Partitioning and Transport of Total and Methyl Mercury in the Lower Fox River, Wisconsin

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• 作者：James P. Hurley ; Susan E. Cowell ; Martin M. Shafer ; and Peter E. Hughes
• 刊名：Environmental Science & Technology
• 出版年：1998
• 出版时间：May 15, 1998
• 年：1998
• 卷：32
• 期：10
• 页码：1424 - 1432
• 全文大小：264K
• 年卷期：v.32,no.10(May 15, 1998)
• ISSN：1520-5851

文摘

To investigate transport and partitioning processes ofHg_T in the Fox River, we coupled detailed time seriesdataof total mercury (Hg_T) at the river mouth withtransectsampling in the Lower Fox River. Unfiltered Hg_Tconcentrationsin the Fox River during the study period (April 1994-October 1995) ranged from 1.8 to 182 ng L^-1with a medianof 24.8 ng L^-1, predominantly (93.6%) in theparticulatephase. These levels were significantly elevatedcomparedwith other large tributaries to Lake Michigan (Hurley, J.P.; Shafer, M. M.; Cowell, S. E.; Overdier, J. T.; Hughes,P.E.; Armstrong, D. E. Environ. Sci. Technol. 1996,30, 2093-2098). Transect sampling revealed progressivelyincreasingwater column Hg_T concentrations and Hg_Tparticulateenrichment downstream, which were consistent with trendsin sediment Hg_T levels in the river. Resuspendedsedimentsare likely the predominant source of Hg from the Fox Riverinto Green Bay. Despite elevated Hg_Tconcentrations,methyl mercury (MeHg) concentrations were relatively low,suggesting limited bioavailability of Hg_T associatedwithsediments.