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Chen Y, Zhang Q, Zhang L, Liu X, Li Y, Liu R, Wang Y, Song Y, Li Y, Yin Y, Cai Y. Light-induced degradation of dimethylmercury in different natural waters. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 470:134113. [PMID: 38565021 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134113] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Photo-induced degradation of dimethylmercury (DMHg) is considered to be an important source for the generation of methylmercury (MMHg). However, studies on DMHg photodegradation are scarce, and it is even debatable about whether DMHg can be degraded in natural waters. Herein, we found that both DMHg and MMHg could be photodegraded in three natural waters collected from the Yellow River Delta, while in pure water only DMHg photodegradation occurred under visible light irradiation. The effects of different environmental factors on DMHg photodegradation were investigated, and the underlying mechanisms were elucidated by density functional theory calculations and a series of control experiments. Our findings revealed that the DMHg degradation rate was higher in the tidal creek water compared to Yellow River, Yan Lake, and purified water. NO3-, NO2-, and DOM could promote the photodegradation with DOM and NO3- showing particularly strong positive effects. Different light sources were employed, and UV light was found to be more effective in DMHg photodegradation. Moreover, MMHg was detected during the photodegradation of DMHg, confirming that the photochemical demethylation of DMHg is a source of MMHg in sunlit water. This work may provide a novel mechanistic insight into the DMHg photodegradation in natural waters and enrich the study of the global biogeochemical cycle of Hg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Chen
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, Qingdao Key Laboratory of Marine Pollutant Prevention, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Qingzhe Zhang
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, Qingdao Key Laboratory of Marine Pollutant Prevention, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China; Shenzhen Research Institute, Shandong University, Shenzhen 518057, China.
| | - Lian Zhang
- College of Safety and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China
| | - Xinning Liu
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China; Yantai Port United General Wharf Company, Yantai 264012, China
| | - Yanwei Li
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Runzeng Liu
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, Qingdao Key Laboratory of Marine Pollutant Prevention, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yingjun Wang
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, Qingdao Key Laboratory of Marine Pollutant Prevention, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yue Song
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, Qingdao Key Laboratory of Marine Pollutant Prevention, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yanbin Li
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, and Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Yongguang Yin
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yong Cai
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, Qingdao Key Laboratory of Marine Pollutant Prevention, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China; Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States.
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2
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Li Y, Xue J, Chen J, Huo J, Chen M. Natural and anthropogenic impacts on mercury accumulation in Xiaohai Lagoon, South China over the last 1200 years. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 916:170309. [PMID: 38278233 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Anthropogenic use and release of mercury (Hg) have profoundly affected the global Hg cycle since preindustrial times. However, it is often difficult to quantify the relative contributions of natural and anthropogenic factors to environmental Hg accumulation. Here, we have presented a 1200-year record of Hg deposition in a sediment core from the Xiaohai Lagoon (South China), in combination with multiple environmental indicators (e.g., geochemical elements, grain size and total organic carbon, etc.). Using principal component analysis (PCA) and stepwise regression analysis (SRA), we aimed to explore the latent processes governing the accumulation of Hg over time and to quantitatively assess the natural and anthropogenic impacts on Hg deposition over the last millennium in Xiaohai Lagoon. Our results have demonstrated that between ∼ 870 and ∼ 1860 CE, natural factors were the main drivers controlling Hg concentrations in the lagoon. These were directly driven by higher soil erosion and increased inputs of fine-grained matter. However, from 1860 to 2013 CE, enhanced anthropogenic activities played a significant role in Hg accumulation in Xiaohai Lagoon. Anthropogenic Hg fluxes increased significantly from ∼ 1860 CE, peaked several times during the 1860s to the 1950s, accelerated from the late 1950s to the early 2000s, and then declined gradually owing to the stringent environmental protection strategies and efficient pollutant control technologies. Our results have suggested that the increased anthropogenic Hg inputs between the 1860s and mid-1970s were mostly attributed to wars, the "Westernization Movement", and global industrial activity, with a surge mainly after the 1980s dominated by industrial activities in China and numerous developing countries in Southeast Asia. This study has shown the natural and anthropogenic influences associated with mercury pollution through quantitative analysis and can deepen our understanding of the processes and mechanisms of mercury deposition in natural environments under the influence of human activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanting Li
- School of Geographical Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Jibin Xue
- School of Geographical Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China.
| | - Jingqiang Chen
- School of Geographical Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Jia Huo
- School of Geographical Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Mingyi Chen
- School of Geographical Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
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Sahoo PK, Guimarães JTF, Salomão GN, Reis LS, da Silva EF, de Figueiredo MMJC, da Silva KL, Dall'Agnol R. Historical Hg accumulation (∼65 cal kyr BP) in upland lakes of the Southeastern Brazilian Amazonia: New evidence of the extent of geogenic and diagenetic control. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:168930. [PMID: 38042179 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
The historical upland lake sediments in the Brazilian Amazon witnessed significant enrichment of total mercury (Hg). However, its spatio-temporal relationships between lakes and the main factors responsible for this enrichment are still poorly constrained. Given this, we geochemically investigated 12 radiometrically dated (extending back to ∼65 cal kyr BP) sediment cores from the Carajás plateau, Brazil. The Hg level in historical sediments presented a large temporal variability (from 1 to 3200 μg/kg), with maximum accumulation peaks observed between 30 and 45 cal kyr BP in core R2, LB3, and R1. However, the lack of the Hg peak in other cores (LV2 and LTI3) during the same period despite being proximity and non-correlation of these Hg peaks with the onset of major volcanic events indicates that this source has little bearing. Hg enrichment is highly dependent on the type of sedimentary facies, with higher values were associated with detritic facies (MI) and detritic+organic facies (P/M). Principal component analysis shows that aluminosilicate minerals and organic matter are essential hosts of Hg in sediments. The positive correlation between Al, Ti, and Hg in detritic facies and their strong coherence with Hg/TOC in R1, R5, LSL, ST02, and LB3 cores indicate that Hg is primarily of lithogenic origin. This can be substantiated by the higher background threshold value of Hg (574 μg/kg) in historical lake sediments compared to those in recent lake sediments (340 μg/kg). However, the most pronounced Hg peak (3200 μg/kg) in R2 around 45 cal kyr BP, which correlates positively with TOC, S, Se, As, and Mo indicates their diagenetic enrichment in organic-rich sediments under anoxic conditions. Thus, in addition to the lithogenic effect, it can be argued that diagenesis can play a significant role in prompting Hg enrichment in the Carajás lake sediments in Amazonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prafulla Kumar Sahoo
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Central University of Punjab, VPO-Ghudda 151401 Bathinda, India.
| | | | | | - Luiza Santos Reis
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Rua Boaventura da Silva 955, Nazaré, Belém 66055-090, PA, Brazil; Micropaleontology Laboratory, University of São Paulo, Rua do Lago, 562-Cidade Universitária, São Paulo 05508-080, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Karen Lopes da Silva
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Rua Boaventura da Silva 955, Nazaré, Belém 66055-090, PA, Brazil
| | - Roberto Dall'Agnol
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Rua Boaventura da Silva 955, Nazaré, Belém 66055-090, PA, Brazil
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4
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Jiang C, Robinson R, Vandenberg R, Milovic M, Neville L. Oil contamination of sediments by freeze-drying versus air-drying for organic geochemical analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2023; 45:5799-5811. [PMID: 37147552 PMCID: PMC10403420 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-023-01594-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Freeze-drying is widely used in geochemical laboratories for preparing wet solid environmental samples such as sediments and soils before being analyzed for their contents and states of various metal elements and labile organic components that may be temperature- and/or redox-sensitive. Screening bulk geochemical analysis of two Artic lake sediment samples prepared by freeze-drying displayed unexpectedly high contents of labile organic matter (OM) represented by the Rock-Eval S1 peaks (e.g., 8.12 and 4.84 mg HC/g sediment). The amount of labile OM was reduced greatly for the freeze-dried sediment samples after a thorough cleaning of the freeze-drier sample chamber (e.g., 2.75 and 1.46 mg HC/g sediment), but was still significantly higher than that of the equivalent air-dried samples (e.g., 0.76 and 0.23 mg HC/g sediment). Compositional analysis of the labile OM fractions by gas chromatography (GC) of both freeze-dried and air-dried aliquots of the same sediments indicates the presence of unresolved complex mixture (UCM) humps of C10-C23 hydrocarbons in the freeze-dried samples. In contrast, air-dried samples, either real sediments or blank laboratory materials represented by clean sand and thermally spent shale, do not show the C10-C23 hydrocarbon UCM humps on their GC traces. The hydrocarbon UCM humps persist in the freeze-dried samples even they further went through air-drying at ambient conditions. Both bulk and compositional analytical results in this work appear to indicate the potential risk of introduction of external hydrocarbons to the prepared materials during freeze-drying process, especially if an aged freeze-drier was used without being thoroughly cleaned and if pump oil and cooling fluids were components of the device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunqing Jiang
- Geological Survey of Canada, 3303-33 Street, NW, Calgary, AB, T2L 2A7, Canada.
| | - Rachel Robinson
- Geological Survey of Canada, 3303-33 Street, NW, Calgary, AB, T2L 2A7, Canada
| | - Richard Vandenberg
- Geological Survey of Canada, 3303-33 Street, NW, Calgary, AB, T2L 2A7, Canada
| | - Marina Milovic
- Geological Survey of Canada, 3303-33 Street, NW, Calgary, AB, T2L 2A7, Canada
| | - Lisa Neville
- Geological Survey of Canada, 3303-33 Street, NW, Calgary, AB, T2L 2A7, Canada
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5
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Baud A, Smol JP, Meyer-Jacob C, Paterson M, Francus P, Gregory-Eaves I. The impacts of whole-lake acidification and eutrophication on the accumulation of lead in sediments from manipulated lakes in the Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 317:120829. [PMID: 36481463 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120829] [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: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Acidification and eutrophication are common limnological stressors impacting many water bodies across the globe. While the negative impacts of these stressors on limnetic communities are generally known, their influence on the accumulation of specific sediment constituents, such as metals, remains unclear. Benefitting from past research and long-term monitoring, lakes at the International Institute for Sustainable Development - Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA) in northwestern Ontario, Canada are invaluable to understand the extent to which these two common lake stressors can influence the accumulation of metals in lacustrine sediment. To address these issues, sediment cores were retrieved from six lakes: four were subjected to past experimental acidification or eutrophication and two were reference lakes. Focusing on elemental lead (Pb), a metal known to have accumulated in lake sediments worldwide and generally exhibiting a relatively small fraction of terrigenous input, we assessed the hypothesis that greater accumulation of Pb would be observed in lakes subjected to eutrophication, while the reverse was expected for lakes subjected to acidification experiments. Our analyses support this hypothesis, whereby relatively low enrichment was recorded in sediments deposited in the acidified lake during the manipulation era. On the other hand, eutrophied lakes demonstrated a strong enrichment in Pb during experimental manipulation. When investigating the mechanisms behind these divergent responses, we found epilimnetic dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and conductivity were associated with a relative increase in Pb accumulation in sediments. Acidic pH is also expected to mediate these responses by decreasing epilimnetic DOC concentrations leading to reduced Pb accumulation in the sediment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Baud
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, H3A 1B1, Canada; Group for Interuniversity Research in Limnology and Aquatic Environments (GRIL), Canada.
