Submarine groundwater discharge of total mercury and monomethylmercury to central California coastal waters

Non-conservative mixing behaviors of mercury in subterranean estuary: Coupling effect of hydrological and biogeochemical processes and implications for rapidly changing world

Coastal ecosystem is an important zone of mercury (Hg) storage and hotspot of neurotoxic methylmercury (MMHg) production and bioaccumulation. The releases of Hg from coastal aquifer or subterranean estuary (STE) via submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) to coastal waters provide an important source of Hg from land to seas. However, the transport and biogeochemical transformation of Hg in STEs are less quantified. In this study, we documented total Hg (THg) and MMHg dynamics in two distinct STEs (a sandflat at an open coast versus a mudflat at a bay) during two different seasons (December versus August) in the temperate coast of northern China, and further applied the salinity-based conservative mixing model (CMM) to quantify the coupling effect of hydrological and biogeochemical processes on STE Hg cycle. Our field data presented large variations of THg and MMHg concentrations and%MMHg/THg of groundwater and sediment in both STEs over time and space. The CMM results clearly displayed substantial divergences of dissolved THg and MMHg from salinity in groundwater between sites and seasons, and the concentration and percent deviations in the Hg-rich mudflat were significantly higher than those in the Hg-poor sandflat. Our findings indicate the non-conservative mixing behaviors of Hg along the groundwater flow paths of both STEs, and the Hg-rich intertidal zone could be hotspot for the production and source of dissolved THg and MMHg to coastal waters via SGD. Our results provide field evidence to highlight that the hydrological shifts and biogeochemical processes collectively drive complex transport and biogeochemical transformation of Hg in STEs. The non-conservative mixing behaviors of Hg in STEs also highlight that, for more accurately calculating SGD-derived Hg fluxes to coastal seas, we need to carefully select the groundwater zonation of STE to better represent the output endmember. Our findings also address that human activities and climate change will profoundly alter the Hg biogeochemical cycle and toxicology in global coastal aquifers.

Coastal streams and sewage outfalls: Hot spots of mercury discharge, pollution and cycling in nearshore environments

The coastal streams (CSs) and sewage outfalls (SOs) are widely distributed and direct anthropogenic stress on global coastal ecosystems. However, the CS/SO-associated mercury (Hg) discharge, pollution and cycle in nearshore environment are less quantified. Here, we report that total Hg (THg) and methylmercury (MMHg) concentrations in waters of CSs (n = 8) and SOs (n = 15) of the northern China were ∼102 to 103 times of coastal surface waters and 10 to 102 times of major rivers in China and other regions. The CS/SO discharges resulted in the increase of total organic carbon (TOC) contents, THg and MMHg concentrations and TOC-normalized THg and MMHg concentrations in sediments of CS/SO-impacted coasts. The laboratory experiments further illustrated that the CS/SO-impacted sediments characterized with high potentials of dissolved THg and MMHg productions and releases. Our findings indicate that the layout optimization of SOs is able to reduce the Hg risk in coastal environment.

Arsenic enriched groundwater discharge to a tropical ocean: Understanding controls and processes

The role of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) in transporting terrestrial-sourced arsenic (As) to the global oceans is not well documented. In the present study, executed on a coast adjoining the extensive groundwater As-contaminated Ganges river delta, we hypothesize that As-enriched groundwater discharges to the adjoining Bay of Bengal (BoB) through SGD flow paths. We conducted high-resolution, field-based investigations and thermodynamic modeling to understand the SGD-sourced As discharge and geochemical cycling of As and other redox-sensitive solutes along the discharge path under varying redox conditions and water sediment interactions. The As distribution and other solutes were measured in a series of multi-depth observation wells and sediment cores, extending from the high tide line (HTL) to 100 m toward the sea, for pre- and post-monsoon seasons. Results reveal the presence of a plume carrying up to 30 μg/L dissolved load of As toward the sea. Arsenic is associated with a plume of Fe and exhibits similar shore-perpendicular variability. Arsenic distribution and transport is controlled by the Fe-Mn redox cycle and influenced by terrestrial groundwater discharge. Field-observations and geochemical modeling demonstrate that Fe-hydroxide precipitates in the subterranean estuary and acts as an interim sink for As , which is eventually mobilized on alteration of geochemical conditions with the season. Fluctuating plume size can be attributed to seasonal variation in fresh groundwater input to the site. Estimates indicate up to 55mg/m²/d As is released to BoB from the site. Based on physicochemical observations this study demonstrates the yet to be studied SGD derived As cycles and the role of SGD dynamics in controlling the fate of redox-sensitive contaminants and their discharge into global oceans.

