il'ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute (POI), Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (FEB RAS), 43 Baltiyskaya St., 690041 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Xuefa Shi
- Key Laboratory of Marine Geology and Metallogeny, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Limin Hu
- Key Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences and Prospecting Technology, College of Marine Geosciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Alexander V Alatortsev
- V.I. Il'ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute (POI), Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (FEB RAS), 43 Baltiyskaya St., 690041 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Valentina V Sattarova
- V.I. Il'ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute (POI), Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (FEB RAS), 43 Baltiyskaya St., 690041 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Anna A Mariash
- V.I. Il'ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute (POI), Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (FEB RAS), 43 Baltiyskaya St., 690041 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Mikhail S Melgunov
- V.S. Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, 3 Akademika Koptyuga Av., Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Yu B, Yang L, Liu H, Yang R, Fu J, Wang P, Li Y, Xiao C, Liang Y, Hu L, Zhang Q, Yin Y, Shi J, Jiang G. Katabatic Wind and Sea-Ice Dynamics Drive Isotopic Variations of Total Gaseous Mercury on the Antarctic Coast. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:6449-6458. [PMID: 33856785 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c07474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Clarifying the sources and fates of atmospheric mercury (Hg) in the Antarctic is crucial to understand the global Hg circulation and its impacts on the fragile ecosystem of the Antarctic. Herein, the annual variations in the isotopic compositions of total gaseous Hg (TGM), with 5-22 days of sampling duration for each sample, were presented for the first time to provide isotopic evidence of the sources and environmental processes of gaseous Hg around the Chinese Great Wall Station (GWS) in the western Antarctic. Different from the Arctic tundra and lower latitude areas in the northern hemisphere, positive δ202Hg (0.58 ± 0.21‰, mean ± 1SD) and negative Δ199Hg (-0.30 ± 0.10‰, mean ± 1SD) in TGM at the GWS indicated little impact from the vegetation-air exchange in the Antarctic. Correlations among TGM Δ199Hg, air temperature, and ozone concentrations suggested that enhanced katabatic wind that transported inland air masses to the continental margin elevated TGM Δ199Hg in the austral winter, while the surrounding marine surface emissions controlled by sea-ice dynamics lowered TGM Δ199Hg in the austral summer. The oxidation of Hg(0) might elevate Δ199Hg in TGM during atmospheric Hg depletion events but have little impact on the seasonal variations of atmospheric Hg isotopes. The presented atmospheric Hg isotopes were essential to identify the transport and transformation of atmospheric Hg and further understand Hg cycling in the Antarctic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ben Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Lin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hongwei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ruiqiang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Jianjie Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Pu Wang
- Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Yingming Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Cailing Xiao
- Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Yong Liang
- Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Ligang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Qinghua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310000, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yongguang Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Jianbo Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310000, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Guibin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310000, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Kalinchuk VV, Lopatnikov EA, Astakhov AS, Ivanov MV, Hu L. Distribution of atmospheric gaseous elemental mercury (Hg(0)) from the Sea of Japan to the Arctic, and Hg(0) evasion fluxes in the Eastern Arctic Seas: Results from a joint Russian-Chinese cruise in fall 2018. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 753:142003. [PMID: 32890877 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The Eastern Arctic Seas and the north-western Pacific are among the most poorly investigated areas as far as Hg cycling in marine systems is concerned. Continuous measurements of gaseous elemental mercury (Hg(0)) concentrations in the marine boundary layer and Hg(0) evasion fluxes from the sea surface were performed in these regions in fall 2018. Atmospheric Hg(0) concentrations of 1.02-2.50 ng/m3 were measured (average: 1.45 ± 0.12 ng/m3; N = 2518). Values in the Far Eastern Seas of Russia were lower compared to previous observations, presumably reflecting а global trend of decreasing atmospheric Hg(0). Concentration-weighted trajectory analysis highlighted three source regions influencing Hg(0) concentrations in the ambient air during the cruise: 1) the north-eastern China and the Yellow Sea region; 2) the Kuril-Kamchatka region of the Pacific Ocean and the region around the Commander and Aleutian Islands; and 3) the Arctic region. In the Arctic, sea-air Hg(0) evasion fluxes were at the same low levels as those observed earlier in the northern sea areas (0.28-1.35 ng/m2/h, average, 0.70 ± 0.26 ng/m2/h, N = 29). In the Eastern Arctic Seas, Hg(0) evasion fluxes were significantly dependent on river runoff. In the Arctic Ocean, they were negatively correlated with water temperature and positively correlated with salinity, suggesting a proximity to areas with contiguous ice and higher dissolved Hg(0) concentrations in the surface seawater. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the Arctic Ocean is a source of atmospheric Hg(0) during late summer and fall.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Viktor V Kalinchuk
- V.I.Il'ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute of Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690041, Russia.
