Mercury in the Sudbury River (Massachusetts, U.S.A.): pollution history and a synthesis of recent research

2000 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 1053-1061 ◽  
Author(s):  
James G Wiener ◽  
Pamela J Shields
Keyword(s):  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Methyl Mercury ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Sediment Cores ◽  
Inorganic Mercury ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Mercury Accumulation ◽  
Industrial Complex ◽  
Pollution History ◽  
Industrial Operations

We review the transport, fate, and bioavailability of mercury in the Sudbury River, topics addressed in the following five papers. Mercury entered the river from an industrial complex (site) that operated from 1917 to 1978. Rates of mercury accumulation in sediment cores from two reservoirs just downstream from the site decreased soon after industrial operations ended and have decreased further since capping of contaminated soils at the site in 1991. The reservoirs contained the most contaminated sediments (some exceeding 50 μg Hg·g dry weight-1) and were depositional sinks for total mercury. Methyl mercury concentrations in biota did not parallel concentrations of total mercury in the sediments to which organisms were exposed, experimentally or as residents. Contaminated wetlands within the floodplain about 25 km downstream from the site produced and exported methyl mercury from inorganic mercury that had originated from the site. Natural burial processes have gradually decreased the quantity of sedimentary mercury available for methylation within the reservoirs, whereas mercury in the lesser contaminated wetlands farther downstream has remained more available for transport, methylation, and entry into food webs.

scholarly journals Determination of methyl mercury and total mercury in sediment samples collected from canals in HoChiMinh city

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 123-136
Author(s):  
Hien Thai Hoang ◽  
Dong Van Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Reference Material ◽  
Analytical Method ◽  
Methyl Mercury ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Inorganic Mercury ◽  
Absorption Spectrometry ◽  
Internal Reference ◽  
Atomic Fluorescence ◽  
Sediment Samples ◽  
Cold Vapour

In this study, the analysis of methyl mercury (MeHg) and total mercury (T-Hg) was studied using gas chromatographic separation/atomic fluorescence spectrometric detection and cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry respectively. MeHg was extracted from sediment matrix using HNO3/KCl/CuSO4 into dichloromethane followed ethylation with NaB(C2H5)4 in hexane. Total mercury was digested using three different procedures: EPA 245.1, AOAC 971.21 and our proposed one. The reliability of the analytical method for MeHg was evaluated by the use of the certified reference material ERM CC-580. In addition, the analytical method for total merury was evaluated using a fresh water sediment as an internal reference material, spiked with inorganic mercury, methyl mercury and phenyl mercury. The method detection limits for MeHg and total mercury were 0.08 and 0.15 ng/g (as Hg), respectively. The established analytical methods were applied to analyse MeHg and total mercury in sediment samples collected from canals and rivers in Hochiminh City. The concentrations of methyl mercury and total mercury in sediment samples were 0.08–2.87 ng/g và 14 – 623 ng/g (as Hg, dw). [MeHg]/Σ[Hg] respectirely were in a range of 0.1–2.3 %, which was in good agreement with the published ratios in sediment samples. A good correlation between the concentration of MeHg with total mercury and total organic carbon contents in the studied sediment samples was found.

Total Mercury, Inorganic Mercury and Methyl Mercury Determination in Red Wine

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 505-511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valderi Luiz Dressler ◽  
Clarissa Marques Moreira Santos ◽  
Fabiane Goldschmidt Antes ◽  
Fabrina Regia Stum Bentlin ◽  
Dirce Pozebon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Methyl Mercury ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Red Wine ◽  
Inorganic Mercury ◽  
Mercury Determination

Determination of Methyl Mercury in Fish by Flameless Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy and Comparison with an Acid Digestion Method for Total Mercury

1976 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-157
Author(s):  
Jurgen L Kacprzak ◽  
Ramon Chvojka
Keyword(s):  
Atomic Absorption ◽  
Absorption Spectroscopy ◽  
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy ◽  
Methyl Mercury ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Inorganic Mercury ◽  
Flameless Atomic Absorption ◽  
Flameless Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy ◽  
The Difference

Abstract A method for the concurrent determination of methyl mercury and inorganic mercury by flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) is described. Fifty-seven samples of juvenile black marlin fish were analyzed for inorganic and methyl mercury, and total mercury was calculated by addition of the 2 values. The sensitivity of the method was estimated to be 0.029 μg for inorganic mercury and 0.033 μg for methyl mercury. The detection limit of the method was about 0.02 μg inorganic mercury or methyl mercury and the error of the method was found not to exceed 10% for samples giving about 10% deflection on the absorbance scale. Samples from the same fish were analyzed by a commonly accepted flameless AAS method for the determination of total mercury. When the results for total mercury from the 2 methods were statistically compared, using a paired t-test, the difference between the results obtained by the 2 methods was found to be insignificant at the 95% confidence level.