| | - John P Smol
- Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Lab (PEARL), Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Carsten Meyer-Jacob
- Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Lab (PEARL), Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Michael Paterson
- IISD-ELA International Institute for Sustainable Development Experimental Lakes Area, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 0T4, Canada
| | - Pierre Francus
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Québec, G1K 9A9, Canada; GEOTOP, Geochemistry and Geodynamics Research Centre, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Irene Gregory-Eaves
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, H3A 1B1, Canada; Group for Interuniversity Research in Limnology and Aquatic Environments (GRIL), Canada
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Chen S, Pan K, Li W, Duan D. Influence of algal organic matter on metal accumulation in adjacent sediments of aquaculture from a tropical coast region. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:69717-69730. [PMID: 35576031 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20629-9] [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: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The rapid development of coastal aquaculture in recent decades has led to excessive discharge of organic matter and nutrients into surrounding waters, which could result in eutrophication and potentially affect metal cycling. In our study, the influence of algal organic matter on metal accumulation was examined in three coastal sediment cores taken from a tropical region, Hainan Island, China. Overall, metal pollution adjacent to aquaculture ponds remained at low levels on the coast, except Zn, Cd, and Sn were moderately to highly enriched in the Dongjiao sediments. The δ13C values and the atomic C/N ratios indicated a major contribution of phytoplankton to sedimentary organic matter at the Dongjiao site. Moreover, both the algae-derived organic matter and effluent nitrogen were significantly associated with the enriched Zn, Cd, and Sn, suggesting that nutrient-induced phytoplankton growth and its organic matter may act as a "biological pump" to enhance the accumulation of metals. Wastewater treatment for aquaculture ponds should include the control of algal organic matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiquan Chen
- Hainan Academy of Ocean and Fisheries Sciences, 570125, Haikou, China
| | - Ke Pan
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Wenqin Li
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Dandan Duan
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, 571158, Haikou, China.
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
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7
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Ruhl M, Hesselbo SP, Jenkyns HC, Xu W, Silva RL, Matthews KJ, Mather TA, Mac Niocaill C, Riding JB. Reduced plate motion controlled timing of Early Jurassic Karoo-Ferrar large igneous province volcanism. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabo0866. [PMID: 36083904 PMCID: PMC9462690 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo0866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Past large igneous province (LIP) emplacement is commonly associated with mantle plume upwelling and led to major carbon emissions. One of Earth's largest past environmental perturbations, the Toarcian oceanic anoxic event (T-OAE; ~183 Ma), has been linked to Karoo-Ferrar LIP emplacement. However, the role of mantle plumes in controlling the onset and timing of LIP magmatism is poorly understood. Using global plate reconstruction models and Lower Toarcian sedimentary mercury (Hg) concentrations, we demonstrate (i) that the T-OAE occurred coevally with Karoo-Ferrar emplacement and (ii) that timing and duration of LIP emplacement was governed by reduced Pangean plate motion, associated with a reversal in plate movement direction. This new model mechanistically links Earth's interior and surficial processes, and the mechanism is consistent with the timing of several of the largest LIP volcanic events throughout Earth history and, thus, the timing of many of Earth's past global climate change and mass extinction events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micha Ruhl
- Department of Geology, Earth Surface Research Laboratory (ESRL) and SFI Research Centre in Applied Geosciences (iCRAG), Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, OX1 3AN, Oxford, UK
| | - Stephen P. Hesselbo
- Camborne School of Mines and Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Treliever Road, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Hugh C. Jenkyns
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, OX1 3AN, Oxford, UK
| | - Weimu Xu
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, OX1 3AN, Oxford, UK
- School of Earth Sciences and SFI Research Centre in Applied Geosciences (iCRAG), University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Ricardo L. Silva
- Department of Geology, Earth Surface Research Laboratory (ESRL) and SFI Research Centre in Applied Geosciences (iCRAG), Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
- Department of Earth Sciences, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources, University of Manitoba, 125 Dysart Road, Winnipeg, R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Kara J. Matthews
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, OX1 3AN, Oxford, UK
- Arctic Institute of North America, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, ES-1040, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Tamsin A. Mather
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, OX1 3AN, Oxford, UK
| | - Conall Mac Niocaill
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, OX1 3AN, Oxford, UK
| | - James B. Riding
- British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK
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Skogsberg E, McGovern M, Poste A, Jonsson S, Arts MT, Varpe Ø, Borgå K. Seasonal pollutant levels in littoral high-Arctic amphipods in relation to food sources and terrestrial run-off. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 306:119361. [PMID: 35523379 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Increasing terrestrial run-off from melting glaciers and thawing permafrost to Arctic coastal areas is expected to facilitate re-mobilization of stored legacy persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and mercury (Hg), potentially increasing exposure to these contaminants for coastal benthic organisms. We quantified chlorinated POPs and Hg concentrations, lipid content and multiple dietary markers, in a littoral deposit-feeding amphipod Gammarus setosus and sediments during the melting period from April to August in Adventelva river estuary in Svalbard, a Norwegian Arctic Aarchipelago. There was an overall decrease in concentrations of ∑POPs from April to August (from 58 ± 23 to 13 ± 4 ng/g lipid weight; lw), Hg (from 5.6 ± 0.7 to 4.1 ± 0.5 ng/g dry weight; dw) and Methyl Hg (MeHg) (from 5 ± 1 to 0.8 ± 0.7 ng/g dw) in G. setosus. However, we observed a seasonal peak in penta- and hexachlorobenzene (PeCB and HCB) in May (2.44 ± 0.3 and 23.6 ± 1.7 ng/g lw). Sediment concentrations of POPs and Hg (dw) only partly correlated with the contaminant concentrations in G. setosus. Dietary markers, including fatty acids and carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes, indicated a diet of settled phytoplankton in May-July and a broader range of carbon sources after the spring bloom. Phytoplankton utilization and chlorobenzene concentrations in G. setosus exhibited similar seasonal patterns, suggesting a dietary uptake of chlorobenzenes that is delivered to the aquatic environment during spring snowmelt. The seasonal decrease in contaminant concentrations in G. setosus could be related to seasonal changes in dietary contaminant exposure and amphipod ecology. Furthermore, this decrease implies that terrestrial run-off is not a significant source of re-mobilized Hg and legacy POPs to littoral amphipods in the Adventelva river estuary during the melt season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emelie Skogsberg
- University of Oslo, Department of Biosciences, Oslo, Norway; The University Centre in Svalbard, Department of Arctic Biology, Longyearbyen, Norway
| | - Maeve McGovern
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, Norway; The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Amanda Poste
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, Norway; The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Sofi Jonsson
- Stockholm University, Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Michael T Arts
- Ryerson University, Department of Chemistry and Biology, Toronto, M5B 2K3, Canada
| | - Øystein Varpe
- The University Centre in Svalbard, Department of Arctic Biology, Longyearbyen, Norway; Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Bergen, Norway; University of Bergen, Department of Biological Sciences, Bergen, Norway
| | - Katrine Borgå
- University of Oslo, Department of Biosciences, Oslo, Norway.
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9
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Liang M, Liu E, Wang X, Zhang Q, Xu J, Ji M, Zhang E. Historical trends in atmospheric metal(loid) contamination in North China over the past half-millennium reconstructed from subalpine lake sediment. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 304:119195. [PMID: 35339617 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Trace metal (loid) contamination in the atmosphere is widely monitored, but there is a gap in understanding its long-term patterns, especially in North China, which is currently a global contamination hotspot mainly caused by heavy industry emissions and coal combustion. Herein, historical trends of atmospheric As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn contamination in North China over the past ∼500 years are comparatively studied with sediment cores from two subalpine lakes (Gonghai and Muhai). Arsenic, Pb, Cd and Hg were main pollutants according to Pb isotopes and enrichment factors. Mercury contamination has increased continuously since the late 1800s and increasing As, Pb and Cd contamination started in the 1950s in Gonghai. In contrast, the contamination in Muhai lagged two decades for As, Cd and Pb and a half-century for Hg behind that in Gonghai, although the trends were similar. This contamination lag was attributed to the low sensitivity of Muhai sediment to early weak atmospheric metal contamination under 2.1-fold higher detrital sedimentation. As, Pb and Cd contamination has intensified since the 1980s, and the metals showed similar sedimentary fluxes in the cores. However, sedimentary fluxes of Hg contamination were 3.4-fold higher in Gonghai than in Muhai due to combination with organic matter. No obvious Cr, Cu and Ni contamination in the cores was mainly because of the low atmospheric deposition from anthropogenic sources relative to detrital input, although some of their atmospheric emissions were higher than those of As, Cd and Hg. Atmospheric As, Pb and Cd contamination was mainly from domestic sources of coal combustion and nonferrous smelting. Mercury contamination was mainly from global and Asian sources in the first half of the 20th century, and domestic emissions gradually dominated Hg contamination after the mid-1900s.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyao Liang
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Ji'nan, 250358, PR China; College of Marine Geosciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, PR China
| | - Enfeng Liu
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Ji'nan, 250358, PR China.
| | - Xiaoyu Wang
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Ji'nan, 250358, PR China
| | - Qinghui Zhang
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Ji'nan, 250358, PR China
| | - Jinling Xu
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Ji'nan, 250358, PR China
| | - Ming Ji
- School of Chemistry, Biology and Environment, Yuxi Normal University, Yuxi, 653100, PR China
| | - Enlou Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, PR China
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10
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Chételat J, McKinney MA, Amyot M, Dastoor A, Douglas TA, Heimbürger-Boavida LE, Kirk J, Kahilainen KK, Outridge PM, Pelletier N, Skov H, St Pierre K, Vuorenmaa J, Wang F. Climate change and mercury in the Arctic: Abiotic interactions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 824:153715. [PMID: 35149079 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Dramatic environmental shifts are occuring throughout the Arctic from climate change, with consequences for the cycling of mercury (Hg). This review summarizes the latest science on how climate change is influencing Hg transport and biogeochemical cycling in Arctic terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. As environmental changes in the Arctic continue to accelerate, a clearer picture is emerging of the profound shifts in the climate and cryosphere, and their connections to Hg cycling. Modeling results suggest climate influences seasonal and interannual variability of atmospheric Hg deposition. The clearest evidence of current climate change effects is for Hg transport from terrestrial catchments, where widespread permafrost thaw, glacier melt and coastal erosion are increasing the export of Hg to downstream environments. Recent estimates suggest Arctic permafrost is a large global reservoir of Hg, which is vulnerable to degradation with climate warming, although the fate of permafrost soil Hg is unclear. The increasing development of thermokarst features, the formation and expansion of thaw lakes, and increased soil erosion in terrestrial landscapes are increasing river transport of particulate-bound Hg and altering conditions for aquatic Hg transformations. Greater organic matter transport may also be influencing the downstream transport and fate of Hg. More severe and frequent wildfires within the Arctic and across boreal regions may be contributing to the atmospheric pool of Hg. Climate change influences on Hg biogeochemical cycling remain poorly understood. Seasonal evasion and retention of inorganic Hg may be altered by reduced sea-ice cover and higher chloride content in snow. Experimental evidence indicates warmer temperatures enhance methylmercury production in ocean and lake sediments as well as in tundra soils. Improved geographic coverage of measurements and modeling approaches are needed to better evaluate net effects of climate change and long-term implications for Hg contamination in the Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Chételat
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada.