| | - Evgeny A Lopatnikov
- V.I.Il'ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute of Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690041, Russia
| | - Anatoliy S Astakhov
- V.I.Il'ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute of Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690041, Russia
| | - Maxim V Ivanov
- V.I.Il'ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute of Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690041, Russia
| | - Limin Hu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Sedimentology and Environmental Geology, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Gopikrishna VG, Kannan VM, Binish MB, Abdul Shukkur M, Krishnan KP, Mohan M. Mercury in the sediments of freshwater lakes in Ny-Ålesund, Arctic. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2020; 192:538. [PMID: 32699977 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-020-08511-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mercury and its speciation in aquatic ecosystems have been assessed globally. Even though previous studies were limited to Arctic freshwater lakes, they are highly significant in the context of the changing climate. The present study is based on sediment samples collected from three Arctic freshwater lakes over a period of 4 years (2015-2018). The samples were analysed for total mercury (THg), methyl mercury (MHg), and various mercury fractions. The observed mean THg and MHg concentrations were 22.23 ng/g and 0.41 ng/g respectively; these values were comparable with those for other Arctic freshwater lakes. The mercury content significantly varied among the years as well as among the lakes. Changes in snowdrift and meltwater inputs, which are the major sources of water for the lakes, may have influenced the sediment mercury content along with geographical location and increased productivity. The results of MHg indicated the susceptibility of lake sediments to methylation. The major fractions observed were the organo-chelated form of mercury, followed by the elemental and water-soluble forms. These results indicate the availability of mercury for methylation. Hence, it is necessary to conduct more studies on the influence of climate change, mercury release through permafrost melting, and atmospheric deposition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V G Gopikrishna
- School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, 686560, India
| | - V M Kannan
- School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, 686560, India
| | - M B Binish
- School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, 686560, India
| | - M Abdul Shukkur
- School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, 686560, India
| | - K P Krishnan
- National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Vasco da Gama, Goa, 403802, India
| | - Mahesh Mohan
- School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, 686560, India.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Zolkos S, Krabbenhoft DP, Suslova A, Tank SE, McClelland JW, Spencer RGM, Shiklomanov A, Zhulidov AV, Gurtovaya T, Zimov N, Zimov S, Mutter EA, Kutny L, Amos E, Holmes RM. Mercury Export from Arctic Great Rivers. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:4140-4148. [PMID: 32122125 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b07145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Land-ocean linkages are strong across the circumpolar north, where the Arctic Ocean accounts for 1% of the global ocean volume and receives more than 10% of the global river discharge. Yet estimates of Arctic riverine mercury (Hg) export constrained from direct Hg measurements remain sparse. Here, we report results from a coordinated, year-round sampling program that focused on the six major Arctic rivers to establish a contemporary (2012-2017) benchmark of riverine Hg export. We determine that the six major Arctic rivers exported an average of 20 000 kg y-1 of total Hg (THg, all forms of Hg). Upscaled to the pan-Arctic, we estimate THg flux of 37 000 kg y-1. More than 90% of THg flux occurred during peak river discharge in spring and summer. Normalizing fluxes to watershed area (yield) reveals higher THg yields in regions where greater denudation likely enhances Hg mobilization. River discharge, suspended sediment, and dissolved organic carbon predicted THg concentration with moderate fidelity, while suspended sediment and water yields predicted THg yield with high fidelity. These findings establish a benchmark in the face of rapid Arctic warming and an intensifying hydrologic cycle, which will likely accelerate Hg cycling in tandem with changing inputs from thawing permafrost and industrial activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Scott Zolkos
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - David P Krabbenhoft
- Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Mercury Research Laboratory, United States Geological Survey, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562, United States
| | - Anya Suslova
- Woods Hole Research Center, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02540, United States
| | - Suzanne E Tank
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - James W McClelland
- Marine Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, Texas 78373, United States
| | - Robert G M Spencer
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, United States
| | - Alexander Shiklomanov
- Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, United States
| | - Alexander V Zhulidov
- South Russia Centre for Preparation and Implementation of International Projects, Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russia
| | - Tatiana Gurtovaya
- South Russia Centre for Preparation and Implementation of International Projects, Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russia
| | - Nikita Zimov
- Northeast Science Station, Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Chersky 690041, Russia
| | - Sergey Zimov
- Northeast Science Station, Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Chersky 690041, Russia
| | - Edda A Mutter
- Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council, Anchorage, Alaska 99501, United States
| | - Les Kutny
- Les Kutny Consultant, Inuvik, Northwest Territories X0E 0T0, Canada
| | - Edwin Amos
- Western Arctic Research Centre, Inuvik, Northwest Territories X0E 0T0, Canada
| | - Robert M Holmes
- Woods Hole Research Center, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02540, United States