scholarly journals Children with amalgam dental restorations have significantly elevated blood and urine mercury levels

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Yin ◽  
Simon Lin ◽  
Anne O Summers ◽  
Van Roper ◽  
Matthew J Campen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Methyl Mercury ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Inorganic Mercury ◽  
Striking Difference ◽  
Seafood Consumption ◽  
Dental Restorations ◽  
Mercury In Urine ◽  
And Gender

Abstract Human exposure to organic mercury (Hg) as methylmercury (MeHg) from seafood consumption is widely considered a health risk because pure methylmercury is extremely neurotoxic. In contrast, the clinical significance of Hg exposure from amalgam (AMG) dental restorations, the only other major non-occupational source of Hg exposure, has long been debated. Here we examined data from the two most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) on 14,181 subjects to assess the contributions of seafood consumption versus AMG to blood total mercury (THg), inorganic mercury (IHg), and methyl mercury (MeHg) and to urine creatinine corrected mercury (UTHg). All subjects were also classified as to their self-reported qualitative consumption of seafood (59% fish and 44% shellfish). Subjects with restorations were grouped into three groups, (0) those without AMG (64.4%), (1) those with 1-5 dental AMG restorations (19.7%), (2) those with more than five AMG (16%). Seafood consumption increased total mercury in urine (UTHg) and total mercury (THg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) in blood, but unlike AMG, seafood did not increase blood inorganic mercury (IHg). Using stratified covariate (ANOVA) and multivariate (GLM) analyses revealed a strong correlation of blood (THg and IHg) and urine (UTHg) levels with the number of AMGs. In a subpopulation without fish consumption, having more than five AMG restorations raised blood THg (103%), IHg (221%), and urine UTHg (221%) over the group without AMG. The most striking difference was noted in classification by age: subjects under six years old with more than five AMG restorations had the highest blood IHg and urine UTHg among all age groups. Elevation of bivalent IHg on a large scale in children warrants urgent in-depth risk assessment with specific attention to genetic- and gender-associated vulnerabilities.

scholarly journals Determination of Mercury Accumulation Factor in Hard Clam (Meretrix lyrata) at Bach Dang Estuary, Viet Nam

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Le Xuan Sinh
Keyword(s):  
Methyl Mercury ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Bioaccumulation Factor ◽  
Hard Clam ◽  
Accumulation Factor ◽  
Mercury Accumulation ◽  
Viet Nam ◽  
Allowable Limit ◽  
Mercury Compounds

<p class="1Body">Bach Dang estuary (Hai Phong City) is one of the developed economic centers of Hai Phong city with abundance of natural resources. At the Bach Dang estuary, waste sources of mercury compounds discharge from the industrial sources, transportation sources, port, agricultural sources and living sources. Two forms of mercury: total mercury and methyl mercury in the water at the Bach Dang estuary are lower than the allowable limit. Bioaccumulation factor (BAF) of total mercury in hard clam <em>Meretrix lyrata</em> is 307 and that one of methyl mercury is 165,000.</p>

THg and MeHg in Water Bodies of Xiaolangdi Reservoir of Yellow River, China

2011 ◽  
Vol 347-353 ◽  
pp. 2413-2418
Author(s):  
Zhong Wei Huang ◽  
Shun Lin Tang ◽  
Jun Liu ◽  
Qiao Li Liu ◽  
Tao Wang
Keyword(s):  
Residence Time ◽  
Methyl Mercury ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Yellow River ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Main Channel ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Mercury Accumulation ◽  
Water Residence Time ◽  
Xiaolangdi Reservoir

We conducted two campaigns to study total mercury (THg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) in water bodies of Xiaolangdi reservoir, which were constructed in 2001 and drained for desilification in early June every year. The first campaign was conducted in May 2010 and 7 sampling sites were selected from upstream to the dam. The second campaign was conducted in Nov. 2010 and 3 sampling sites were selected in Nov.2010. Our results showed that the average THg(30.5ng/L) concentration of water bodies in main channel of xiaolangdi reservoir was higher that of in tributary (19.3ng/L) and declined from upstream to downstream water body. Drainage of reservoir could decline mercury in water and water residence time was an important variable affecting mercury accumulation. The MeHg concentration had the same trend compared to THg from upstream to downstream water bodies. Mingzhudao, luoyu and dam water bodies were 0.045ng/L, 0.039ng/L and 0.037ng/L water bodies, respectively.

scholarly journals Why the English–Wabigoon river system is still polluted by mercury 57 years after its contamination

FACETS ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 2002-2027
Author(s):  
John W.M. Rudd ◽  
Carol A. Kelly ◽  
Patricia Sellers ◽  
Robert J. Flett ◽  
Bruce E. Townsend
Keyword(s):  
Surface Sediment ◽  
Methyl Mercury ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Inorganic Mercury ◽  
River System ◽  
Lake Surface ◽  
Riverbank Erosion ◽  
Plant Site ◽  
High Mercury ◽  
Mercury Production