| | - Melissa A McKinney
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Marc Amyot
- Groupe de recherche interuniversitaire en limnologie (GRIL), Département de sciences biologiques, Complexe des Sciences, Montréal, QC H2V 0B3, Canada
| | - Ashu Dastoor
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Air Quality Research Division, Dorval, QC H9P 1J3, Canada
| | - Thomas A Douglas
- U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Fort Wainwright, AK 99709, USA
| | - Lars-Eric Heimbürger-Boavida
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS/INSU, Université de Toulon, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) UM 110, Marseille, France
| | - Jane Kirk
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Burlington, ON L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Kimmo K Kahilainen
- Lammi Biological Station, University of Helsinki, Pääjärventie 320, FI-16900 Lammi, Finland
| | - Peter M Outridge
- Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0E8, Canada
| | - Nicolas Pelletier
- Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Henrik Skov
- Department of Environmental Science, iClimate, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Kyra St Pierre
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Jussi Vuorenmaa
- Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Feiyue Wang
- Centre for Earth Observation Sciences (CEOS), Dept. of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
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11
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Miller CB, Parsons MB, Jamieson HE, Ardakani OH, Patterson RT, Galloway JM. Mediation of arsenic mobility by organic matter in mining-impacted sediment from sub-Arctic lakes: implications for environmental monitoring in a warming climate. ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCES 2022; 81:137. [PMID: 35222729 PMCID: PMC8850223 DOI: 10.1007/s12665-022-10213-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Arsenic (As) is commonly sequestered at the sediment-water interface (SWI) in mining-impacted lakes through adsorption and/or co-precipitation with authigenic iron (Fe)-(oxy)hydroxides or sulfides. The results of this study demonstrate that the accumulation of organic matter (OM) in near-surface sediments also influences the mobility and fate of As in sub-Arctic lakes. Sediment gravity cores, sediment grab samples, and porewaters were collected from three lakes downstream of the former Tundra gold mine, Northwest Territories, Canada. Analysis of sediment using combined micro-X-ray fluorescence/diffraction, K-edge X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure (XANES), and organic petrography shows that As is associated with both aquatic (benthic and planktonic alginate) and terrestrially derived OM (e.g., cutinite, funginite). Most As is hosted by fine-grained Fe-(oxy)hydroxides or sulfide minerals (e.g., goethite, orpiment, lepidocrocite, and mackinawite); however, grain-scale synchrotron-based analysis shows that As is also associated with amorphous OM. Mixed As oxidation states in porewater (median = 62% As (V), 18% As (III); n = 20) and sediment (median = 80% As (-I) and (III), 20% As (V); n = 9) indicate the presence of variable redox conditions in the near-surface sediment and suggest that post-depositional remobilization of As has occurred. Detailed characterization of As-bearing OM at and below the SWI suggests that OM plays an important role in stabilizing redox-sensitive authigenic minerals and associated As. Based on these findings, it is expected that increased concentrations of labile OM will drive post-depositional surface enrichment of As in mining-impacted lakes and may increase or decrease As flux from sediments to overlying surface waters. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12665-022-10213-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare B. Miller
- Centre for Ore Deposits and Earth Sciences (CODES), Department of Earth Science, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
- Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6 Canada
| | - Michael B. Parsons
- Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6 Canada
- Geological Survey of Canada/Commission Géologique du Canada, Natural Resources Canada/Ressources Naturelles Canada, 1 Challenger Drive, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4A2 Canada
| | - Heather E. Jamieson
- Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6 Canada
| | - Omid H. Ardakani
- Geological Survey of Canada/Commission Géologique du Canada, Natural Resources Canada/Ressources Naturelles Canada, 3303 - 33 Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2L 2A7 Canada
| | - R. Timothy Patterson
- Ottawa‐Carleton Geoscience Centre, Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON KIS 5B6 Canada
| | - Jennifer M. Galloway
- Geological Survey of Canada/Commission Géologique du Canada, Natural Resources Canada/Ressources Naturelles Canada, 3303 - 33 Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2L 2A7 Canada
- Ottawa‐Carleton Geoscience Centre, Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON KIS 5B6 Canada
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12
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Paleocene/Eocene carbon feedbacks triggered by volcanic activity. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5186. [PMID: 34465785 PMCID: PMC8408262 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25536-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) was a period of geologically-rapid carbon release and global warming ~56 million years ago. Although modelling, outcrop and proxy records suggest volcanic carbon release occurred, it has not yet been possible to identify the PETM trigger, or if multiple reservoirs of carbon were involved. Here we report elevated levels of mercury relative to organic carbon-a proxy for volcanism-directly preceding and within the early PETM from two North Sea sedimentary cores, signifying pulsed volcanism from the North Atlantic Igneous Province likely provided the trigger and subsequently sustained elevated CO2. However, the PETM onset coincides with a mercury low, suggesting at least one other carbon reservoir released significant greenhouse gases in response to initial warming. Our results support the existence of 'tipping points' in the Earth system, which can trigger release of additional carbon reservoirs and drive Earth's climate into a hotter state.
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13
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Mercury Anomaly in Oligocene–Miocene Maykop Group Sediments (Caucasus Continental Collision Zone): Mercury Hosts, Distribution, and Sources. MINERALS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/min11070751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The Oligocene–Miocene Maykop Group sediments, mainly composed of illite–smectite, store mercury in strongly variable concentrations from 10 to 920 μg/kg. Extremely high Hg levels (98–920 μg/kg) coupled with abnormal mercury-to-total organic carbon (TOC) ratios (Hg/TOC = 109 to 3000 μg/kg/wt%; TOC = 0.2 wt% to 1.2 wt%) were measured in the Middle Maykop marine shales that were deposited in the deepwater Indol–Kuban Basin under anoxic conditions. The Middle Maykop shales contain up to 70% of total mercury in sulfide form. In heavy mineral fractions, abundant Hg-bearing pyrite (with up to 4810 µg/kg Hg in hand-picked concentrates) is accompanied by sporadic cinnabar. Relative to the Middle Maykop sediments, the Upper Maykop shales have much lower Hg concentrations and Hg/TOC ratios: 10 to 63 μg/kg (34 μg/kg on average) and 7.7 to 137 μg/kg/wt% (39 μg/kg/wt% on average), respectively. Mercury sequestration is inferred to occur mostly by binding in sulfide hosts in the Middle Maykop anoxic deep-sea sediments and in organic matter, Fe3+-(oxy)hydroxides, and clay particles in the Upper Maykop shales which were deposited in a more oxygenated environment. Mercury inputs to the marine shales during Maykopian sedimentation were possibly associated with local Oligocene–Lower Miocene volcanic activity in the Caucasus Continental Collision Zone. At the same time, the mode of Hg binding in sediments was controlled by redox conditions which changed from anoxic to disoxic and suboxic at the Middle-to-Upper Maykop transition.
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14
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Duan D, Lei P, Lan W, Li T, Zhang H, Zhong H, Pan K. Litterfall-derived organic matter enhances mercury methylation in mangrove sediments of South China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 765:142763. [PMID: 33069467 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) contamination in mangrove ecosystems has received increasing attention in recent years. Although many studies have investigated methylmercury (MeHg) contamination and its relationship to a number of environmental factors in mangrove sediments, the production of MeHg in this carbon-rich ecosystem has not been fully evaluated. In this study, we measured the total mercury (THg) and MeHg concentrations in the sediments collected from seven mangrove forests in China. In addition, we examined the origin and quality of sedimentary organic matter (OM), trying to evaluate their influence on the MeHg accumulation in mangrove sediments. We found that litterfall played an important role in regulating THg and MeHg contents in mangrove sediments. THg and MeHg concentrations in the mangrove sediments were positively correlated to OM content and the labile fraction of the OM. Multiple evidence (stable carbon isotopes, monosaccharide compositions, and biogenic silica) suggested that OM in mangrove sediments was dominated by input from litterfall. THg and MeHg concentrations were elevated at the sediments with higher input of mangrove OM. We observed that addition of mangrove litter stimulated the production of MeHg under anaerobic conditions. Overall, our results suggested that litterfall acted as a source of inorganic Hg, labile carbon, and low-molecular-weight OM which greatly favor the Hg methylation. Our study provides new insights into the MeHg production in mangrove sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Duan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China; State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Pei Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Wenlu Lan
- Marine Environmental Monitoring Center of Guangxi, Beihai 536000, China; Guangxi Key Lab of Mangrove Conservation and Utilization, Guangxi Mangrove Research Center, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Beihai 536000, China
| | - Tianshen Li
- Marine Environmental Monitoring Center of Guangxi, Beihai 536000, China; Guangxi Key Lab of Mangrove Conservation and Utilization, Guangxi Mangrove Research Center, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Beihai 536000, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Huan Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Ke Pan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
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15
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Schneider T, Musa Bandowe BA, Bigalke M, Mestrot A, Hampel H, Mosquera PV, Fränkl L, Wienhues G, Vogel H, Tylmann W, Grosjean M. 250-year records of mercury and trace element deposition in two lakes from Cajas National Park, SW Ecuadorian Andes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:16227-16243. [PMID: 33280061 PMCID: PMC7969545 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-11437-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Historical records of trace elements in lake sediments provide source-to-sink information about potentially toxic pollutants across space and time. We investigated two lakes located at different elevations in the Ecuadorian Andes to understand how trace element fluxes are related to (i) geology, (ii) erosion in the watersheds, and (iii) local point sources and atmospheric loads. In remote Lake Fondococha (4150 m a.s.l.), total Hg fluxes stay constant between ca. 1760 and 1950 and show an approximately 4.4-fold increase between pre-1950 and post-1950 values. The post-1950 increase in fluxes of other trace elements (V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) is lower (2.1-3.0-fold) than for Hg. Mostly lithogenic sources and enhanced soil erosion contribute to their post-1950 increase (lithogenic contribution: > 85%, Hg: ~ 58%). Average post-1950 Hg fluxes are approximately 4.3 times higher in peri-urban Lake Llaviucu (3150 m a.s.l.) than in the remote Lake Fondococha. Post-1950 fluxes of the other trace elements showed larger differences between Lakes Fondococha and Llaviucu (5.2 < 25-29.5-fold increase; Ni < Pb-Cd). The comparison of the post-1950 average trace element fluxes that are derived from point and airborne sources revealed 5-687 (Hg-Pb) times higher values in Lake Llaviucu than in Lake Fondococha suggesting that Lake Llaviucu's proximity to the city of Cuenca strongly influences its deposition record (industrial emissions, traffic, caged fishery). Both lakes responded with temporary drops in trace element accumulations to park regulations in the 1970s and 1990s, but show again increasing trends in recent times, most likely caused by increase in vehicular traffic and openings of copper and gold mines around Cajas National Park.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Schneider
- Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Hochschulstrasse 4, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
- Department of Geosciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 611 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003-9297, USA.