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Lim AG, Sonke JE, Krickov IV, Manasypov RM, Loiko SV, Pokrovsky OS. Enhanced particulate Hg export at the permafrost boundary, western Siberia. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 254:113083. [PMID: 31473386 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 08/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Arctic permafrost soils contain large amounts of organic carbon and the pollutant mercury (Hg). Arctic warming and associated changes in hydrology, biogeochemistry and ecology risk mobilizing soil Hg to rivers and to the Arctic Ocean, yet little is known about the quantity, timing and mechanisms involved. Here we investigate seasonal particulate Hg (PHg) and organic carbon (POC) export in 32 small and medium rivers across a 1700 km latitudinal permafrost transect of the western Siberian Lowland. The PHg concentrations in suspended matter increased with decreasing watershed size. This underlines the significance of POC-rich small streams and wetlands in PHg export from watersheds. Maximum PHg concentrations and export fluxes were located in rivers at the beginning of permafrost zone (sporadic permafrost). We suggest this reflects enhanced Hg mobilization at the permafrost boundary, due to maximal depth of the thawed peat layer. Both the thickness of the active (unfrozen) peat layer and PHg run-off progressively move to the north during the summer and fall seasons, thus leading to maximal PHg export at the sporadic to discontinuous permafrost zone. The discharge-weighed PHg:POC ratio in western Siberian rivers (2.7 ± 0.5 μg Hg: g C) extrapolated to the whole Ob River basin yields a PHg flux of 1.5 ± 0.3 Mg y-1, consistent with previous estimates. For current climate warming and permafrost thaw scenarios in western Siberia, we predict that a northward shift of permafrost boundaries and increase of active layer depth may enhance the PHg export by small rivers to the Arctic Ocean by a factor of two over the next 10-50 years.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Artem G Lim
- BIO-GEO-CLIM Laboratory, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, 634050, Russia
| | - Jeroen E Sonke
- Geosciences and Environment Toulouse, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400, Toulouse, France
| | - Ivan V Krickov
- BIO-GEO-CLIM Laboratory, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, 634050, Russia
| | - Rinat M Manasypov
- BIO-GEO-CLIM Laboratory, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, 634050, Russia
| | - Sergey V Loiko
- BIO-GEO-CLIM Laboratory, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, 634050, Russia
| | - Oleg S Pokrovsky
- Geosciences and Environment Toulouse, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400, Toulouse, France; N. Laverov Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research, IEPS, Russian Academy of Sciences, 163000, Arkhangelsk, Russia.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Olson CL, Jiskra M, Sonke JE, Obrist D. Mercury in tundra vegetation of Alaska: Spatial and temporal dynamics and stable isotope patterns. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 660:1502-1512. [PMID: 30743942 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 01/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Vegetation uptake of atmospheric mercury (Hg) is an important mechanism enhancing atmospheric Hg deposition via litterfall and senescence. We here report Hg concentrations and pool sizes of different plant functional groups and plant species across nine tundra sites in northern Alaska. Significant spatial differences were observed in bulk vegetation Hg concentrations at Toolik Field station (52 ± 9 μg kg-1), Eight Mile Lake Observatory (40 ± 0.2 μg kg-1), and seven sites along a transect from Toolik Field station to the Arctic coast (36 ± 9 μg kg-1). Hg concentrations in non-vascular vegetation including feather and peat moss (58 ± 6 μg kg-1 and 34 ± 2 μg kg-1, respectively) and brown and white lichen (41 ± 2 μg kg-1 and 34 ± 2 μg kg-1, respectively), were three to six times those of vascular plant tissues (8 ± 1 μg kg-1 in dwarf birch leaves and 9 ± 1 μg kg-1 in tussock grass). A high representation of nonvascular vegetation in aboveground biomass resulted in substantial Hg mass contained in tundra aboveground vegetation (29 μg m-2), which fell within the range of foliar Hg mass estimated for forests in the United States (15 to 45 μg m-2) in spite of much shorter growing seasons. Hg stable isotope signatures of different plant species showed that atmospheric Hg(0) was the dominant source of Hg to tundra vegetation. Mass-dependent isotope signatures (δ202Hg) in vegetation relative to atmospheric Hg(0) showed pronounced shifts towards lower values, consistent with previously reported isotopic fractionation during foliar uptake of Hg(0). Mass-independent isotope signatures (Δ199Hg) of lichen were more positive relative to atmospheric Hg(0), indicating either photochemical reduction of Hg(II) or contributions of inorganic Hg(II) from atmospheric deposition and/or dust. Δ199Hg and Δ200Hg values in vascular plant species were similar to atmospheric Hg(0) suggesting that overall photochemical reduction and subsequent re-emission was relatively insignificant in these tundra ecosystems, in agreement with previous Hg(0) ecosystem flux measurements.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christine L Olson
- Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV 89512, USA
| | - Martin Jiskra
- Geosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/OMP/Université de Toulouse, 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France; Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 30, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jeroen E Sonke
- Geosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/OMP/Université de Toulouse, 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Daniel Obrist
- Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV 89512, USA; Department of Environmental, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
St Pierre KA, Zolkos S, Shakil S, Tank SE, St Louis VL, Kokelj SV. Unprecedented Increases in Total and Methyl Mercury Concentrations Downstream of Retrogressive Thaw Slumps in the Western Canadian Arctic. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:14099-14109. [PMID: 30474969 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b05348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Retrogressive thaw slumps (RTSs) are thermokarst features created by the rapid thaw of ice-rich permafrost, and can mobilize vast quantities of sediments and solutes downstream. However, the effect of slumping on downstream concentrations and yields of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) is unknown. Fluvial concentrations of THg and MeHg downstream of RTSs on the Peel Plateau (Northwest Territories, Canada) were up to 2 orders of magnitude higher than upstream, reaching concentrations of 1,270 ng L-1 and 7 ng L-1, respectively, the highest ever measured in uncontaminated sites in Canada. MeHg concentrations were particularly elevated at sites downstream of RTSs where debris tongues dammed streams to form reservoirs where microbial Hg methylation was likely enhanced. However, > 95% of the Hg downstream was typically particle-bound and potentially not readily bioavailable. Mean open-water season yields of THg (610 mg km-2 d-1) and MeHg (2.61 mg km-2 d-1) downstream of RTSs were up to an order of magnitude higher than those for the nearby large Yukon, Mackenzie and Peel rivers. We estimate that ∼5% of the Hg stored for centuries or millennia in northern permafrost soils (88 Gg) is susceptible to release into modern-day Hg biogeochemical cycling from further climate changes and thermokarst formation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyra A St Pierre
- Department of Biological Sciences , University of Alberta , Edmonton , Alberta T6G 2E3 , Canada
| | - Scott Zolkos
- Department of Biological Sciences , University of Alberta , Edmonton , Alberta T6G 2E3 , Canada
| | - Sarah Shakil
- Department of Biological Sciences , University of Alberta , Edmonton , Alberta T6G 2E3 , Canada
| | - Suzanne E Tank