Occurrence, allocation and geochemical controls for mercury in a typical estuarine ecosystem: Implications for the predictability of mercury species

In this study, surface seawater, bottom seawater and surface sediments were collected from the Yellow River Estuary Area (YREA) and the Laizhou Bay (LB) to investigate the occurrence, spatial distribution and geochemical control factors for total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in different phases. The geochemical characteristics of seawater and sediments suggested significant variances in the YREA and the LB. The high contamination of Hg in the YREA showed the discharge of the Yellow River (YR) contributed significantly to the Hg contamination in the LB. The partial least squares regression (PLSR) model was utilized to explore the complicated interactions between geochemical controls and methylation potentials in different phases. Although the ecological risk (ER) of Hg was not significant in this study area, the higher values of ER in the YREA suggested that the YR was the primary Hg contributor to LB. Therefore, the potential Hg risk should not be ignored.

Radon (222Rn) as tracer for submarine groundwater discharge investigation-limitations of the approach at shallow wind-exposed coastal settings

Mapping radon (²²²Rn) distribution patterns in the coastal sea is a widely applied method for localizing and quantifying submarine groundwater discharge (SGD). While the literature reports a wide range of successful case studies, methodical problems that might occur in shallow wind-exposed coastal settings are generally neglected. This paper evaluates causes and effects that resulted in a failure of the radon approach at a distinct shallow wind-exposed location in the Baltic Sea. Based on a simple radon mass balance model, we discuss the effect of both wind speed and wind direction as causal for this failure. We show that at coastal settings, which are dominated by gentle submarine slopes and shallow waters, both parameters have severe impact on coastal radon distribution patterns, thus impeding their use for SGD investigation. In such cases, the radon approach needs necessarily to allow for the impact of wind speed and wind direction not only during but also prior to the field campaign.

Recent Changes in Groundwater and Surface Water in Large Pan-Arctic River Basins

Surface and groundwater in large pan-Arctic river basins are changing rapidly. High-quality estimates of these changes are challenging because of the limits on the data quality and time span of satellite observations. Here, the term pan-Arctic river refers to the rivers flowing to the Arctic Ocean basin. In this study, we provide a new evaluation of groundwater storage (GWS) changes in the Lena, Ob, Yenisei, Mackenzie and Yukon River basins from the GRACE total water storage anomaly product, in situ runoff, soil moisture form models and a snow water equivalent product that has been significantly improved. Seasonal Trend decomposition using Loess was utilized to obtain trends in GWS. Changes in surface water (SW) between 1984 and 2019 in these basins were also examined based on the Joint Research Centre Global Surface Water Transition data. Results suggested that there were great GWS losses in the North American river basins, totaling approximately −219 km3, and GWS gains in the Siberian river basins, totaling ~340 km3, during 2002–2017. New seasonal and permanent SWs are the primary contributors to the SW transition, accounting for more than 50% of the area of the changed SW in each basin. Changes in the Arctic hydrological system will be more significant and various in the case of rapid and continuous changes in permafrost.

Evaluation, effect and utilization of submarine groundwater discharge for coastal population and ecosystem: A special emphasis on Indian coastline

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is an important process driven by marine and terrestrial forces. Low tide affects SGD the most, therefore the ideal time to detect SGD is the low tide, especially during spring tide. Techniques to detect and quantify SGD along with the understanding of the related aquifer characteristics is discussed in this study. Scientific community across the world is realizing the importance of studying and mapping SGD because in the scenario of climate change, this part of the global hydrological cycle is an important process and is known to have a significant effect on the marine ecosystem due to nutrient and metal inputs around the region of discharge. Therefore, understanding the processes governing SGD becomes very important. In this review, various components and processes related to SGD (e.g. Submarine Groundwater Recharge, Deep Porewater Upwelling, Recirculated Saline Groundwater Discharge), along with detailed discussion on impacts of SGD for marine ecosystem is presented. Also, it highlights the future research direction and emphasis is put on more research to be done keeping in mind the changing climate and its impacts on SGD.

Microbial community composition across a coastal hydrological system affected by submarine groundwater discharge (SGD)

Mobile Bay, the fourth largest estuary in the USA located in the northern Gulf of Mexico, is known for extreme hypoxia in the water column during dry season caused by NH4+-rich and anoxic submarine groundwater discharge (SGD). Nutrient dynamics in the coastal ecosystem point to potentially elevated microbial activities; however, little is known about microbial community composition and their functional roles in this area. In this study, we investigated microbial community composition, distribution, and metabolic prediction along the coastal hydrological compartment of Mobile Bay using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We collected microbial samples from surface (river and bay water) and subsurface water (groundwater and coastal pore water from two SGD sites with peat and sandy lithology, respectively). Salinity was identified as the primary factor affecting the distribution of microbial communities across surface water samples, while DON and PO43- were the major predictor of community shift within subsurface water samples. Higher microbial diversity was found in coastal pore water in comparison to surface water samples. Gammaproteobacteria, Bacteroidia, and Oxyphotobacteria dominated the bacterial community. Among the archaea, methanogens were prevalent in the peat-dominated SGD site, while the sandy SGD site was characterized by a higher proportion of ammonia-oxidizing archaea. Cyanobium PCC-6307 and unclassified Thermodesulfovibrionia were identified as dominant taxa strongly associated with trends in environmental parameters in surface and subsurface samples, respectively. Microbial communities found in the groundwater and peat layer consisted of taxa known for denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA). This finding suggested that microbial communities might also play a significant role in mediating nitrogen transformation in the SGD flow path and in affecting the chemical composition of SGD discharging to the water column. Given the ecological importance of microorganisms, further studies at higher taxonomic and functional resolution are needed to accurately predict chemical biotransformation processes along the coastal hydrological continuum, which influence water quality and environmental condition in Mobile Bay.