| | - Benjamin A Musa Bandowe
- Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Hochschulstrasse 4, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
- Multiphase Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Moritz Bigalke
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Adrien Mestrot
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Henrietta Hampel
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador
- Laboratorio de Ecología Acuática, Departamento de Recursos Hídricos y Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Pablo V Mosquera
- Subgerencia de Gestión Ambiental, Empresa Pública Municipal de Telecomunicaciones, Agua potable, Alcantarillado y Saneamiento (ETAPA EP), Cuenca, Ecuador
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lea Fränkl
- Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Hochschulstrasse 4, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Giulia Wienhues
- Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Hochschulstrasse 4, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Hendrik Vogel
- Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Hochschulstrasse 4, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 1+3, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Wojciech Tylmann
- Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdansk, Bazynskiego 4, 80309, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Martin Grosjean
- Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Hochschulstrasse 4, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
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16
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Burke SM, Zimmerman CE, Laske SM, Koch JC, Derry AM, Guernon S, Branfireun BA, Swanson HK. Fish growth rates and lake sulphate explain variation in mercury levels in ninespine stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 743:140564. [PMID: 32758814 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mercury concentrations in freshwater food webs are governed by complex biogeochemical and ecological interactions that spatially vary and are often mediated by climate. The Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska (ACP) is a heterogeneous, lake-rich landscape where variability in mercury accumulation is poorly understood. Earlier research indicated that the level of catchment influence on lakes varied spatially on the ACP, and affected mercury accumulation in lake sediments. This work sought to determine drivers of spatial variation in mercury accumulation in lake food webs on the ACP. Three lakes that were a priori identified as "high catchment influence" (Reindeer Camp region) and three lakes that were a priori identified as "low catchment influence" (Atqasuk region) were sampled, and variability in water chemistry, food web ecology, and mercury accumulation was investigated. Among-lake differences in ninespine stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) length-adjusted methylmercury concentrations were significantly explained by sulphate concentration in lake water, a tracer of catchment runoff input. This effect was mediated by fish growth, which had no pattern between regions. Together, lake water sulphate concentration and fish age-at-size (proxy for growth) accounted for nearly all of the among-lake variability in length-adjusted methylmercury concentrations in stickleback (R2adj = 0.94, p < 0.01). The percentage of total mercury as methylmercury (a proxy for net Hg methylation) was higher in sediments of more autochthonous, "low catchment influence" lakes (p < 0.05), and in the periphyton of more allochthonous, "high catchment influence" lakes (p < 0.05). The results indicate that dominant sources of primary production (littoral macrophyte/biofilm vs. pelagic phytoplankton) and food web structure (detrital vs. grazing) are regulated by catchment characteristics on the ACP, and that this ultimately influences the amount of methylmercury in the aquatic food web. These results have important implications for predicting future mercury concentrations in fish in lakes where fish growth rates and catchment inputs may change in response to a changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Burke
- Department of Biology and Water Institute, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, 867 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington, ON L7S 1A1, Canada.
| | - C E Zimmerman
- U. S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
| | - S M Laske
- U. S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
| | - J C Koch
- U. S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
| | - A M Derry
- Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), P.O. Box 8888, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - S Guernon
- Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), P.O. Box 8888, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - B A Branfireun
- Western University, Department of Biological Sciences, London, Ontario N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - H K Swanson
- Department of Biology and Water Institute, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
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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.
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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.
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18
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Pan J, Zhong W, Wei Z, Ouyang J, Shang S, Ye S, Chen Y, Xue J, Tang X. A 15,400-year record of natural and anthropogenic input of mercury (Hg) in a sub-alpine lacustrine sediment succession from the western Nanling Mountains, South China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:20478-20489. [PMID: 32246428 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-08421-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A 15400-year mercury (Hg) accumulation history was reconstructed from a lake sediment core collected from Daping Swamp in western Nanling Mountains, South China. Our results show that the natural input of Hg was deeply influenced by varying climatic conditions. Under wet and warm conditions, increased surface soil organic matter induced by improved vegetation conditions favor an increased input of surface soil-bound Hg to the lake, thus leading to higher Hg accumulation rate, and on the other hand, the direct atmospheric wet deposition of Hg into the lake would also be enhanced. In contrast, under relatively cold and dry conditions, it would display an inverse picture. The signal of anthropogenic influence possibly derived from regional Hg pollution likely started at ~ 3400 cal. years BP, roughly corresponding to the early stage of the Shang Dynasty in Chinese history. Four periods of increased anthropogenic Hg inputs appeared in ~ 3358-2170, ~ 2170-1730, ~ 1369-1043, and especially ~ 600-250 cal. years BP, corresponded to the Shang and Zhou, the Qin and Han, the Sui and Tang, and the Ming and Qing dynasties in China, respectively. A clearly weakened anthropogenic input occurred between~1750 and 1400 cal. years BP, coinciding with the Three Kingdoms to the Southern and Northern Dynasties. Our results revealed the history of the natural Hg accumulation since the Last Deglacial period, and the existence of regional atmospheric Hg induced from anthropogenic activity spanning the last ~ 3400 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyu Pan
- School of Geography Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, Guangdong, China
| | - Wei Zhong
- School of Geography Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, Guangdong, China.
| | - Zhiqiang Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, 519087, China
| | - Jun Ouyang
- School of Geography Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, Guangdong, China
| | - Shengtan Shang
- School of Geography Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, Guangdong, China
| | - Susu Ye
- Guangdong center for Marine development research, Guangzhou, 510220, China
| | - Yuanhan Chen
- School of Geography Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, Guangdong, China
| | - Jibin Xue
- School of Geography Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaowen Tang
- School of Geography Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, Guangdong, China
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Cooke CA, Martínez-Cortizas A, Bindler R, Sexauer Gustin M. Environmental archives of atmospheric Hg deposition - A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 709:134800. [PMID: 31887515 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Environmental archives offer an opportunity to reconstruct temporal trends in atmospheric Hg deposition at various timescales. Lake sediment and peat have been the most widely used archives; however, new records from ice, tree rings, and the measurement of Hg stable isotopes, are offering new insights into past Hg cycling. Preindustrial Hg deposition has been studied over decadal to millennial timescales extending as far back as the late Pleistocene. Exploitation of mercury deposits (mainly cinnabar) first began during the mid to late Holocene in South America, Europe, and Asia, but increased dramatically during the Colonial era (1532-1900) for silver production. However, evidence for preindustrial Hg pollution is restricted to regions directly downwind or downstream of cinnabar or precious metal mining centers. Excluding these areas, there has been an approximately four-fold increase in atmospheric deposition globally over the industrial era (i.e., since 1800-1850), though regional differences exist, especially during the early 20th Century. Lake sediments, peat, ice, and tree rings are all influenced by (and integrate) a range of processes. For example, lake sediments are influenced by atmospheric deposition, sediment focusing, and the input of allochthonous material from the watershed, peat records reflect atmospheric deposition and biotic uptake, ice cores are a record of Hg scrubbed during precipitation, and tree rings record atmospheric concentrations. No archive represents an absolute record of past Hg deposition or concentrations, and post-depositional transformation of Hg profiles remains an important topic of research. However, natural archives continue to provide important insight into atmospheric Hg cycling over various timescales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin A Cooke
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada; Environmental Monitoring and Science Division, Alberta Environment and Parks, Government of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 5C6 Canada.
| | - Antonio Martínez-Cortizas
- EcoPast (GI-1553), Facultade de Bioloxía, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Richard Bindler
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Mae Sexauer Gustin
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada-Reno Reno, Nevada 89557, United States
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20
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Miller CB, Parsons MB, Jamieson HE, Ardakani OH, Gregory BRB, Galloway JM. Influence of late-Holocene climate change on the solid-phase speciation and long-term stability of arsenic in sub-Arctic lake sediments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 709:136115. [PMID: 31887529 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Sediment cores were collected from two lakes in the Courageous Lake Greenstone Belt (CLGB), central Northwest Territories, Canada, to examine the influence of late-Holocene warming on the transport and fate of arsenic (As) in sub-Arctic lakes. In both lakes, allochthonous As-bearing minerals (i.e. arsenopyrite and scorodite) were identified in sediment deposited during times of both regional warming and cooling, suggesting that weathering of bedrock and derived surficial materials provides a continual source of As to lakes of the CLGB. However, maximum porewater As (84 μg·L-1 and 15 μg·L-1) and reactive organic matter (OM; aquatic and terrestrial-derived) concentrations in each lake are coincident with known periods of regional climate warming. It is inferred that increased biological production in surface waters and influx of terrigenous OM led to the release of sedimentary As to porewater through reductive dissolution of As-bearing Fe-(oxy)hydroxides and scorodite during episodes of regional warming. Elevated sedimentary As concentrations (median: 36 mg·kg-1; range: 29 to 49 mg·kg-1) are observed in sediment coeval with the Holocene Thermal Maximum (ca. 5430 ± 110 to 4070 ± 130 cal. years BP); at these depths, authigenic As-bearing framboidal pyrite is the primary host of As in sediment and the influence of organic matter on the precipitation of As-bearing framboidal pyrite is apparent petrographically. These findings suggest that increased biological productivity and weathering of terrestrial OM associated with climate warming influences redox cycles in the near-surface sediment and enhances the mobility of As in northern lakes. Knowledge generated from this study is relevant for predicting future climate change-driven variations in metal(loid) cycling in aquatic systems and can be used to interpret trends in long-term environmental monitoring data at historical, modern, and future metal mines in northern environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare B Miller
- Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada.
| | - Michael B Parsons
- Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; Geological Survey of Canada/Commission géologique du Canada, Natural Resources Canada/Ressources naturelles Canada, 1 Challenger Drive, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4A2, Canada
| | - Heather E Jamieson
- Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Omid H Ardakani
- Geological Survey of Canada/Commission géologique du Canada, Natural Resources Canada/Ressources naturelles Canada, 3303 33rd Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2L 2A7, Canada
| | - Braden R B Gregory
- Ottawa-Carleton Geoscience Centre, Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON KIS 5B6, Canada
| | - Jennifer M Galloway
- Geological Survey of Canada/Commission géologique du Canada, Natural Resources Canada/Ressources naturelles Canada, 3303 33rd Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2L 2A7, Canada; Ottawa-Carleton Geoscience Centre, Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON KIS 5B6, Canada; Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, Aarhus DK 8000, Denmark
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Li X, Liu E, Zhang E, Lin Q, Yu Z, Nath B, Yuan H, Shen J. Spatio-temporal variations of sedimentary metals in a large suburban lake in southwest China and the implications for anthropogenic processes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 707:135650. [PMID: 31780171 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 11/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Environment quality of suburban and urban lakes receives special attention due to their great impacted by human perturbations and important roles in ecosystem services. Herein, the spatio-temporal variations of 10 metal and metalloid elements in 13 sediment cores from a large suburban lake (Dianchi) were studied to explore the changes in sedimentary environment and pollution and their associations with human activities since the last century. Concentrations of each element were largely varied at spatial scales, but showed similar vertical trends among the profiles, suggesting comparable changes in sedimentary processes in each lake region. Cluster analysis showed two groups of elements: group I includes Al, Ti, Cu, Cr and Ni, and group II includes As, Cd, Hg, Pb and Zn. Temporally, concentrations of all elements were generally constant until the 1950s. Thereafter, group I elements along with the clay percentage started to decrease, indicating accelerated input of coarser soils due to strengthening human perturbation and changing land use. However, group II elements showed increasing values of concentrations, particularly the enrichment factors (EF = 1.0-10.8), which peaked between mid-1990s and 2000, indicating continued pollutants input with watershed economic development. With the implementation of environment management measures, pollution was initially restrained or reduced in recent decades as indicated by the stable EFs and sedimentary fluxes of Cd, Hg, Pb and Zn and decreasing values of As. Spatially, the stocks of anthropogenic As, Cd, Hg, Pb and Zn were higher in the northern while lower in the southern lake area. This spatial difference was mainly due to the large input of industrial and domestic wastewaters in the northern compared to the area in the southern that receives runoff from agricultural and forested land. Overall, the spatio-temporal patterns in accumulation of metal and metalloid elements in the lake reliably reflected the impacts of watershed human activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolin Li
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Ji'nan, PR China
| | - Enfeng Liu
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Ji'nan, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, PR China.