- Department of Biological Sciences , University of Alberta , Edmonton , Alberta T6G 2E3 , Canada
| | - Vincent L St Louis
- Department of Biological Sciences , University of Alberta , Edmonton , Alberta T6G 2E3 , Canada
| | - Steven V Kokelj
- Northwest Territories Geological Survey , Yellowknife , Northwest Territories X1A 2L9 , Canada
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Eurasian river spring flood observations support net Arctic Ocean mercury export to the atmosphere and Atlantic Ocean. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E11586-E11594. [PMID: 30478039 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1811957115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Midlatitude anthropogenic mercury (Hg) emissions and discharge reach the Arctic Ocean (AO) by atmospheric and oceanic transport. Recent studies suggest that Arctic river Hg inputs have been a potentially overlooked source of Hg to the AO. Observations on Hg in Eurasian rivers, which represent 80% of freshwater inputs to the AO, are quasi-inexistent, however, putting firm understanding of the Arctic Hg cycle on hold. Here, we present comprehensive seasonal observations on dissolved Hg (DHg) and particulate Hg (PHg) concentrations and fluxes for two large Eurasian rivers, the Yenisei and the Severnaya Dvina. We find large DHg and PHg fluxes during the spring flood, followed by a second pulse during the fall flood. We observe well-defined water vs. Hg runoff relationships for Eurasian and North American Hg fluxes to the AO and for Canadian Hg fluxes into the larger Hudson Bay area. Extrapolation to pan-Arctic rivers and watersheds gives a total Hg river flux to the AO of 44 ± 4 Mg per year (1σ), in agreement with the recent model-based estimates of 16 to 46 Mg per year and Hg/dissolved organic carbon (DOC) observation-based estimate of 50 Mg per year. The river Hg budget, together with recent observations on tundra Hg uptake and AO Hg dynamics, provide a consistent view of the Arctic Hg cycle in which continental ecosystems traffic anthropogenic Hg emissions to the AO via rivers, and the AO exports Hg to the atmosphere, to the Atlantic Ocean, and to AO marine sediments.
Collapse
|
18
|
Gustaytis MA, Myagkaya IN, Chumbaev AS. Hg in snow cover and snowmelt waters in high-sulfide tailing regions (Ursk tailing dump site, Kemerovo region, Russia). CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 202:446-459. [PMID: 29579679 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.03.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Revised: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Gold-bearing polymetallic Cu-Zn deposits of sulphur-pyrite ores were discovered in the Novo-Ursk region in the 1930s. The average content of mercury (Hg) was approximately 120 μg/g at the time. A comprehensive study of Hg distribution in waste of metal ore enrichment industry was carried out in the cold season on the tailing dump site and in adjacent areas. Mercury concentration in among snow particulate, dissolved and colloid fractions was determined. The maximal Hg content in particulate fraction from the waste tailing site ranged 230-573 μg/g. Such indices as the frequency of aerosol dust deposition events per units of time and area, enrichment factor and the total load allowed to establish that the territory of the tailing waste dump site had a snow cover highly contaminated with dust deposited at a rate of 247-480 mg/(m2∙day). Adjacent areas could be considered as area with low Hg contamination rate with average deposition rate of 30 mg/(m2∙day). The elemental composition of the aerosol dust depositions was determined as well, which allowed to reveal the extent of enrichment waste dispersion throughout adjacent areas. The amount of Hg entering environment with snowmelt water discharge was estimated. As a result of snowmelting, in 2014 the nearest to the dump site hydrographic network got Hg as 7.1 g with colloids and as 5880 g as particles. The results obtained allowed to assess the degree of Hg contamination of areas under the impact of metal enrichment industry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M A Gustaytis
- V.S. Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Koptyug Ave., 3, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia; Novosibirsk State University, Pirogov Str., 3, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
| | - I N Myagkaya
- V.S. Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Koptyug Ave., 3, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - A S Chumbaev
- Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Lavrent'eva Ave., 8/2, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Brown TM, Macdonald RW, Muir DCG, Letcher RJ. The distribution and trends of persistent organic pollutants and mercury in marine mammals from Canada's Eastern Arctic. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 618:500-517. [PMID: 29145101 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Revised: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/04/2017] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Arctic contaminant research in the marine environment has focused on organohalogen compounds and mercury mainly because they are bioaccumulative, persistent and toxic. This review summarizes and discusses the patterns and trends of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and mercury in ringed seals (Pusa hispida) and polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the Eastern Canadian Arctic relative to the rest of the Canadian Arctic. The review provides explanations for these trends and looks at the implications of climate-related changes on contaminants in these marine mammals in a region that has been reviewed little. Presently, the highest levels of total mercury (THg) and the legacy pesticide HCH in ringed seals and polar bears are found in the Western Canadian Arctic relative to other locations. Whereas, highest levels of some legacy contaminants, including ∑PCBs, PCB 153, ∑DDTs, p,p'-DDE, ∑CHLs, ClBz are found in the east (i.e., Ungava Bay and Labrador) and in the Beaufort Sea relative to other locations. The highest levels of recent contaminants, including PBDEs and PFOS are found at lower latitudes. Feeding ecology (e.g., feeding at a higher trophic position) is shaping the elevated levels of THg and some legacy contaminants in the west compared to the east. Spatial and temporal trends for POPs and THg are underpinned by historical loadings of surface ocean reservoirs including the Western Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean. Trends set up by the distribution of water masses across the Canadian Arctic Archipelago are then acted upon locally by on-going atmospheric deposition, which is the dominant contributor for more recent contaminants. Warming and continued decline in sea ice are likely to result in further shifts in food web structure, which are likely to increase contaminant burdens in marine mammals. Monitoring of seawater and a range of trophic levels would provide a better basis to inform communities about contaminants in traditionally harvested foods, allow us to understand the causes of contaminant trends in marine ecosystems, and to track environmental response to source controls instituted under international conventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tanya M Brown
- Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X9, Canada.