Occurrence and risk assessment of total mercury and methylmercury in surface seawater and sediments from the Jiaozhou Bay, Yellow Sea

The Jiaozhou Bay is a semi-enclosed bay located in the middle of the Yellow Sea. Effluents from wastewater treatment plants have been carried into the bay, which has significantly increased the deposition of mercury. The spatial distributions of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in dissolved state, in suspended matters of seawater and surface sediments at 26 locations inside the Jiaozhou Bay and five surrounding rivers in April 2018 were examined. The contents of THg and MeHg found along the eastern coast were higher than those found along the western coast, which indicated the impact of human activities (river input) on the Jiaozhou Bay. The partition coefficient (LogKd) was used to express the distribution relationships of THg and MeHg in suspended matters and dissolved state, and it was concluded that suspended matter was the main reservoir of mercury in Jiaozhou Bay seawater. The correlations between contents and physicochemical properties of seawater showed that THg and MeHg concentrations in seawater decreased with increasing salinity and pH. The effects of the mean grain diameter (MGD) and sediment organic matter (SOM) on the THg and MeHg in surface sediments were also discussed. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to obtain the factors determining the methylation proportion in the surface sediments, indicating that the combination of human activities and natural processes affected the degree of methylation in the sediments. The spatial distribution of THg, MeHg and MeHg% was suggested to be disturbed by the interaction of natural processes and human activities (river input) by the correlation analysis of the corresponding pollutant concentrations among seawater and. Although the concentrations of THg and MeHg in seawater and sediments of the Jiaozhou Bay did not exceed the Chinese regulatory standards, the pollution levels of THg and MeHg were comparable to those in other bays in the world.

A global perspective on mercury cycling in the ocean

Mercury (Hg) is a ubiquitous metal in the ocean that undergoes in situ chemical transformations in seawater and marine sediment. Most relevant to public health is the production of monomethyl-Hg, a neurotoxin to humans that accumulates in marine fish and mammals. Here we synthesize 30 years of Hg measurements in the ocean to discuss sources, sinks, and internal cycling of this toxic metal. Global-scale oceanographic survey programs (i.e. CLIVAR and GEOTRACES), refined protocols for clean sampling, and analytical advancements have produced over 200 high-resolution, full-depth profiles of total Hg, methylated Hg, and gaseous elemental Hg throughout the Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic, and Southern Oceans. Vertical maxima of methylated Hg were found in surface waters, near the subsurface chlorophyll maximum, and in low-oxygen thermocline waters. The greatest concentration of Hg in deep water was measured in Antarctic Bottom Water, and in newly formed Labrador Sea Water, Hg showed a decreasing trend over the past 20 years. Distribution of Hg in polar oceans was unique relative to lower latitudes with higher concentrations of total Hg near the surface and vertical trends of Hg speciation driven by water column stratification and seasonal ice cover. Global models of Hg in the ocean require a better understanding of biogeochemical controls on Hg speciation and improved accuracy of methylated Hg measurements within the international community.

Contribution of fluorite mining waste to mercury contamination in coastal systems

Samples from 13 beaches along the northern Spanish coast, a region with a history of heavy industries, were first screened to identify signs of pollution. High concentrations of Hg and Ba on Vega beach were found, both elements belong to the fluorite ore paragenesis, mined in the surroundings. Samples of beach and fluvial sediments, and nearby soils were collected in Vega beach area to address potential Hg pollution, fate and sources. Most samples showed a similar pollutants fingerprint to that of beach samples, especially those taken from white dunes, registering notable Hg concentrations. Hg was enriched in the finer fractions, and overall the main input was attributed to the mining waste discharged along the coast in the past. Although a specific risk assessment and study of the submerged sediments are advisable for this area, Hg bioavailability and methylation were low, thus indicating that this metal poses a reduced environmental risk.