| | - Enlou Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Qi Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China
| | - Zhenzhen Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China
| | - Bibhash Nath
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York, USA
| | - Hezhong Yuan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Ji Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, PR China
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22
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Zaputlyaeva A, Mazzini A, Blumenberg M, Scheeder G, Kürschner WM, Kus J, Jones MT, Frieling J. Recent magmatism drives hydrocarbon generation in north-east Java, Indonesia. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1786. [PMID: 32019954 PMCID: PMC7000390 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58567-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventional studies of petroleum basins associate oil generation with the gradual burial of organic-rich sediments. These classical models rely on the interplay between pressure, temperature, and the time required for organic matter transformation to oil and gas. These processes usually occur over geological timescales, but may be accelerated by rapid reactions when carbon-rich sediments are exposed to migrating magmatic fluids. The spectacular Lusi eruption (north-east Java, Indonesia) is the surface expression of the present-day deep interaction between volcanic and sedimentary domains. Here we report the ongoing generation of large amounts of hydrocarbons induced by a recent magmatic intrusion from the neighbouring Arjuno-Welirang volcanic complex. We have investigated a unique suite of oil and clast samples, and developed a detailed conceptual model for the complex hydrocarbon migration history in this part of the basin by integrating multidisciplinary techniques. Our results show that palynology, organic petrology, and chlorite microthermometry are the most sensitive geothermometers for basins affected by recent magmatic activity. These findings further our understanding of the driving mechanisms fueling the world’s largest active mud eruption and provide a unique dataset to investigate modern hydrocarbon generation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adriano Mazzini
- Centre for Earth Evolution and Dynamics (CEED), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Martin Blumenberg
- Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Hannover, Germany
| | - Georg Scheeder
- Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Jolanta Kus
- Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Hannover, Germany
| | - Morgan Thomas Jones
- Centre for Earth Evolution and Dynamics (CEED), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Joost Frieling
- Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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23
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Sharma Ghimire P, Tripathee L, Zhang Q, Guo J, Ram K, Huang J, Sharma CM, Kang S. Microbial mercury methylation in the cryosphere: Progress and prospects. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 697:134150. [PMID: 32380618 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is one of the most toxic heavy metals, and its cycle is mainly controlled by oxidation-reduction reactions carried out by photochemical or microbial process under suitable conditions. The deposition and accumulation of methylmercury (MeHg) in various ecosystems, including the cryospheric components such as snow, meltwater, glaciers, and ice sheet, and subsequently in the food chain pose serious health concerns for living beings. Unlike the abundance of knowledge about the processes of MeHg production over land and oceans, little is known about the sources and production/degradation rate of MeHg in cryosphere systems. In addition, processes controlling the concentration of Hg and MeHg in the cryosphere remains poorly understood, and filling this scientific gap has been challenging. Therefore, it is essential to study and review the deposition and accumulation by biological, physical, and chemical mechanisms involved in Hg methylation in the cryosphere. This review attempts to address knowledge gaps in understanding processes, especially biotic and abiotic, applicable for Hg methylation in the cryosphere. First, we focus on the variability in Hg concentration and mechanisms of Hg methylation, including physical, chemical, microbial, and biological processes, and transportation in the cryosphere. Then, we elaborate on the mechanism of redox reactions and biotic and abiotic factors controlling Hg methylation and biogeochemistry of Hg in the cryosphere. We also present possible mechanisms of Hg methylation with an emphasis on microbial transformation and molecular function to understand variability in Hg concentration in the cryosphere. Recent advancements in the genetic and physicochemical mechanisms of Hg methylation are also presented. Finally, we summarize and propose a method to study the unsolved issues of Hg methylation in the cryosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakriti Sharma Ghimire
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, China; Himalayan Environment Research Institute (HERI), Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Lekhendra Tripathee
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, China; Himalayan Environment Research Institute (HERI), Kathmandu, Nepal.
| | - Qianggong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Junming Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Kirpa Ram
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Jie Huang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chhatra Mani Sharma
- Himalayan Environment Research Institute (HERI), Kathmandu, Nepal; Central Department of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Shichang Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
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24
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Wang L, Chen G, Liu Y, Li R, Kong L, Huang L, Wang J, Kimpe LE, Blais JM. Environmental legacy and catchment erosion modulate sediment records of trace metals in alpine lakes of southwest China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 254:113090. [PMID: 31465900 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Sediment records are widely used to infer impact of atmospheric metal deposition in alpine lakes, however, the legacy effect and catchment erosion of historical pollutants could potentially affect metal influx into lakes. Here, we collect data (including six trace metals and three lithogenic elements) from well-dated sediment cores of seven alpine lakes in southeast Tibet, which is adjacent to southwest China. This area has a documented history of preindustrial pollution. Metals such as cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn) and arsenic (As) are found at relatively low concentrations until a clear increase is observed after 1950s across lakes. This result is consistent with accelerating atmospheric metal deposition due to socio-economic development in the region. We observe no synchronous trend across lakes in the changes of lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and silver (Ag), which show no significant increase after ∼1950 over the last two centuries in most of the study lakes. The historical trends of 206Pb/207Pb ratio reflect an important source of anthropogenic Pb associated with preindustrial mining and smelting in this study region, suggesting a substantial impact of legacy contamination from ancient mines. Furthermore, the temporal variations in these six anthropogenic metals are largely accounted for by terrigenous elements (e.g. aluminum (Al) and titanium (Ti)) in most of the study lakes, and to a lesser degree by sediment grain sizes and organic matter content, suggesting a significant role of catchment erosion in modulating sediment metal signals. In all, this study highlights the legacy effect of historical pollutants may have enhanced the forcing of catchment erosion in modulating the sediment signals of anthropogenic deposition in southeast Tibet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plateau Geographical Processes and Environmental Changes, School of Tourism and Geography, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Guangjie Chen
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plateau Geographical Processes and Environmental Changes, School of Tourism and Geography, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China.
| | - Yuanyuan Liu
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plateau Geographical Processes and Environmental Changes, School of Tourism and Geography, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Rui Li
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plateau Geographical Processes and Environmental Changes, School of Tourism and Geography, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Lingyang Kong
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plateau Geographical Processes and Environmental Changes, School of Tourism and Geography, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Linpei Huang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plateau Geographical Processes and Environmental Changes, School of Tourism and Geography, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Jiaoyuan Wang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plateau Geographical Processes and Environmental Changes, School of Tourism and Geography, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Linda E Kimpe
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N6N5 Ontario, Canada
| | - Jules M Blais
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N6N5 Ontario, Canada
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25
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Long S, Hamilton PB, Dumont HJ, Rong L, Wu Z, Chen C, Guo Y, Tang J, Fan J, Li C, Zhang T. Effect of algal and bacterial diet on metal bioaccumulation in zooplankton from the Pearl River, South China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 675:151-164. [PMID: 31026639 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The biomagnification of metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn) and the metalloid As in aquatic systems is a global health concern. In this study, concentrations of fatty acid biomarkers in zooplankton were analyzed from the Pearl River, South China between September 2016 and July 2017. The objective was to examine how particulate matter, algae and bacteria food sources affect metal bioaccumulation using fatty acid facilitation. In the zooplankton fraction, positive correlations were observed between Pb concentration and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), Zn and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (diatoms and Cryptophyceae biomarkers), Fe with Palmitoleic acid (C16:1n-7, diatom marker), and a weak association of Mn with α-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3). Cu concentration in the zooplankton increased significantly with an endogenous biotic biomarker Stearic acid (C18:0, bacteria biomarker), while Cd concentrations increased with increasing Oleic acid (C18:1n-9, green alga biomarker) concentration. There was a positive correlation between Cr concentration and the sum of Pentadecylic and Margaric acids (C15:0 + C17:0, bacteria biomarkers). Seven of the nine metals examined showed associations with fatty acids in the zooplankton. The bioaccumulation of Co, Cu, Pb, Fe, Mn and Zn concentration was correlated to the individual biomasses of Brachionus calyciflorus, Filinia longiseta, Schmackeria forbesi, Limnoithona sinenisis, Thermocyclops brevifurcatus, and Diaphanosoma dubium. For selected zooplankton taxa, the algal biomasses of Euglenophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Cryptophyceae, and Bacillariophyceae were correlated. Zooplankton were affected by selected species of phytoplankton and bacteria numbers in the Pearl River. These results show that metal accumulation in zooplankton is not only correlated with diet but is also in part, species specific with metal type. Thus, the bioaccumulation or scavenging of metals across trophic levels is a fundamental and complex component of metal cycling in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengxing Long
- Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Rare Animal and Economic Insects of the Mountainous Region, College of Biology and Environmental Engineering, Guiyang University, Guiyang 550005, Guizhou, PR China; Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, Guizhou 55001, PR China
| | - Paul B Hamilton
- Research and Collections, Canadian Museum of Nature, P.O. Box 3443, Station D, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6P4, Canada
| | - Henri J Dumont
- Institute of Animal Ecology, University of Ghent, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Li Rong
- Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, Guizhou 55001, PR China
| | - Zhongxing Wu
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Resources Research in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Life Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, PR China
| | - Chuan Chen
- Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, Guizhou 55001, PR China
| | - Yun Guo
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Guizhou Minzu University, Guiyang 550025, PR China
| | - Jinbeng Tang
- Institute of Hydrobiology, College of life Science and Technology, JiNan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, PR China
| | - Jingjing Fan
- Institute of Hydrobiology, College of life Science and Technology, JiNan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, PR China
| | - Can Li
- Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Rare Animal and Economic Insects of the Mountainous Region, College of Biology and Environmental Engineering, Guiyang University, Guiyang 550005, Guizhou, PR China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Rare Animal and Economic Insects of the Mountainous Region, College of Biology and Environmental Engineering, Guiyang University, Guiyang 550005, Guizhou, PR China.