Between 1962 and 1969, 10 tonnes of mercury were discharged from a chlor-alkali plant in Dryden, Ontario, to the English–Wabigoon River. Present-day fish mercury concentrations are amongst the highest recorded in Canada. In 2017, the Grassy Narrows Science Team found no evidence of ongoing discharges from the plant site to the river water, even though large quantities of mercury remain at the site. Instead, our data suggest that ongoing erosion of high mercury particles by the river, as it meanders through contaminated floodplains, is responsible for present-day transport of mercury to Clay Lake and to Ball Lake, located 154 km downstream. In Clay Lake, surface sediment total mercury concentrations and inflow water concentrations are still about 15 times above background (86 km downstream), and in Ball Lake mercury concentrations in sediments appeared to be still increasing. The remobilization of legacy inorganic mercury from riverbank erosion between Dryden and Clay Lake stimulates methyl mercury production there, in Clay Lake, and in Ball Lake. The large quantities of methyl mercury produced between Dryden and Clay Lake are mostly dissolved in water and are swept downstream, elevating concentrations in water and biota throughout the system. Several options for remediating the ongoing contamination are discussed.

Mercury dynamics from pan-Canadian survey of lakes: analyses of sediment cores

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Gregory-Eaves ◽  
Marieke Beaulieu ◽  
Marc Amyot ◽  
Katherine Griffiths ◽  
Alexandre Poulain
Keyword(s):  
Methyl Mercury ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Sediment Cores ◽  
Long Range Transport ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Natural Sources ◽  
Mercury Emissions ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
Anthropogenic Deposition ◽  
Range Transport

&lt;p&gt;Strong measures have been taken since the 1970s to reduce mercury emissions in Canada. However, long-range transport of emissions continues and constitutes a large percentage of the total anthropogenic deposition of mercury in Canada. Natural sources of mercury are also heterogeneously distributed across the Canadian landscape.&amp;#160; As part of the LakePulse network (www.lakepulse.ca), we are quantifying mercury concentration in hundreds of lake sediment cores across 13 Canadian ecozones. Analyses from eastern Canada lakes showed that total mercury is significantly different among ecozones, and many ecozones showed higher total mercury concentrations in contemporary sediments.&amp;#160; Contemporary methyl mercury concentrations also differed among ecozones. Our overarching goals are to map the heterogeneity in mercury concentrations across the country and to identify the most parsimonious set of predictors considering a suite of physico-chemical and land-use variables from lakes and their watersheds set across the temperate to subarctic landscape.&lt;/p&gt;

Bioavailability of sediment-associated mercury toHexageniamayflies in a contaminated floodplain river

2000 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 1092-1102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa J Naimo ◽  
James G Wiener ◽  
W Gregory Cope ◽  
Nicolas S Bloom
Keyword(s):  
Food Chain ◽  
Methyl Mercury ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Contaminated Sediments ◽  
Floodplain River ◽  
Test Water ◽  
Benthic Food

We examined the bioavailability of mercury in sediments from the contaminated Sudbury River (Massachusetts, U.S.A.). Mayfly nymphs (Hexagenia) were exposed in four 21-day bioaccumulation tests to contaminated and reference sediments (treatments) from reservoirs, flowing reaches, palustrine wetlands, and a riverine lake. Mean total mercury (ΣHg) ranged from 880 to 22 059 ng·g dry weight-1in contaminated sediments and from 90 to 272 ng·g-1in reference sediments. Mean final concentrations of methyl mercury (MeHg) in test water were greatest (8-47 ng Hg·L-1) in treatments with contaminated wetland sediments, which had mean ΣHg ranging from 1200 to 2562 ng·g-1. In mayflies, final mean concentrations of MeHg were highest in treatments with contaminated wetland sediments (122-183 ng Hg·g-1), intermediate in treatments with contaminated sediments from reservoirs, flowing reaches, and a riverine lake (75-127 ng Hg·g-1), and lowest in treatments with reference sediments (32-41 ng Hg·g-1). We conclude that the potential entry of MeHg into the benthic food chain was greater in contaminated palustrine wetlands than in the contaminated reservoirs, which had the most contaminated sediments.

A Dynamic Relationship Between Methyl Mercury, Inorganic Mercury, and Total Mercury in Umbilical Cord Blood

Epidemiology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. S89
Author(s):  
Ellen M Wells ◽  
Jeff Jarrett ◽  
Carl P Verdon ◽  
Kathleen L Caldwell ◽  
Ana Navas-Acien ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cord Blood ◽  
Umbilical Cord ◽  
Umbilical Cord Blood ◽  
Methyl Mercury ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Inorganic Mercury ◽  
Dynamic Relationship
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