| | - Robie W Macdonald
- Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Institute of Ocean Sciences, Sidney, British Columbia V8L 4B2, Canada; Centre for Earth Observation Science, Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Derek C G Muir
- Environment Canada, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, Canada
| | - Robert J Letcher
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Raven Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Obrist D, Agnan Y, Jiskra M, Olson CL, Colegrove DP, Hueber J, Moore CW, Sonke JE, Helmig D. Tundra uptake of atmospheric elemental mercury drives Arctic mercury pollution. Nature 2017; 547:201-204. [PMID: 28703199 DOI: 10.1038/nature22997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities have led to large-scale mercury (Hg) pollution in the Arctic. It has been suggested that sea-salt-induced chemical cycling of Hg (through 'atmospheric mercury depletion events', or AMDEs) and wet deposition via precipitation are sources of Hg to the Arctic in its oxidized form (Hg(ii)). However, there is little evidence for the occurrence of AMDEs outside of coastal regions, and their importance to net Hg deposition has been questioned. Furthermore, wet-deposition measurements in the Arctic showed some of the lowest levels of Hg deposition via precipitation worldwide, raising questions as to the sources of high Arctic Hg loading. Here we present a comprehensive Hg-deposition mass-balance study, and show that most of the Hg (about 70%) in the interior Arctic tundra is derived from gaseous elemental Hg (Hg(0)) deposition, with only minor contributions from the deposition of Hg(ii) via precipitation or AMDEs. We find that deposition of Hg(0)-the form ubiquitously present in the global atmosphere-occurs throughout the year, and that it is enhanced in summer through the uptake of Hg(0) by vegetation. Tundra uptake of gaseous Hg(0) leads to high soil Hg concentrations, with Hg masses greatly exceeding the levels found in temperate soils. Our concurrent Hg stable isotope measurements in the atmosphere, snowpack, vegetation and soils support our finding that Hg(0) dominates as a source to the tundra. Hg concentration and stable isotope data from an inland-to-coastal transect show high soil Hg concentrations consistently derived from Hg(0), suggesting that the Arctic tundra might be a globally important Hg sink. We suggest that the high tundra soil Hg concentrations might also explain why Arctic rivers annually transport large amounts of Hg to the Arctic Ocean.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Obrist
- Department of Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854, USA.,Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, Nevada 89512, USA
| | - Yannick Agnan
- Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, Nevada 89512, USA.,Milieux Environnementaux, Transferts et Interactions dans les Hydrosystèmes et les Sols (METIS), UMR 7619, Sorbonne Universités UPMC-CNRS-EPHE, 4 place Jussieu, F-75252 Paris, France
| | - Martin Jiskra
- Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/OMP/Université de Toulouse, 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Christine L Olson
- Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, Nevada 89512, USA
| | - Dominique P Colegrove
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), University of Colorado, 4001 Discovery Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
| | - Jacques Hueber
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), University of Colorado, 4001 Discovery Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
| | - Christopher W Moore
- Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, Nevada 89512, USA.,Gas Technology Institute (GTI), 1700 South Mount Prospect Road, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018, USA
| | - Jeroen E Sonke
- Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/OMP/Université de Toulouse, 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Detlev Helmig
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), University of Colorado, 4001 Discovery Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Sprovieri F, Pirrone N, Bencardino M, D’Amore F, Carbone F, Cinnirella S, Mannarino V, Landis M, Ebinghaus R, Weigelt A, Brunke EG, Labuschagne C, Martin L, Munthe J, Wängberg I, Artaxo P, Morais F, de Melo Jorge Barbosa H, Brito J, Cairns W, Barbante C, del Carmen Diéguez M, Garcia PE, Dommergue A, Angot H, Magand O, Skov H, Horvat M, Kotnik J, Read KA, Neves LM, Gawlik BM, Sena F, Mashyanov N, Obolkin V, Wip D, Feng XB, Zhang H, Fu X, Ramachandran R, Cossa D, Knoery J, Marusczak N, Nerentorp M, Norstrom C. Atmospheric mercury concentrations observed at ground-based monitoring sites globally distributed in the framework of the GMOS network. ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS 2016; 16:11915-11935. [PMID: 30245704 PMCID: PMC6145827 DOI: 10.5194/acp-16-11915-2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Long-term monitoring of data of ambient mercury (Hg) on a global scale to assess its emission, transport, atmospheric chemistry, and deposition processes is vital to understanding the impact of Hg pollution on the environment. The Global Mercury Observation System (GMOS) project was funded by the European Commission (http://www.gmos.eu) and started in November 2010 with the overall goal to develop a coordinated global observing system to monitor Hg on a global scale, including a large network of ground-based monitoring stations, ad hoc periodic oceanographic cruises and measurement flights in the lower and upper troposphere as well as in the lower stratosphere. To date, more than 40 ground-based monitoring sites constitute the global network covering many regions where little to no observational data were available before GMOS. This work presents atmospheric Hg concentrations recorded worldwide in the framework of the GMOS project (2010-2015), analyzing Hg measurement results in terms of temporal trends, seasonality and comparability within the network. Major findings highlighted in this paper include a clear gradient of Hg concentrations between the Northern and Southern hemispheres, confirming that the gradient observed is mostly driven by local and regional sources, which can be anthropogenic, natural or a combination of both.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicola Pirrone
- CNR Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Matthew Landis
- Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | | | - Ernst-Günther Brunke
- Cape Point GAW Station, Climate and Environment Research & Monitoring, South African Weather Service, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Casper Labuschagne
- Cape Point GAW Station, Climate and Environment Research & Monitoring, South African Weather Service, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Lynwill Martin