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26
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The Role of Climate: 71 ka of Atmospheric Mercury Deposition in the Southern Hemisphere Recorded by Rano Aroi Mire, Easter Island (Chile). GEOSCIENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/geosciences8100374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The study of mercury accumulation in peat cores provides an excellent opportunity to improve the knowledge on mercury cycling and depositional processes at remote locations far from pollution sources. We analyzed mercury concentrations in 150 peat samples from two cores from Rano Aroi (Easter Island, 27° S) and in selected vegetation samples of present-day flora of the island, in order to characterize the mercury cycling for the last ~71 ka BP. The mercury concentrations showed values ranging between 35 and 200 ng g−1, except for a large maxima (~1000 ng g−1) which occurred at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, ~20 ka cal BP) in both peat cores. Low temperatures during the LGM would accelerate the atmospheric oxidation of Hg(0) to divalent mercury that, coupled with higher rainfall during this period, most likely resulted in a very efficient surface deposition of atmospheric mercury. Two exceptional short-lived Hg peaks occurred during the Holocene at 8.5 (350 ng g−1) and 4.7 (1000 ng g−1) ka cal BP. These values are higher than those recorded in most peat records belonging to the industrial period, highlighting that natural factors played a significant role in Hg accumulation—sometimes even more so than anthropogenic sources. Our results suggest that wet deposition, linked to atmospheric oxidation, was the main process controlling the short-lived Hg events, both in the mire and in the catchment soils.
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27
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Korosi JB, Griffiths K, Smol JP, Blais JM. Trends in historical mercury deposition inferred from lake sediment cores across a climate gradient in the Canadian High Arctic. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 241:459-467. [PMID: 29870948 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.05.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent climate change may be enhancing mercury fluxes to Arctic lake sediments, confounding the use of sediment cores to reconstruct histories of atmospheric deposition. Assessing the independent effects of climate warming on mercury sequestration is challenging due to temporal overlap between warming temperatures and increased long-range transport of atmospheric mercury following the Industrial Revolution. We address this challenge by examining mercury trends in short cores (the last several hundred years) from eight lakes centered on Cape Herschel (Canadian High Arctic) that span a gradient in microclimates, including two lakes that have not yet been significantly altered by climate warming due to continued ice cover. Previous research on subfossil diatoms and inferred primary production indicated the timing of limnological responses to climate warming, which, due to prevailing ice cover conditions, varied from ∼1850 to ∼1990 for lakes that have undergone changes. We show that climate warming may have enhanced mercury deposition to lake sediments in one lake (Moraine Pond), while another (West Lake) showed a strong signal of post-industrial mercury enrichment without any corresponding limnological changes associated with warming. Our results provide insights into the role of climate warming and organic carbon cycling as drivers of mercury deposition to Arctic lake sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer B Korosi
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Katherine Griffiths
- Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Lab (PEARL), Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, K7L 3N6, Ontario, Canada.
| | - John P Smol
- Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Lab (PEARL), Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, K7L 3N6, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Jules M Blais
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Ontario, Canada.
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28
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Prediction of Holocene Mercury Accumulation Trends by Combining Palynological and Geochemical Records of Lake Sediments (Black Forest, Germany). GEOSCIENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/geosciences8100358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Forest vegetation plays a key role in the cycling of mercury (Hg) and organic matter (OM) in terrestrial ecosystems. Litterfall has been indicated as the major transport vector of atmospheric Hg to forest soils, which is eventually transported and stored in the sediments of forest lakes. Hence, it is important to understand how changes in forest vegetation affect Hg in soil and its biogeochemical cycling in lake systems. We investigated the pollen records and the geochemical compositions of sediments from two lakes (Schurmsee and Glaswaldsee) in the Black Forest (Germany) to evaluate whether long-term shifts in forest vegetation induced by climate or land use influenced Hg accumulation in the lakes. We were particularly interested to determine whether coniferous forests were associated with a larger export of Hg to aquatic systems than deciduous forests. Principal components analysis followed by principal component regression enabled us to describe the evolution of the weight of the latent processes determining the accumulation of Hg over time. Our results emphasize that the in-lake uptake of Hg during warm climate periods, soil erosion after deforestation and emissions from mining and other human activities triggered changes in Hg accumulation during the Holocene stronger than the changes caused by forest vegetation alone.
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31
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Abstract
The Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP) has long been proposed as having a causal relationship with the end-Triassic extinction event (∼201.5 Ma). In North America and northern Africa, CAMP is preserved as multiple basaltic units interbedded with uppermost Triassic to lowermost Jurassic sediments. However, it has been unclear whether this apparent pulsing was a local feature, or if pulses in the intensity of CAMP volcanism characterized the emplacement of the province as a whole. Here, six geographically widespread Triassic-Jurassic records, representing varied paleoenvironments, are analyzed for mercury (Hg) concentrations and Hg/total organic carbon (Hg/TOC) ratios. Volcanism is a major source of mercury to the modern environment. Clear increases in Hg and Hg/TOC are observed at the end-Triassic extinction horizon, confirming that a volcanically induced global Hg cycle perturbation occurred at that time. The established correlation between the extinction horizon and lowest CAMP basalts allows this sedimentary Hg excursion to be stratigraphically tied to a specific flood basalt unit, strengthening the case for volcanic Hg as the driver of sedimentary Hg/TOC spikes. Additional Hg/TOC peaks are also documented between the extinction horizon and the Triassic-Jurassic boundary (separated by ∼200 ky), supporting pulsatory intensity of CAMP volcanism across the entire province and providing direct evidence for episodic volatile release during the initial stages of CAMP emplacement. Pulsatory volcanism, and associated perturbations in the ocean-atmosphere system, likely had profound implications for the rate and magnitude of the end-Triassic mass extinction and subsequent biotic recovery.
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Miller MWC, Lovvorn JR, Matz AC, Taylor RJ, Latty CJ, Safine DE. Trace Elements in Sea Ducks of the Alaskan Arctic Coast: Patterns of Variation Among Species, Sexes, and Ages. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2016; 71:297-312. [PMID: 27272534 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-016-0288-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Climate change and increasing industrialization in the Arctic call for the collection of reference data for assessing changes in contaminant levels. For migratory birds, measuring and interpreting changes in trace element burdens on Arctic breeding areas require insights into factors such as sex, body size, or wintering area that may modify patterns independently of local exposure. In the Alaskan Arctic, we determined levels of trace elements in liver and kidney of common eiders (Somateria mollissima) and long-tailed ducks (Clangula hyemalis) from the Prudhoe Bay oil field and of king eiders (S. spectabilis) and threatened spectacled eiders (S. fischeri) and Steller's eiders (Polystica stelleri) from near the town of Barrow. Small-bodied Steller's eiders and long-tailed ducks from different locations had similarly low levels of selenium (Se), cadmium (Cd), and copper (Cu), perhaps reflecting high mass-specific rates of metabolic depuration during long spring migrations through areas of low exposure. In larger species, Se, Cd, and Cu concentrations were higher in adults than juveniles suggesting that these elements were acquired in nonbreeding marine habitats. Adult male spectacled eiders had exceptionally high Se, Cd, and Cu compared with adult females, possibly because of depuration into eggs and longer female occupancy of nonmarine habitats. Adult female common eiders and juvenile long-tailed ducks at Prudhoe Bay had high and variable levels of Pb, potentially due to local exposure. Explanations for substantial variations in Hg levels were not apparent. Further research into reasons for differing element levels among species and sexes will help clarify the sources, pathways, and risks of exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micah W C Miller
- Department of Zoology and Center for Ecology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA.
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Fairbanks Fish and Wildlife Field Office, Fairbanks, AK, 99701, USA.
| | - James R Lovvorn
- Department of Zoology and Center for Ecology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA
| | - Angela C Matz
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Fairbanks Fish and Wildlife Field Office, Fairbanks, AK, 99701, USA
| | - Robert J Taylor
- Trace Elements Research Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Christopher J Latty
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Fairbanks, AK, 99701, USA
| | - David E Safine
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Fairbanks Fish and Wildlife Field Office, Fairbanks, AK, 99701, USA
- Division of Migratory Birds Management, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, AK, 99503, USA
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Guo F, Mu Y, Chen C, Liao H, Bai Y. Thermal and spectral characterization of anaerobic thermal behavior patterns in a lacustrine sediment core. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 23:19949-19957. [PMID: 27436379 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-7215-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: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 07/08/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The thermal evolution of sedimentary organic matter is a significant mechanism in continental oil and gas formation. This study presents a new method to estimate vertical thermal evolution trends in a lake sediment core. Twenty sediment samples from a 60-cm core recovered from Lake Bosten were heated to 600 °C at a rate of 10 °C min(-1) under a N2 atmosphere. The sediments were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and then, the samples were analyzed with total organic carbon (TOC) analyses, X-ray diffraction, and (137)Cs isotopic dating techniques. Two main anaerobic thermal degradation processes were observed in the thermograms. The pyrolysis results showed variations with sediment age, with labile carbon (237.2 ± 42.98 °C) manifesting different thermogram patterns than recalcitrant carbon (498.35 ± 30.09 °C). There was a significant linear correlation between sample weight loss and TOC (r = 0.972, p < 0.001), as well as between the DSC and TGA peaks (r = 0.963, p < 0.001). As a conclusion, the thermal stability of both labile organic carbon and recalcitrant organic carbon in lacustrine sediment core increased gradually with age. These results confirm that advanced thermal techniques (DSC and TGA) operated in inert gas are potential quantitative methods to characterize the anaerobic thermal behavior of sediment organic carbon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Guo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Yunsong Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Cheng Chen
- Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Haiqing Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Yingchen Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China.
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Liu Y, Chai X, Hao Y, Gao X, Lu Z, Zhao Y, Zhang J, Cai M. Total mercury and methylmercury distributions in surface sediments from Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, Norwegian Arctic. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 22:8603-8610. [PMID: 25563828 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-3942-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2014] [Accepted: 12/01/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) distributions in the surface sediments of Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, in the Norwegian Arctic were investigated in this study. The results showed that THg concentrations ranged from 9.11 to 86.73 ng g(-1), whereas MeHg concentrations had an average of only 0.11 ng g(-1). Factors that control the distribution and methylated transformation of mercury were examined, and the results suggested that the movements of ocean currents and glaciers affect the THg distribution. The total organic carbon (TOC) and N contents in the sediments were positively correlated with THg concentration, which indicated that the THg distribution at these stations was primarily controlled by organic matter in the sediments. A complex relationship was observed between the THg and S contents, possibly due to anthropogenic activities involved in the perennial scientific expedition. MeHg and THg exhibited similar correlations with the sediment chemical characteristics for all stations suggesting that MeHg may be produced locally through the microbial methylation of mercury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- The State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
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Tracking Long-range Atmospheric Transport of Contaminants in Arctic Regions Using Lake Sediments. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-9541-8_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
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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.