Effects of mercury addition on microbial community composition and nitrate removal inside permeable reactive barriers

Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) remove nitrogen from groundwater by enhancing microbial denitrification. The PRBs consist of woodchips that provide carbon for denitrifiers, but these woodchips also support other anaerobic microbes, including sulfate-reducing bacteria. Some of these anaerobes have the ability to methylate inorganic mercury present in groundwater. Methylmercury is hazardous to human health, so it is essential to understand whether PRBs promote mercury methylation. We examined microbial communities and geochemistry in fresh water and sulfate-enriched PRB flow-through columns by spiking replicates of both treatments with mercuric chloride. We hypothesized that mercury addition could alter bacterial community composition to favor higher abundances of genera containing known methylating taxa and that the sulfate-rich columns would produce more methylmercury after mercury addition, due mainly to an increase in abundance of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB). However, methylmercury output at the end of the experiment was not different from output at the beginning, due in part to coupled Hg methylation and demethylation. There was a transient reduction in nitrate removal after mercury addition in the sulfate enriched columns, but nitrate removal returned to initial rates after two weeks, demonstrating resilience of the denitrifying community. Since methylmercury output did not increase and nitrate removal was not permanently affected, PRBs could be a low cost approach to combat eutrophication.

Synthesizing the Effects of Submarine Groundwater Discharge on Marine Biota

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is a global and well-studied geological process by which groundwater of varying salinities enters coastal waters. SGD is known to transport bioactive solutes, including but not limited to nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous, silica), gases (methane, carbon dioxide), and trace metals (iron, nickel, zinc). In addition, physical changes to the water column, such as changes in temperature and mixing can be caused by SGD. Therefore SGD influences both autotrophic and heterotrophic marine biota across all kingdoms of life. This paper synthesizes the current literature in which the impacts of SGD on marine biota were measured and observed by field, modeling, or laboratory studies. The review is grouped by organismal complexity: bacteria and phytoplankton, macrophytes (macroalgae and marine plants), animals, and ecosystem studies. Directions for future research about the impacts of SGD on marine life, including increasing the number of ecosystem assessment studies and including biological parameters in SGD flux studies, are also discussed.

Updated Global and Oceanic Mercury Budgets for the United Nations Global Mercury Assessment 2018

In support of international efforts to reduce mercury (Hg) exposure in humans and wildlife, this paper reviews the literature concerning global Hg emissions, cycling and fate, and presents revised global and oceanic Hg budgets for the 2018 United Nations Global Mercury Assessment. We assessed two competing scenarios about the impacts of 16th - late 19th century New World silver (Ag) mining, which may be the largest human source of atmospheric Hg in history. Consideration of Ag ore geochemistry, historical documents on Hg use, and comparison of the scenarios against atmospheric Hg patterns in environmental archives, strongly support a "low mining emission" scenario. Building upon this scenario and other published work, the revised global budget estimates human activities including recycled legacy emissions have increased current atmospheric Hg concentrations by about 450% above natural levels (prevailing before 1450 AD). Current anthropogenic emissions to air are 2.5 ± 0.5 kt/y. The increase in atmospheric Hg concentrations has driven a ∼ 300% average increase in deposition, and a 230% increase in surface marine waters. Deeper marine waters show increases of only 12-25%. The overall increase in Hg in surface organic soils (∼15%) is small due to the large mass of natural Hg already present from rock weathering, but this figure varies regionally. Specific research recommendations are made to reduce uncertainties, particularly through improved understanding of fundamental processes of the Hg cycle, and continued improvements in emissions inventories from large natural and anthropogenic sources.

Total mercury flux and offshore transport via submarine groundwater discharge and coal-fired power plant in the Jiulong River estuary, China

A mass balance of total mercury (Hg_T, dissolved+particulate) is constructed for China's Jiulong River estuary based on measured Hg_T concentrations in the surface water, sediment, porewater, and groundwater for May, August, and November 2009, combined with data from the literature. The Hg_T mass budget results show that the dominant source (39-55%) is desulfurized seawater discharged from the Songyu coal-fired power plant. Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD)-derived Hg_T flux into the estuary is equivalent to 8-58% of the Hg_T input from the Jiulong River, which is remarkable when compared with SGD-derived Hg_T fluxes reported in coastal systems worldwide. Hence, SGD is a significant pathway for the transport of Hg_T into the Jiulong River estuary. The primary Hg_T sinks is export to the Taiwan Strait (53-88%), which has important environmental implications on the Hg cycling and marine ecosystems in marginal seas.