- Cape Point GAW Station, Climate and Environment Research & Monitoring, South African Weather Service, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - John Munthe
- IVL, Swedish Environmental Research Inst. Ltd., Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Ingvar Wängberg
- IVL, Swedish Environmental Research Inst. Ltd., Göteborg, Sweden
| | | | | | | | - Joel Brito
- University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Carlo Barbante
- University Ca’ Foscari of Venice, Venice, Italy
- CNR Institute for the Dynamics of Environmental Processes, Venice, Italy
| | | | | | - Aurélien Dommergue
- Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Géophysique de l’Environnement, University Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
- Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Géophysique de l’Environnement, CNRS, Grenoble, France
| | - Helene Angot
- Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Géophysique de l’Environnement, University Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
- Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Géophysique de l’Environnement, CNRS, Grenoble, France
| | - Olivier Magand
- Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Géophysique de l’Environnement, University Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
- Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Géophysique de l’Environnement, CNRS, Grenoble, France
| | - Henrik Skov
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Dennis Wip
- Department of Physics, University of Suriname, Paramaribo, Suriname
| | - Xin Bin Feng
- Institute of Geochemistry, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Institute of Geochemistry, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, China
| | - Xuewu Fu
- Institute of Geochemistry, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, China
| | | | - Daniel Cossa
- LER/PAC, Ifremer,Centre Méditerranée, La Seyne-sur-Mer, France
| | - Joël Knoery
- LBCM, Ifremer, Centre Atlantique, Nantes, France
| | | | | | - Claus Norstrom
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Ruus A, Øverjordet IB, Braaten HFV, Evenset A, Christensen G, Heimstad ES, Gabrielsen GW, Borgå K. Methylmercury biomagnification in an Arctic pelagic food web. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2015; 34:2636-2643. [PMID: 26274519 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2015] [Revised: 04/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/25/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a toxic element that enters the biosphere from natural and anthropogenic sources, and emitted gaseous Hg enters the Arctic from lower latitudes by long-range transport. In aquatic systems, anoxic conditions favor the bacterial transformation of inorganic Hg to methylmercury (MeHg), which has a greater potential for bioaccumulation than inorganic Hg and is the most toxic form of Hg. The main objective of the present study was to quantify the biomagnification of MeHg in a marine pelagic food web, comprising species of zooplankton, fish, and seabirds, from the Kongsfjorden system (Svalbard, Norway), by use of trophic magnification factors. As expected, tissue concentrations of MeHg increased with increasing trophic level in the food web, though at greater rates than observed in several earlier studies, especially at lower latitudes. There was strong correlation between MeHg and total Hg concentrations through the food web as a whole. The concentration of MeHg in kittiwake decreased from May to October, contributing to seasonal differences in trophic magnification factors. The ecology and physiology of the species comprising the food web in question may have a large influence on the magnitude of the biomagnification. A significant linear relationship was also observed between concentrations of selenium and total Hg in birds but not in zooplankton, suggesting the importance of selenium in Hg detoxification for individuals with high Hg concentrations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anders Ruus
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ida B Øverjordet
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- SINTEF Materials and Chemistry, Marine Environmental Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Anita Evenset
- Akvaplan-niva, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
- University of Tromsø, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | | | | | - Katrine Borgå
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Masbou J, Point D, Sonke JE, Frappart F, Perrot V, Amouroux D, Richard P, Becker PR. Hg Stable Isotope Time Trend in Ringed Seals Registers Decreasing Sea Ice Cover in the Alaskan Arctic. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:8977-85. [PMID: 26132925 DOI: 10.1021/es5048446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Decadal time trends of mercury (Hg) concentrations in Arctic biota suggest that anthropogenic Hg is not the single dominant factor modulating Hg exposure to Arctic wildlife. Here, we present Hg speciation (monomethyl-Hg) and stable isotopic composition (C, N, Hg) of 53 Alaskan ringed seal liver samples covering a period of 14 years (1988-2002). In vivo metabolic effects and foraging ecology explain most of the observed 1.6 ‰ variation in liver δ(202)Hg, but not Δ(199)Hg. Ringed seal habitat use and migration were the most likely factors explaining Δ(199)Hg variations. Average Δ(199)Hg in ringed seal liver samples from Barrow increased significantly from +0.38 ± 0.08‰ (±SE, n = 5) in 1988 to +0.59 ± 0.07‰ (±SE, n = 7) in 2002 (4.1 ± 1.2% per year, p < 0.001). Δ(199)Hg in marine biological tissues is thought to reflect marine Hg photochemistry before biouptake and bioaccumulation. A spatiotemporal analysis of sea ice cover that accounts for the habitat of ringed seals suggests that the observed increase in Δ(199)Hg may have been caused by the progressive summer sea ice disappearance between 1988 and 2002. While changes in seal liver Δ(199)Hg values suggests a mild sea ice control on marine MMHg breakdown, the effect is not large enough to induce measurable HgT changes in biota. This suggests that Hg trends in biota in the context of a warming Arctic are likely controlled by other processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jérémy Masbou
- †Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD/Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse 3, 14 avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - David Point
- †Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD/Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse 3, 14 avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Jeroen E Sonke