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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
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van der Velden S, Dempson JB, Power M. Comparing mercury concentrations across a thirty year time span in anadromous and non-anadromous Arctic charr from Labrador, Canada. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 509-510:165-174. [PMID: 24373639 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.11.147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2013] [Revised: 11/20/2013] [Accepted: 11/29/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Anadromous and non-anadromous Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) from multiple sample sites in Labrador, Canada were used to investigate possible differences in total mercury concentration ([THg]) between 1977-78 and 2007-09. The mean [THg] of anadromous Arctic charr was 0.03 μg/g wet weight (ww) in 1977-78 and 0.04 μg/g ww in 2007-09, while mean concentrations in non-anadromous conspecifics were 0.18 μg/g ww in 1977-78 and 0.14 μg/g ww in 2007-09. After correcting for the effects of fish age and fork-length, there was no widespread difference in the mean [THg] of anadromous or non-anadromous fish between the two time periods. However, at individual sites sampled during both time periods, [THg] increased, decreased, or did not change. The mean age of sampled fish declined from 9.0 years in 1977-78 to 8.2 years in 2007-09 for anadromous fish, and from 11.7 years to 10.5 years in non-anadromous Arctic charr. Similarly, mean fork-lengths decreased from 450 mm to 417 mm in anadromous and from 402 mm to 335 mm in non-anadromous fish between 1977-78 and 2007-09. The mean annual temperature at four Labrador weather stations increased by 1.6°C to 2.9°C between the two sampling periods. The lack of an overall trend in anadromous or non-anadromous Arctic charr [THg] despite warming temperatures that favour increased mercury methylation suggests that regional changes in climate-driven factors have had limited impacts on mercury exposure in Labrador freshwater or marine fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- S van der Velden
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada.
| | - J B Dempson
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1C 5X1, Canada
| | - M Power
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
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Chételat J, Amyot M, Arp P, Blais JM, Depew D, Emmerton CA, Evans M, Gamberg M, Gantner N, Girard C, Graydon J, Kirk J, Lean D, Lehnherr I, Muir D, Nasr M, Poulain AJ, Power M, Roach P, Stern G, Swanson H, van der Velden S. Mercury in freshwater ecosystems of the Canadian Arctic: recent advances on its cycling and fate. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 509-510:41-66. [PMID: 24993511 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.05.151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2013] [Revised: 05/01/2014] [Accepted: 05/27/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The Canadian Arctic has vast freshwater resources, and fish are important in the diet of many Northerners. Mercury is a contaminant of concern because of its potential toxicity and elevated bioaccumulation in some fish populations. Over the last decade, significant advances have been made in characterizing the cycling and fate of mercury in these freshwater environments. Large amounts of new data on concentrations, speciation and fluxes of Hg are provided and summarized for water and sediment, which were virtually absent for the Canadian Arctic a decade ago. The biogeochemical processes that control the speciation of mercury remain poorly resolved, including the sites and controls of methylmercury production. Food web studies have examined the roles of Hg uptake, trophic transfer, and diet for Hg bioaccumulation in fish, and, in particular, advances have been made in identifying determinants of mercury levels in lake-dwelling and sea-run forms of Arctic char. In a comparison of common freshwater fish species that were sampled across the Canadian Arctic between 2002 and 2009, no geographic patterns or regional hotspots were evident. Over the last two to four decades, Hg concentrations have increased in some monitored populations of fish in the Mackenzie River Basin while other populations from the Yukon and Nunavut showed no change or a slight decline. The different Hg trends indicate that the drivers of temporal change may be regional or habitat-specific. The Canadian Arctic is undergoing profound environmental change, and preliminary evidence suggests that it may be impacting the cycling and bioaccumulation of mercury. Further research is needed to investigate climate change impacts on the Hg cycle as well as biogeochemical controls of methylmercury production and the processes leading to increasing Hg levels in some fish populations in the Canadian Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Chételat
- Environment Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada.
| | - Marc Amyot
- Centre d'études nordiques, Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Paul Arp
- Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada
| | - Jules M Blais
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - David Depew
- Environment Canada, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, Canada
| | - Craig A Emmerton
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Marlene Evans
- Environment Canada, Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3H5, Canada
| | - Mary Gamberg
- Gamberg Consulting, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 5M2, Canada
| | - Nikolaus Gantner
- Department of Geography, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 3R4, Canada
| | - Catherine Girard
- Centre d'études nordiques, Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Jennifer Graydon
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Jane Kirk
- Environment Canada, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, Canada
| | - David Lean
- Lean Environmental, Apsley, Ontario K0L 1A0, Canada
| | - Igor Lehnherr
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Derek Muir
- Environment Canada, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, Canada
| | - Mina Nasr
- Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada
| | - Alexandre J Poulain
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Michael Power
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Pat Roach
- Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2B5, Canada
| | - Gary Stern
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Heidi Swanson
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
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Calculating Rates and Dates and Interpreting Contaminant Profiles in Biomixed Sediments. ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-9541-8_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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40
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Mil-Homens M, Vale C, Raimundo J, Pereira P, Brito P, Caetano M. Major factors influencing the elemental composition of surface estuarine sediments: the case of 15 estuaries in Portugal. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2014; 84:135-146. [PMID: 24933166 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2014] [Revised: 05/06/2014] [Accepted: 05/08/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Upper sediments (0-5 cm) were sampled in 94 sites of water bodies of the fifteen Portuguese estuaries characterized by distinct settings of climate, topography and lithology, and marked by diverse anthropogenic pressures. Confined areas recognized as highly anthropogenic impacted, as well as areas dominated by erosion or frequently dredged were not sampled. Grain size, organic carbon (Corg), Al and trace elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) were determined. Normalisation of trace element concentrations to Al and Corg, correlations between elements and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) allowed identifying elemental associations and the relevance of grain-size, lithology and anthropogenic inputs on sediment chemical composition. Whereas grain-size is the dominant effect for the majority of the studied estuaries, the southern estuaries Mira, Arade and Guadiana are dominated by specific lithologies of their river basins, and anthropogenic effects are identified in Ave, Leça, Tagus and Sado. This study emphasizes how baseline values of trace elements in sediments may vary within and among estuarine systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Mil-Homens
- IPMA, Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere, Division of Environmental Oceanography and Bioprospection, Av. Brasília, 1449-006 Lisboa, Portugal; CIIMAR, Marine and Environmental Research Center, Rua dos Bragas, 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal.
| | - C Vale
- IPMA, Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere, Division of Environmental Oceanography and Bioprospection, Av. Brasília, 1449-006 Lisboa, Portugal; CIIMAR, Marine and Environmental Research Center, Rua dos Bragas, 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal
| | - J Raimundo
- IPMA, Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere, Division of Environmental Oceanography and Bioprospection, Av. Brasília, 1449-006 Lisboa, Portugal; CIIMAR, Marine and Environmental Research Center, Rua dos Bragas, 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal
| | - P Pereira
- IPMA, Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere, Division of Environmental Oceanography and Bioprospection, Av. Brasília, 1449-006 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - P Brito
- IPMA, Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere, Division of Environmental Oceanography and Bioprospection, Av. Brasília, 1449-006 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - M Caetano
- IPMA, Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere, Division of Environmental Oceanography and Bioprospection, Av. Brasília, 1449-006 Lisboa, Portugal; CIIMAR, Marine and Environmental Research Center, Rua dos Bragas, 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal
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Le Faucheur S, Campbell PGC, Fortin C, Slaveykova VI. Interactions between mercury and phytoplankton: speciation, bioavailability, and internal handling. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2014; 33:1211-1224. [PMID: 24127330 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2013] [Revised: 06/11/2013] [Accepted: 10/03/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The present review describes and discusses key interactions between mercury (Hg) and phytoplankton to highlight the role of phytoplankton in the biogeochemical cycle of Hg and to understand direct or indirect Hg effects on phytoplankton. Phytoplankton are exposed to various Hg species in surface waters. Through Hg uptake, phytoplankton affect the concentration, speciation, and fate of Hg in aquatic systems. The mechanisms by which phytoplankton take up Hg are still not well known, but several studies have suggested that both facilitated transport and passive diffusion could be involved. Once internalized, Hg will impact several physiological processes, including photosynthesis. To counteract these negative effects, phytoplankton have developed several detoxification strategies, such as the reduction of Hg to elemental Hg or its sequestration by intracellular ligands. Based on the toxicological studies performed so far in the laboratory, Hg is unlikely to be toxic to phytoplankton when they are exposed to environmentally relevant Hg concentrations. However, this statement should be taken with caution because questions remain as to which Hg species control Hg bioavailability and about Hg uptake mechanisms. Finally, phytoplankton are primary producers, and accumulated Hg will be transferred to higher consumers. Phytoplankton are a key component in aquatic systems, and their interactions with Hg need to be further studied to fully comprehend the biogeochemical cycle of Hg and the impact of this ubiquitous metal on ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Séverine Le Faucheur
- Institute F.-A. Forel, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Versoix, Switzerland
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42
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Duan D, Ran Y, Cheng H, Chen J, Wan G. Contamination trends of trace metals and coupling with algal productivity in sediment cores in Pearl River Delta, South China. CHEMOSPHERE 2014; 103:35-43. [PMID: 24290302 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2013] [Revised: 10/31/2013] [Accepted: 11/06/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Several sediment cores from the Pearl River Delta were collected to investigate the relationship of trace metal contamination with algae-derived organic matter in the last 50 years. Trace metals were analyzed with ICP-MS, and algal organic matter (AOM) was measured with Rock-Eval pyrolysis. It was found that Cu, Zn, Ag, Cd, and As were elevated in the last three decades from three reservoirs, while all of the target metals showed no significant enrichment in estuarine sediment cores. Cu, Cr, Co, Cd, Zn, Ag, Ni, As, and Mn normalized to Ti were strongly associated with AOM in the sediments of eutrophic reservoirs, suggesting that AOM played an important role in controlling the accumulation of trace metals. Principal component analysis (PCA) and enrichment factor (EF) were also used to assess the enrichment of trace metals. The above result indicated that the sedimentary process of As, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, Co, Ag, and Mn was significantly affected or/and controlled by primary productivity in eutrophic, non-point polluted reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yong Ran
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510640, China.