Mercury Export from Mainland China to Adjacent Seas and Its Influence on the Marine Mercury Balance

Exports from mainland China are a significant source of mercury (Hg) in the adjacent seas (Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea) near China. A total of 240 ± 23 Mg was contributed in 2012 (30% from natural sources and 70% from anthropogenic sources), including Hg from rivers, industrial wastewater, domestic sewage, groundwater, nonpoint sources, and coastal erosion. Among the various sources, the Hg from rivers amounts to 160 ± 21 Mg and plays a dominant role. The Hg that is exported from mainland China increased from 1984 to 2013; the contributions from rivers, industrial wastewater, domestic sewage and groundwater increased, and the contributions from nonpoint sources and coastal erosion remained stable. A box model is constructed to simulate the mass balance of Hg in these seas and quantify the sources, sinks and Hg biogeochemical cycle in the seas. In total, 160 Mg of Hg was transported to the Pacific Ocean and other oceans from these seas through oceanic currents in 2012, which could have negative impacts on the marine ecosystem. A prediction of the changes in Hg exportation through 2030 shows that the impacts of terrestrial export might worsen without effective pollution reduction measures and that the Hg load in these seas will increase, especially in the seawater of the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, and East China Sea and in the sea margin sediments of the Bohai Sea and East China Sea.

Mercury Reduction and Methyl Mercury Degradation by the Soil Bacterium Xanthobacter autotrophicus Py2

Two previously uncharacterized potential broad-spectrum mercury (Hg) resistance operons (mer) are present on the chromosome of the soil Alphaproteobacteria Xanthobacter autotrophicus Py2. These operons, mer1 and mer2, contain two features which are commonly found in mer operons in the genomes of soil and marine Alphaproteobacteria, but are not present in previously characterized mer operons: a gene for the mercuric reductase (MerA) that encodes an alkylmercury lyase domain typical of those found on the MerB protein, and the presence of an additional gene, which we are calling merK, with homology to glutathione reductase. Here, we demonstrate that Py2 is resistant to 0.2 μM inorganic mercury [Hg(II)] and 0.05 μM methylmercury (MeHg). Py2 is capable of converting MeHg and Hg(II) to elemental mercury [Hg(0)], and reduction of Hg(II) is induced by incubation in sub toxic concentrations of Hg(II). Transcription of the merA genes increased with Hg(II) treatment, and in both operons merK resides on the same polycistronic mRNA as merA. We propose the use of Py2 as a model system for studying the contribution of mer to Hg mobility in soil and marine ecosystems.

Dissolved Organic Carbon in Groundwater Overlain by Irrigated Sugarcane

Elevated dissolved organic carbon (DOC) has been detected in groundwater beneath irrigated sugarcane on the Burdekin coastal plain of tropical northeast Australia. The maximum value of 82 mg/L is to our knowledge the highest DOC reported for groundwater beneath irrigated cropping systems. More than half of the groundwater sampled in January 2004 (n = 46) exhibited DOC concentrations greater than 30 mg/L. DOC was progressively lower in October 2004 and January 2005, with a total decrease greater than 90% indicating varying load(s) to the aquifer. It was hypothesized that the elevated DOC found in this groundwater system is sourced at or near the soil surface and supplied to the aquifer via vertical recharge following above average rainfall. Possible sources of DOC include organic-rich sugar mill by-products applied as fertilizer and/or sugarcane sap released during harvest. CFC-12 vertical flow rates supported the hypothesis that elevated DOC (>40 mg/L) in the groundwater results from recharge events in which annual precipitation exceeds 1500 mm/year (average = 960 mm/year). Occurrence of elevated DOC concentrations, absence of electron acceptors (O2 and NO3 (-) ) and both Fe(2+) and Mn(2+) greater than 1 mg/L in shallow groundwater suggest that the DOC compounds are chemically labile. The consequence of high concentrations of labile DOC may be positive (e.g., denitrification) or negative (e.g., enhanced metal mobility and biofouling), and highlights the need to account for a wider range of water quality parameters when considering the impacts of land use on the ecology of receiving waters and/or suitability of groundwater for irrigated agriculture.

Nutrient Loading through Submarine Groundwater Discharge and Phytoplankton Growth in Monterey Bay, CA

We quantified groundwater discharge and associated nutrient fluxes to Monterey Bay, California, during the wet and dry seasons using excess (224)Ra as a tracer. Bioassay incubation experiments were conducted to document the response of bloom-forming phytoplankton to submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) input. Our data indicate that the high nutrient content (nitrate and silica) in groundwater can stimulate the growth of bloom-forming phytoplankton. The elevated concentrations of nitrate in groundwater around Monterey Bay are consistent with agriculture, landfill, and rural housing, which are the primary land-uses in the area surrounding the study site. These findings indicate that SGD acts as a continual source of nutrients that can feed bloom-forming phytoplankton at our study site, constituting a nonpoint source of anthropogenic nutrients to Monterey Bay.