- †Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD/Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse 3, 14 avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Frédéric Frappart
- †Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD/Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse 3, 14 avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Vincent Perrot
- ‡Laboratoire de Chimie Analytique Bio-Inorganique et Environnement, Institut Pluridisciplinaire de Recherche sur l'Environnement et les Matériaux, CNRS-UPPA-UMR-5254, Hélioparc, 2 Avenue du Président Pierre Angot, Pau, 64053, France
| | - David Amouroux
- ‡Laboratoire de Chimie Analytique Bio-Inorganique et Environnement, Institut Pluridisciplinaire de Recherche sur l'Environnement et les Matériaux, CNRS-UPPA-UMR-5254, Hélioparc, 2 Avenue du Président Pierre Angot, Pau, 64053, France
| | - Pierre Richard
- §UMR Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, Institut du Littoral et de l'Environnement, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Paul R Becker
- ∥National Institute of Standards and Technology, Analytical Chemistry Division, Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, South Carolina 29412 United States
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Shallow methylmercury production in the marginal sea ice zone of the central Arctic Ocean. Sci Rep 2015; 5:10318. [PMID: 25993348 PMCID: PMC4438723 DOI: 10.1038/srep10318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a neurotoxic compound that threatens wildlife and human health across the Arctic region. Though much is known about the source and dynamics of its inorganic mercury (Hg) precursor, the exact origin of the high MeHg concentrations in Arctic biota remains uncertain. Arctic coastal sediments, coastal marine waters and surface snow are known sites for MeHg production. Observations on marine Hg dynamics, however, have been restricted to the Canadian Archipelago and the Beaufort Sea (<79°N). Here we present the first central Arctic Ocean (79–90°N) profiles for total mercury (tHg) and MeHg. We find elevated tHg and MeHg concentrations in the marginal sea ice zone (81–85°N). Similar to other open ocean basins, Arctic MeHg concentration maxima also occur in the pycnocline waters, but at much shallower depths (150–200 m). The shallow MeHg maxima just below the productive surface layer possibly result in enhanced biological uptake at the base of the Arctic marine food web and may explain the elevated MeHg concentrations in Arctic biota. We suggest that Arctic warming, through thinning sea ice, extension of the seasonal sea ice zone, intensified surface ocean stratification and shifts in plankton ecodynamics, will likely lead to higher marine MeHg production.
Collapse
|
25
|
Ariya PA, Amyot M, Dastoor A, Deeds D, Feinberg A, Kos G, Poulain A, Ryjkov A, Semeniuk K, Subir M, Toyota K. Mercury Physicochemical and Biogeochemical Transformation in the Atmosphere and at Atmospheric Interfaces: A Review and Future Directions. Chem Rev 2015; 115:3760-802. [DOI: 10.1021/cr500667e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 228] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marc Amyot
- Department
of Biological Sciences, Université de Montréal, 90
avenue Vincent-d’Indy, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3C 3J7
| | - Ashu Dastoor
- Air
Quality Research Division, Environment Canada, 2121 TransCanada Highway, Dorval, Quebec, Canada, H9P 1J3
| | | | | | | | - Alexandre Poulain
- Department
of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5
| | - Andrei Ryjkov
- Air
Quality Research Division, Environment Canada, 2121 TransCanada Highway, Dorval, Quebec, Canada, H9P 1J3
| | - Kirill Semeniuk
- Air
Quality Research Division, Environment Canada, 2121 TransCanada Highway, Dorval, Quebec, Canada, H9P 1J3
| | - M. Subir
- Department
of Chemistry, Ball State University, 2000 West University Avenue, Muncie, Indiana 47306, United States
| | - Kenjiro Toyota
- Air
Quality Research Division, Environment Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M3H 5T4
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Dastoor A, Ryzhkov A, Durnford D, Lehnherr I, Steffen A, Morrison H. Atmospheric mercury in the Canadian Arctic. Part II: insight from modeling. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 509-510:16-27. [PMID: 25604938 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.10.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2014] [Revised: 10/28/2014] [Accepted: 10/29/2014] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
A review of mercury in the Canadian Arctic with a focus on field measurements is presented in part I (see Steffen et al., this issue). Here we provide insights into the dynamics of mercury in the Canadian Arctic from new and published mercury modeling studies using Environment Canada's mercury model. The model simulations presented in this study use global anthropogenic emissions of mercury for the period 1995-2005. The most recent modeling estimate of the net gain of mercury from the atmosphere to the Arctic Ocean is 75 Mg year(-1) and the net gain to the terrestrial ecosystems north of 66.5° is 42 Mg year(-1). Model based annual export of riverine mercury from North American, Russian and all Arctic watersheds to the Arctic Ocean are in the range of 2.8-5.6, 12.7-25.4 and 15.5-31.0 Mg year(-1), respectively. Analysis of long-range transport events of Hg at Alert and Little Fox Lake monitoring sites indicates that Asia contributes the most ambient Hg to the Canadian Arctic followed by contributions from North America, Russia, and Europe. The largest anthropogenic Hg deposition to the Canadian Arctic is from East Asia followed by Europe (and Russia), North America, and South Asia. An examination of temporal trends of Hg using the model suggests that changes in meteorology and changes in anthropogenic emissions equally contribute to the decrease in surface air elemental mercury concentrations in the Canadian Arctic with an overall decline of ~12% from 1990 to 2005. A slow increase in net deposition of Hg is found in the Canadian Arctic in response to changes in meteorology. Changes in snowpack and sea-ice characteristics and increase in precipitation in the Arctic related with climate change are found to be primary causes for the meteorology-related changes in air concentrations and deposition of Hg in the region. The model estimates that under the emissions reduction scenario of worldwide implementation of the best emission control technologies by 2020, mercury deposition could potentially be reduced by 18-20% in the Canadian Arctic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashu Dastoor
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment Canada, 2121 TransCanada Highway, Dorval, QC H9P 1J3, Canada.
