Mercury Sedimentation in Lakes in Western Whatcom County, Washington, USA and its Relation to Local Industrial and Municipal Atmospheric Sources

Paulson, Anthony J.; Norton, Dale

doi:10.1007/s11270-007-9549-z

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Because of its high volatility and an atmospheric half-life of about one year, the atmosphere is the main pathway for the distribution of Hg at the Earth's surface. In fact, a signal of Hg pollution has been detected worldwide in sediments, peats and glaciers over the last century, even in pristine regions (Nriagu, 1989;Hermanson, 1998;Lacerda et al, 1999;Bindler et al, 2001b;Lamborg et al, 2002;Roos-Barraclough et al, 2002;Schuster et al, 2002;Yang et al, 2002b;Biester et al, 2002Biester et al, , 2007Yang and Rose, 2003;Paulson and Norton, 2008). A growing number of these records indicates an approximately threefold increase (2× to 4×) in Hg deposition since pre-industrial times in both Northern and Southern Hemispheres (Lindberg et al, 2007).…”

Section: Mercurymentioning

confidence: 99%

A geochemical and lead isotopic record from a small pond in a remote equatorial island, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

et al. 2009

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A 72 cm long core was collected from Lagoa da Viração (LV), a small pond in the Fernando de Noronha island, northern Brazil. Sediments from the lower section of the core (20—72 cm depth) contain essentially mineral matter, while in the upper section (0—20 cm depth) mineral matter is mixed with organic matter. Lithogenic conservative elements — Si, Al, Fe, Ti, Co, Cr, Cu, Ba, Ga, Hf, Nb, Ni, Y, V, Zn, Zr and REE — exhibit remarkably constant values throughout the core, with concentrations similar to those of the bedrock. The vertical distribution of soluble elements — Ca, Mg, Na, K, P, Mn and Sr — is also homogeneous, but these elements are systematically depleted in relation to the bedrock. LOI, TOC, Br, Se, Hg and Pb, although showing nearly constant values in the lower section of the core, are significantly enriched in the upper section. The concentration profiles of Br and Se suggest that they may be accounted for by natural processes, related to the slight affinity of these elements for organic matter. On the other hand, the elevated levels of Hg and Pb in recent sediments may be explained by their long-range atmospheric transport and deposition. Furthermore, the isotopic composition of Pb clearly indicates that anthropogenic sources contributed to the Pb burden in the uppermost pond sediments.

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Section: Mercurymentioning

confidence: 99%

A geochemical and lead isotopic record from a small pond in a remote equatorial island, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

et al. 2009

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“…In turn, methylation and the resulting MeHg production is ultimately a function of the total mercury content within the body of water. The range of methylation rates across lakes, however, is greater than the range in deposition rates, indicating that variables beyond total mercury influence methylation rates (Benoit et al, 2002;Paulson and Norton, 2008).…”

Section: Mercury In Fishmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This measurement was taken 800 meters away from the point source of mercury emissions, however, and concentrations were significantly reduced within a few kilometers. Similarly, concentrations of Hg in the air surrounding chloralkali plants are often elevated but reach background concentrations within 5km (Paulson and Norton, 2008). In Costa Rica, however, extremely elevated values were found 27 kilometers away from the predicted source.…”

Section: Global Atmospheric Dispersalmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mercury Contamination in Costa Rica

Haynes¹

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Mercury is a potent neurotoxin and a particularly formidable environmental contaminant. Mercury is present in the environment largely as a result of modern industrial emissions as well as 'legacy-Hg' from past contamination; however, some areas have high natural background levels also, largely from volcanic and geothermal sources. Recent work suggested that Costa Rica airshed may be highly contaminated with natural mercury. Castillo et al. (Applied Geochemistry, 2011) reported total gaseous Hg (TGM) in the ambient air of Costa Rica exceeding expected values by orders

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Historical anthropogenic mercury in two lakes of Central Chile: comparison between an urban and rural lake

Alvarez

Torrejón

Climent

et al. 2017

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Mercury concentrations in the environment tend to decrease in recent years due to environmental restrictions. Lakes store mercury in their sediments, making them potential secondary contamination sources. In South America, the occurrence of mercury in lake systems has been associated mainly with volcanic emissions and only few records anthropogenic contamination in the pre-Hispanic period. The objective of this research was to study historical anthropogenic mercury concentration in two lakes in Central Chile (La Señoraza and Pillo), in order to establish background mercury levels and their variations from preindustrial to modern periods. Different background levels and mercury concentrations were found in each lake, with significantly higher concentrations in Lake La Señoraza during the last 150 years. Mining-related activities during the nineteenth century could have a negligible influence on mercury concentrations. Later on, the use of coal railroads and subsequent employment of mercury in the cellulose industry were associated with three- and fourfold increases in mercury concentration over the nineteenth century background levels, which decrease once these activities ceased. However, in the case of Lake Pillo, an important increase in mercury concentration can be observed between 1990 and the early twenty-first century, which could be related to a higher watershed/lake area ratio, extensive agriculture, and volcanic emission, being the latter that could have contributed with mercury to both systems. Nevertheless, sedimentological characteristics in Lake Pillo can be favorable to retain mercury in this aquatic system up to the present day.

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Mercury Sedimentation in Lakes in Western Whatcom County, Washington, USA and its Relation to Local Industrial and Municipal Atmospheric Sources

Cited by 4 publications

References 23 publications

A geochemical and lead isotopic record from a small pond in a remote equatorial island, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

A geochemical and lead isotopic record from a small pond in a remote equatorial island, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

Mercury Contamination in Costa Rica

Historical anthropogenic mercury in two lakes of Central Chile: comparison between an urban and rural lake

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