Hydrological controls on methylmercury distribution and flux in a tidal marsh

The San Francisco Estuary, California, contains mercury (Hg) contamination originating from historical regional gold and Hg mining operations. We measured hydrological and geochemical variables in a tidal marsh of the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve to determine the sources, location, and magnitude of hydrological fluxes of methylmercury (MeHg), a bioavailable Hg species of ecological and health concern. Based on measured concentrations and detailed finite-element simulation of coupled surface water and saturated-unsaturated groundwater flow, we found pore water MeHg was concentrated in unsaturated pockets that persisted over tidal cycles. These pockets, occurring over 16% of the marsh plain area, corresponded to the marsh root zone. Groundwater discharge (e.g., exfiltration) to the tidal channel represented a significant source of MeHg during low tide. We found that nonchannelized flow accounted for up to 20% of the MeHg flux to the estuary. The estimated net flux of filter-passing (0.45 μm) MeHg toward estuary was 10 ± 5 ng m(-2) day(-1) during a single 12-h tidal cycle, suggesting an annual MeHg load of 1.17 ± 0.58 kg when the estimated flux was applied to present tidal marshes and planned marsh restorations throughout the San Francisco Estuary.

Submarine groundwater discharge estimation in an urbanized embayment in Hong Kong via short-lived radium isotopes and its implication of nutrient loadings and primary production

(224)Ra and (223)Ra are adopted as tracers to qualify submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) in Tolo Harbor, a highly urbanized embayment in Hong Kong. Based on the sampling data, a two-layered radium mass balance model is used to estimate lateral SGD and bottom SGD. Total SGD is estimated to be 1.2-3.0 cm d(-1), including lateral SGD of 5.7-7.9 cm d(-1) and bottom SGD of 0.3-2.0 cm d(-1). Fresh SGD is estimated to be (2.1-5.5) × 10(5)m(3)d(-1). Nutrient fluxes (mold(-1)) from SGD are estimated to be (3-7.4) × 10(4) (dissolved inorganic nitrogen), (2.4-6.2) × 10(2) (dissolved inorganic phosphate) and (6.5-16) × 10(4) (dissolved silicate). Primary productivity is estimated to be (1.5-15) × 10(6)gCd(-1), 2-53% of which is supported by SGD-induced phosphate fluxes. The study indicates that SGD is a significant source of nutrients to coastal waters and may cause an obvious increase of primary production. These findings must be considered in future coastal ecological management.

Mercury speciation and mobilization in a wastewater-contaminated groundwater plume

We measured the concentration and speciation of mercury (Hg) in groundwater down-gradient from the site of wastewater infiltration beds operated by the Massachusetts Military Reservation, western Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Total mercury concentrations in oxic, mildly acidic, uncontaminated groundwater are 0.5-1 pM, and aquifer sediments have 0.5-1 ppb mercury. The plume of impacted groundwater created by the wastewater disposal is still evident, although inputs ceased in 1995, as indicated by anoxia extending at least 3 km down-gradient from the disposal site. Solutes indicative of a progression of anaerobic metabolisms are observed vertically and horizontally within the plume, with elevated nitrate concentrations and nitrate reduction surrounding a region with elevated iron concentrations indicating iron reduction. Mercury concentrations up to 800 pM were observed in shallow groundwater directly under the former infiltration beds, but concentrations decreased with depth and with distance down-gradient. Mercury speciation showed significant connections to the redox and metabolic state of the groundwater, with relatively little methylated Hg within the iron reducing sector of the plume, and dominance of this form within the higher nitrate/ammonium zone. Furthermore, substantial reduction of Hg(II) to Hg(0) within the core of the anoxic zone was observed when iron reduction was evident. These trends not only provide insight into the biogeochemical factors controlling the interplay of Hg species in natural waters, but also support hypotheses that anoxia and eutrophication in groundwater facilitate the mobilization of natural and anthropogenic Hg from watersheds/aquifers, which can be transported down-gradient to freshwaters and the coastal zone.

Submarine Groundwater Discharge as a Source of Mercury in the Bay of Puck, the Southern Baltic Sea

Both groundwater flow and mercury concentrations in pore water and seawater were quantified in the groundwater seeping site of the Bay of Puck, southern Baltic Sea. Total dissolved mercury (HgTD) in pore water ranged from 0.51 to 4.90 ng l-1. Seawater samples were characterized by elevated HgTD concentrations, ranging from 4.41 to 6.37 ng l-1, while HgTD concentrations in groundwater samples ranged from 0.51 to 1.15 ng l-1. High HgTD concentrations in pore water of the uppermost sediment layers were attributed to seawater intrusion into the sediment. The relationship between HgTD concentrations and salinity of pore water was non-conservative, indicating removal of dissolved mercury upon mixing seawater with groundwater. The mechanism of dissolved mercury removal was further elucidated by examining its relationships with both dissolved organic matter, dissolved manganese (Mn II), and redox potential. The flux of HgTD to the Bay of Puck was estimated to be 18.9 ± 6.3 g year-1. The submarine groundwater discharge-derived mercury load is substantially smaller than atmospheric deposition and riverine discharge to the Bay of Puck. Thus, groundwater is a factor that dilutes the mercury concentrations in pore water and, as a result, dilutes the mercury concentrations in the water column.