| | - Andrew Ryzhkov
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment Canada, 2121 TransCanada Highway, Dorval, QC H9P 1J3, Canada
| | - Dorothy Durnford
- Meteorological Service of Canada, Environment Canada, 2121 TransCanada Highway, Dorval, QC H9P 1J3, Canada
| | - Igor Lehnherr
- University of Waterloo, Department of Earth and Environmental SciencesWaterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Alexandra Steffen
- Environment Canada, Air Quality Research Division, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Heather Morrison
- Environment Canada, Air Quality Research Division, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Steffen A, Lehnherr I, Cole A, Ariya P, Dastoor A, Durnford D, Kirk J, Pilote M. Atmospheric mercury in the Canadian Arctic. Part I: a review of recent field measurements. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 509-510:3-15. [PMID: 25497576 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.10.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2014] [Revised: 10/27/2014] [Accepted: 10/31/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Long-range atmospheric transport and deposition are important sources of mercury (Hg) to Arctic aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. We review here recent progress made in the study of the transport, transformation, deposition and reemission of atmospheric Hg in the Canadian Arctic, focusing on field measurements (see Dastoor et al., this issue for a review of modeling studies on the same topics). Redox processes control the speciation of atmospheric Hg, and thus impart an important influence on Hg deposition, particularly during atmospheric mercury depletion events (AMDEs). Bromine radicals were identified as the primary oxidant of atmospheric Hg during AMDEs. Since the start of monitoring at Alert (NU) in 1995, the timing of peak AMDE occurrence has shifted to earlier times in the spring (from May to April) in recent years, and while AMDE frequency and GEM concentrations are correlated with local meteorological conditions, the reasons for this timing-shift are not understood. Mercury is subject to various post-depositional processes in snowpacks and a large portion of deposited oxidized Hg can be reemitted following photoreduction; how much Hg is deposited and reemitted depends on geographical location, meteorological, vegetative and sea-ice conditions, as well as snow chemistry. Halide anions in the snow can stabilize Hg, therefore it is expected that a smaller fraction of deposited Hg will be reemitted from coastal snowpacks. Atmospheric gaseous Hg concentrations have decreased in some parts of the Arctic (e.g., Alert) from 2000 to 2009 but at a rate that was less than that at lower latitudes. Despite numerous recent advances, a number of knowledge gaps remain, including uncertainties in the identification of oxidized Hg species in the air (and how this relates to dry vs. wet deposition), physical-chemical processes in air, snow and water-especially over sea ice-and the relationship between these processes and climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Steffen
- Environment Canada, Air Quality Processes Research, Toronto M3H 5T4, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Igor Lehnherr
- University of Waterloo, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Waterloo N2L 3G1, Ontario, Canada
| | - Amanda Cole
- Environment Canada, Air Quality Processes Research, Toronto M3H 5T4, Ontario, Canada
| | - Parisa Ariya
- McGill University, Department of Chemistry, 801 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal H3A 2K6, Quebec, Canada; McGill University, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, 801 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal H3A 2K6, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ashu Dastoor
- Environment Canada, National Prediction Development Division, Dorval H9P 1J3, Quebec, Canada
| | - Dorothy Durnford
- Environment Canada, National Prediction Development Division, Dorval H9P 1J3, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jane Kirk
- Environment Canada, Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Burlington L7R 4A6, Ontario, Canada
| | - Martin Pilote
- Environment Canada, Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Montreal H2Y 2E7, Quebec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Amos HM, Jacob DJ, Kocman D, Horowitz HM, Zhang Y, Dutkiewicz S, Horvat M, Corbitt ES, Krabbenhoft DP, Sunderland EM. Global biogeochemical implications of mercury discharges from rivers and sediment burial. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2014; 48:9514-22. [PMID: 25066365 DOI: 10.1021/es502134t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Rivers are an important source of mercury (Hg) to marine ecosystems. Based on an analysis of compiled observations, we estimate global present-day Hg discharges from rivers to ocean margins are 27 ± 13 Mmol a(-1) (5500 ± 2700 Mg a(-1)), of which 28% reaches the open ocean and the rest is deposited to ocean margin sediments. Globally, the source of Hg to the open ocean from rivers amounts to 30% of atmospheric inputs. This is larger than previously estimated due to accounting for elevated concentrations in Asian rivers and variability in offshore transport across different types of estuaries. Riverine inputs of Hg to the North Atlantic have decreased several-fold since the 1970s while inputs to the North Pacific have increased. These trends have large effects on Hg concentrations at ocean margins but are too small in the open ocean to explain observed declines of seawater concentrations in the North Atlantic or increases in the North Pacific. Burial of Hg in ocean margin sediments represents a major sink in the global Hg biogeochemical cycle that has not been previously considered. We find that including this sink in a fully coupled global biogeochemical box model helps to balance the large anthropogenic release of Hg from commercial products recently added to global inventories. It also implies that legacy anthropogenic Hg can be removed from active environmental cycling on a faster time scale (centuries instead of millennia). Natural environmental Hg levels are lower than previously estimated, implying a relatively larger impact from human activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helen M Amos
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and ‡School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|