| | - Hefa Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510640, China
| | - Jing'an Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, Guizhou 550002, China
| | - Guojiang Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, Guizhou 550002, China
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43
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Beal SA, Kelly MA, Stroup JS, Jackson BP, Lowell TV, Tapia PM. Natural and anthropogenic variations in atmospheric mercury deposition during the Holocene near Quelccaya Ice Cap, Peru. GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES 2014; 28:437-450. [PMID: 30760944 PMCID: PMC6370314 DOI: 10.1002/2013gb004780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a toxic metal that is transported globally through the atmosphere. The emission of Hg from mineral reservoirs and subsequent recycling in surface reservoirs (i.e., soil/biomass, ocean, and atmosphere) are fundamental to the modern global Hg cycle, yet past emissions from anthropogenic and natural sources are not fully constrained. We use a sediment core from Yanacocha, a headwater lake in southeastern Peru, to study the anthropogenic and natural controls on atmospheric Hg deposition during the Holocene. From 12.3 to 3.5 ka, Hg fluxes in the record are relatively constant (mean ± 1σ: 1.4 ± 0.6 μg m-2 a-1, n = 189). Past Hg deposition does not correlate with changes in regional temperature and precipitation, inferred from nearby paleoclimate records, or with most large volcanic events that occurred regionally, in the Andean Central Volcanic Zone (~300-400 km from Yanacocha), and globally. In B.C. 1450 (3.4 ka), Hg fluxes abruptly increased and reached the Holocene-maximum flux (6.7 μg m-2 a-1) in B.C. 1200, concurrent with a ~100-year peak in Fe and chalcophile metals (As, Ag, Tl) and the presence of framboidal pyrite. Continuously elevated Hg fluxes from B.C. 1200-500 suggest a protracted mining-dust source near Yanacocha that is identical in timing to documented pre-Incan cinnabar mining in central Peru. During Incan and Colonial time (A.D. 1450-1650), Hg deposition remains elevated relative to background levels but lower relative to other Hg records from sediment cores in central Peru, indicating a limited spatial extent of preindustrial Hg emissions. Hg fluxes from A.D. 1980 to 2011 (4.0 ± 1.0 μg m-2 a-1, n = 5) are 3.0 ± 1.5 times greater than pre-anthropogenic fluxes and are similar to modern fluxes documented in remote lakes around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A Beal
- Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Meredith A Kelly
- Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Justin S Stroup
- Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Brian P Jackson
- Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Thomas V Lowell
- Department of Geology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Pedro M Tapia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
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Goodsite ME, Outridge PM, Christensen JH, Dastoor A, Muir D, Travnikov O, Wilson S. How well do environmental archives of atmospheric mercury deposition in the Arctic reproduce rates and trends depicted by atmospheric models and measurements? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2013; 452-453:196-207. [PMID: 23506852 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.02.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2012] [Revised: 02/17/2013] [Accepted: 02/17/2013] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
This review compares the reconstruction of atmospheric Hg deposition rates and historical trends over recent decades in the Arctic, inferred from Hg profiles in natural archives such as lake and marine sediments, peat bogs and glacial firn (permanent snowpack), against those predicted by three state-of-the-art atmospheric models based on global Hg emission inventories from 1990 onwards. Model veracity was first tested against atmospheric Hg measurements. Most of the natural archive and atmospheric data came from the Canadian-Greenland sectors of the Arctic, whereas spatial coverage was poor in other regions. In general, for the Canadian-Greenland Arctic, models provided good agreement with atmospheric gaseous elemental Hg (GEM) concentrations and trends measured instrumentally. However, there are few instrumented deposition data with which to test the model estimates of Hg deposition, and these data suggest models over-estimated deposition fluxes under Arctic conditions. Reconstructed GEM data from glacial firn on Greenland Summit showed the best agreement with the known decline in global Hg emissions after about 1980, and were corroborated by archived aerosol filter data from Resolute, Nunavut. The relatively stable or slowly declining firn and model GEM trends after 1990 were also corroborated by real-time instrument measurements at Alert, Nunavut, after 1995. However, Hg fluxes and trends in northern Canadian lake sediments and a southern Greenland peat bog did not exhibit good agreement with model predictions of atmospheric deposition since 1990, the Greenland firn GEM record, direct GEM measurements, or trends in global emissions since 1980. Various explanations are proposed to account for these discrepancies between atmosphere and archives, including problems with the accuracy of archive chronologies, climate-driven changes in Hg transfer rates from air to catchments, waters and subsequently into sediments, and post-depositional diagenesis in peat bogs. However, no general consensus in the scientific community has been achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- M E Goodsite
- AU Herning, Aarhus University, Herning, Denmark.
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45
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Rydberg J, Rosén P, Lambertsson L, De Vleeschouwer F, Tomasdotter S, Bindler R. Assessment of the spatial distributions of total- and methyl-mercury and their relationship to sediment geochemistry from a whole-lake perspective. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/2012jg001992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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46
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Deison R, Smol JP, Kokelj SV, Pisaric MFJ, Kimpe LE, Poulain AJ, Sanei H, Thienpont JR, Blais JM. Spatial and temporal assessment of mercury and organic matter in thermokarst affected lakes of the Mackenzie Delta uplands, NT, Canada. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2012; 46:8748-55. [PMID: 22839429 DOI: 10.1021/es300798w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
We examined dated sediment cores from 14 thermokarst affected lakes in the Mackenzie Delta uplands, NT, Arctic Canada, using a case-control analysis to determine how retrogressive thaw slump development from degrading permafrost affected the delivery of mercury (Hg) and organic carbon (OC) to lakes. We show that sediments from the lakes with retrogressive thaw slump development on their shorelines (slump-affected lakes) had higher sedimentation rates and lower total Hg (THg), methyl mercury (MeHg), and lower organic carbon concentrations compared to lakes where thaw slumps were absent (reference lakes). There was no difference in focus-corrected Hg flux to sediments between reference lakes and slump-affected lakes, indicating that the lower sediment Hg concentration in slump-affected lakes was due to dilution by rapid inorganic sedimentation in the slump-affected lakes. Sedimentation rates were inversely correlated with THg concentrations in sediments among the 14 lakes considered, and explained 68% of the variance in THg concentration in surface sediment, further supporting the dilution hypothesis. We observed higher S2 (algal-derived carbon) and particulate organic carbon (POC) concentrations in sediment profiles from reference lakes than in slump lakes, likely because of dilution by inorganic siliciclastic matter in cores from slump-affected lakes. We conclude that retrogressive thaw slump development increases inorganic sedimentation in lakes, and decreases concentrations of organic carbon and associated Hg and MeHg in sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramin Deison
- Program for Chemical and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
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47
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de Moura JF, Emin-Lima R, Hacon SS, Vega CM, de Campos RC, Siciliano S. Mercury status of the Amazon Continental Shelf: Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis, Van Benédén 1864) as a bioindicator. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2012; 89:412-418. [PMID: 22562419 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-012-0663-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2011] [Accepted: 04/20/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Total mercury (Hg) was analyzed in muscle tissue of 27 accidentally captured Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) in order to evaluate Hg contamination levels present in the Amazon Continental Shelf, in Amapá state, North Brazil. The samples showed a mean concentration of 0.4 ± 0.16 μg/g wet weight (ww), ranging from 0.07 to 0.79 μg/g ww. As observed in several other cetacean species, Hg concentrations presented positive correlations to body length, related to the capacity to bioaccumulate this element throughout life. Hg concentrations were not significantly different between males (mean = 0.38 μg/g ww; n = 15) and females (mean = 0.42 μg/g ww; n = 12). Concentrations were low when compared to results of studies carried out with small cetaceans in the Northern Hemisphere, and with some previous studies in the south-eastern region of Brazil. In contrast with high Hg concentrations normally detected in river dolphin samples from Amazon River tributaries, our results suggest that the Amazon coast contains low levels of Hg in bioavailable form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jailson Fulgencio de Moura
- PPG em Saúde Pública e Meio Ambiente, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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48
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Cooke CA, Wolfe AP, Michelutti N, Balcom PH, Briner JP. A holocene perspective on algal mercury scavenging to sediments of an Arctic lake. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2012; 46:7135-41. [PMID: 22687141 DOI: 10.1021/es3003124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities have increased the amount of mercury (Hg) transported atmospherically to the Arctic. At the same time, recent climate warming is altering the limnology of arctic lakes and ponds, including increases in aquatic primary production. It has been hypothesized that climate-driven increases in aquatic production have enhanced Hg scavenging from the water column, and that this mechanism may account for much of the recent rise in lake sediment Hg. Here, we test the relationship between climate, algal production, and sediment Hg using a well-dated and multiproxy lake sediment record spanning the Holocene from Lake CF3 (Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada). During the early Holocene, peak (summer) insolation drove July air temperatures higher than present, and resulted in increased autochthonous primary production as recorded by total organic matter, spectrally inferred Chl-a, diatom abundance, and carbon stable isotopic signatures. However, there are no relationships between any of these proxies and sediment Hg concentrations during this interval. Given that the behavior of preindustrial Hg was relatively stable during past intervals of naturally mediated high production, we surmise that postindustrial increases in Hg accumulation within CF3 reflect a multiplicative effect of atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic Hg and increased sedimentation rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin A Cooke
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8109, United States.
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49
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Liu X, Xu L, Chen Q, Sun L, Wang Y, Yan H, Liu Y, Luo Y, Huang J. Historical change of mercury pollution in remote Yongle archipelago, South China Sea. CHEMOSPHERE 2012; 87:549-556. [PMID: 22284978 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.12.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2011] [Revised: 12/14/2011] [Accepted: 12/23/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
We collected three ornithogenic coral sand sedimentary profiles from Jinyin Island, Jinqing Island and Guangjin Island of Yongle archipelago, South China Sea and reconstructed the deposition flux of anthropogenic Hg over the past 700 years in the study area. On the whole, the anthropogenic Hg flux is relatively low; it remained at a low level before the Industrial Revolution with a small peak at about 1450-1550 AD, which may record the enhanced metallurgy activity in Ming Dynasty of China. During the 20th century, the deposition flux of anthropogenic Hg increased rapidly, but two troughs occurred during the periods around 1940s and 1970s, corresponding to the economic depression caused by World War II, Civil War in China (1945-1949), and the Culture Revolution (1966-1976) in China. Since the 1970s the deposition flux of anthropogenic Hg has been persistently increasing, apparently the result of fast economic development in East and Southeast Asia countries around South China Sea.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Anthozoa/chemistry
- China
- Coral Reefs
- Environmental Monitoring
- History, 15th Century
- History, 16th Century
- History, 17th Century
- History, 18th Century
- History, 19th Century
- History, 20th Century
- History, 21st Century
- Mercury/analysis
- Oceans and Seas
- Seawater/chemistry
- Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis
- Water Pollution, Chemical/history
- Water Pollution, Chemical/statistics & numerical data
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Liu
- Institute of Polar Environment, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, PR China.
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50
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Poste AE, Muir DCG, Otu MK, Hall RI, Hecky RE. Past and present mercury flux to a West African crater lake (Lake Bosomtwe/Bosumtwi, Ghana). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2012; 420:340-344. [PMID: 22326319 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2011] [Revised: 01/08/2012] [Accepted: 01/09/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Lake sediment cores have been used to reconstruct mercury deposition patterns in many parts of the world; however, no studies to date have used these methods in West Africa, nor are there any published measurements of mercury deposition to this region. We measured mercury in a (210)Pb dated sediment core from a meromictic crater lake in West Africa (Lake Bosomtwe, Ghana). Lake Bosomtwe has a very small catchment area to lake area ratio (1.1) and the sediment mercury profile is expected to reflect past and present atmospheric mercury deposition to the lake. Mercury concentrations in sediments as well as mercury flux to the sediments increased from the mid-1800s to latter half of the 1900s, however there has been a sharp decline in mercury flux to Lake Bosomtwe in recent decades. The recent decline in mercury flux to Lake Bosomtwe's sediments does not appear to be consistent with trends in local, regional or global mercury emissions, and may instead reflect declining global atmospheric mercury concentrations or declining European emissions, highlighting the importance of long-range atmospheric transport of mercury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda E Poste
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1.
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