Significance of submarine groundwater discharge in the coastal fluxes of mercury in Hampyeong Bay, Yellow Sea

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) and various solutes released with SGD have received particular attention recently; however, understanding of the impact of SGD on trace metal fluxes in the coastal ocean is limited. To understand the contribution of SGD to the coastal Hg input, the Hg mass fluxes associated with SGD were estimated from Hampyeong Bay, a coastal embayment in the Yellow Sea. Hg concentrations in filtered groundwater and seawater ranged from 1.3 to 4.4pM and from 0.83 to 2.0pM, respectively, and Hg concentrations in unfiltered seawater ranged from 1.7 to 4.6pM. The Hg flux estimation showed that SGD was the prime input source of Hg in the bay (18±12molyr(-1)), contributing 65% of the total input. Atmospheric deposition was the second dominant source of Hg (8.5±2.7molyr(-1)), contributing 31% to the total input. The results of the current study suggest that SGD can be a significant source of Hg in estuarine/coastal systems; therefore, estimating the coastal mass budgets of Hg must include SGD as a prime source of Hg.

Mercury biogeochemical cycling in the ocean and policy implications

Anthropogenic activities have enriched mercury in the biosphere by at least a factor of three, leading to increases in total mercury (Hg) in the surface ocean. However, the impacts on ocean fish and associated trends in human exposure as a result of such changes are less clear. Here we review our understanding of global mass budgets for both inorganic and methylated Hg species in ocean seawater. We consider external inputs from atmospheric deposition and rivers as well as internal production of monomethylmercury (CH₃Hg) and dimethylmercury ((CH₃)₂Hg). Impacts of large-scale ocean circulation and vertical transport processes on Hg distribution throughout the water column and how this influences bioaccumulation into ocean food chains are also discussed. Our analysis suggests that while atmospheric deposition is the main source of inorganic Hg to open ocean systems, most of the CH₃Hg accumulating in ocean fish is derived from in situ production within the upper waters (<1000 m). An analysis of the available data suggests that concentrations in the various ocean basins are changing at different rates due to differences in atmospheric loading and that the deeper waters of the oceans are responding slowly to changes in atmospheric Hg inputs. Most biological exposures occur in the upper ocean and therefore should respond over years to decades to changes in atmospheric mercury inputs achieved by regulatory control strategies. Migratory pelagic fish such as tuna and swordfish are an important component of CH₃Hg exposure for many human populations and therefore any reduction in anthropogenic releases of Hg and associated deposition to the ocean will result in a decline in human exposure and risk.

Impact of mercury on denitrification and denitrifying microbial communities in nitrate enrichments of subsurface sediments

The contamination of groundwater with mercury (Hg) is an increasing problem worldwide. Yet, little is known about the interactions of Hg with microorganisms and their processes in subsurface environments. We tested the impact of Hg on denitrification in nitrate reducing enrichment cultures derived from subsurface sediments from the Oak Ridge Integrated Field Research Challenge site, where nitrate is a major contaminant and where bioremediation efforts are in progress. We observed an inverse relationship between Hg concentrations and onset and rates of denitrification in nitrate enrichment cultures containing between 53 and 1.1 μM of inorganic Hg; higher Hg concentrations increasingly extended the time to onset of denitrification and inhibited denitrification rates. Microbial community complexity, as indicated by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (tRFLP) analysis of the 16S rRNA genes, declined with increasing Hg concentrations; at the 312 nM Hg treatment, a single tRFLP peak was detected representing a culture of Bradyrhizobium sp. that possessed the merA gene indicating a potential for Hg reduction. A culture identified as Bradyrhizobium sp. strain FRC01 with an identical 16S rRNA sequence to that of the enriched peak in the tRFLP patterns, reduced Hg(II) to Hg(0) and carried merA whose amino acid sequence has 97 % identity to merA from the Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. This study demonstrates that in subsurface sediment incubations, Hg may inhibit denitrification and that inhibition may be alleviated when Hg resistant denitrifying Bradyrhizobium spp. detoxify Hg by its reduction to the volatile elemental form.

Mercury speciation and transport via submarine groundwater discharge at a southern California coastal lagoon system

We measured total mercury (Hg(T)) and monomethylmercury (MMHg) concentrations in coastal groundwater and seawater over a range of tidal conditions near Malibu Lagoon, California, and used (222)Rn-derived estimates of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) to assess the flux of mercury species to nearshore seawater. We infer a groundwater-seawater mixing scenario based on salinity and temperature trends and suggest that increased groundwater discharge to the ocean during low tide transported mercury offshore. Unfiltered Hg(T) (U-Hg(T)) concentrations in groundwater (2.2-5.9 pM) and seawater (3.3-5.2 pM) decreased during a falling tide, with groundwater U-Hg(T) concentrations typically lower than seawater concentrations. Despite the low Hg(T) in groundwater, bioaccumulative MMHg was produced in onshore sediment as evidenced by elevated MMHg concentrations in groundwater (0.2-1 pM) relative to seawater (∼0.1 pM) throughout most of the tidal cycle. During low tide, groundwater appeared to transport MMHg to the coast, resulting in a 5-fold increase in seawater MMHg (from 0.1 to 0.5 pM). Similarly, filtered Hg(T) (F-Hg(T)) concentrations in seawater increased approximately 7-fold during low tide (from 0.5 to 3.6 pM). These elevated seawater F-Hg(T) concentrations exceeded those in filtered and unfiltered groundwater during low tide, but were similar to seawater U-Hg(T) concentrations, suggesting that enhanced SGD altered mercury partitioning and/or solubilization dynamics in coastal waters. Finally, we estimate that the SGD Hg(T) and MMHg fluxes to seawater were 0.41 and 0.15 nmol m(-2) d(-1), respectively - comparable in magnitude to atmospheric and benthic fluxes in similar environments.

Watershed and discharge influences on the phase distribution and tributary loading of total mercury and methylmercury into Lake Superior

Knowledge of the partitioning and sources of mercury are important to understanding the human impact on mercury levels in Lake Superior wildlife. Fluvial fluxes of total mercury (Hg(T)) and methylmercury (MeHg) were compared to discharge and partitioning trends in 20 sub-basins having contrasting land uses and geological substrates. The annual tributary yield was correlated with watershed characteristics and scaled up to estimate the basin-wide loading. Tributaries with clay sediments and agricultural land use had the largest daily yields with maxima observed near the peak in water discharge. Roughly 42% of Hg(T) and 57% of MeHg was delivered in the colloidal phase. Tributary inputs, which are confined to near-shore zones of the lake, may be more important to the food-web than atmospheric sources. The annual basin-wide loading from tributaries was estimated to be 277 kg yr(-1) Hg(T) and 3.4 kg yr(-1) MeHg (5.5 and 0.07 mg km(-2) d(-1), respectively).

Mass balance of total mercury and monomethylmercury in coastal embayments of a volcanic island: significance of submarine groundwater discharge

To understand the contribution of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) to the coastal mass budgets of Hg and monomethylmercury (MMHg), preliminary mass balance estimates were made for Hwasun and Bangdu Bays on Jeju Island, known to have large SGD due to the high permeability of the volcanic rocks. The mass balance results indicate that SGD is a main source of Hg in Hwasun Bay (23 ± 14 × 10(-2) mol yr(-1), 34%) and Bangdu Bay (23 ± 20 × 10(-2) mol yr(-1), 67%), although the contribution from atmospheric deposition was considerable (25% for Hwasun and 23% for Bangdu). MMHg was also discharged primarily from submarine groundwater at Hwasun (0.30 ± 0.17 × 10(-2) mol yr(-1), 55%) and Bangdu (0.65 ± 0.49 × 10(-2) mol yr(-1), 64%), which was higher than atmospheric deposition (6% for Hwasun and 2% for Bangdu) and sediment diffusion flux (5% for Hwasun and 3% for Bangdu). The overall mass balance results suggest that, although there are large spatial variations in SGD rates throughout the region, the coastal mass budgets of Hg and MMHg need to include SGD as well as atmospheric deposition and sediment diffusion as primary sources of Hg and MMHg.

Mercury distribution in seawater discharged from a coal-fired power plant equipped with a seawater flue gas desulfurization system

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

More and more coal-fired power plants equipped with seawater flue gas desulfurization systems have been built in coastal areas. They release large amount of mercury (Hg)-containing waste seawater into the adjacent seas. However, very limited impact studies have been carried out. Our research targeted the distribution of Hg in the seawater, sediment, biota, and atmosphere, and its environmental transportation.

METHODS

Seawater samples were collected from five sites: 1, sea areas adjacent to the power plant; 2, near discharge outlets; 3, the aeration pool of the power plant; and 4 and 5, two reference sites. The total gaseous Hg was determined in situ with a Tekran 2537B. Analyses of total Hg (TM) followed the USEPA methods.

RESULTS

In most part of the study area, TM concentrations were close to the reference values and Hg transfer from the seawater into the sediment and biota was not obvious. However, in the aeration pool and near the waste discharge outlets, atmospheric and surface seawater concentrations of TM were much higher, compared with those at a reference site. The concentration ranges of total gaseous Hg and TM in seawater were 3.83-8.60 ng/m(3) and 79.0-198 ng/L near the discharge outlets, 7.23-13.5 ng/m(3) and 186-616 ng/L in the aeration pool, and 2.98-4.06 ng/m(3) and 0.47-1.87 ng/L at a reference point.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggested that the Hg in the flue gas desulfurization waste seawater was not only transported and diluted with sea currents, but also could possibly be transferred into the atmosphere from the aeration pool and from the discharge outlets.