Recent increases in atmospheric deposition of mercury to North-Central Wisconsin lakes inferred from sediment analyses
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
Abstract has subscript/superscript to be fixed
By: R.G. Rada, J.G. Wiener, M.R. Winfrey, and D.E. Powell
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Abstract
Profiles of total mercury (Hg) concentrations in sediments were examined in 11 lakes in north-central Wisconsin having a broad range of pH (5.1 to 7.8) and alkalinity (-12 to 769 μeq/L). Mercury concentrations were greatest in the top 15 cm of the cores and were much lower in the deeper strata. The Hg content in the most enriched stratum of individual cores ranged from 0.09 to 0.24 μg/g dry weight, whereas concentrations in deep, precolonial strata ranged from 0.04 to 0.07 μg/g. Sediment enrichment factors varied from 0.8 to 2.8 and were not correlated with lake pH. The increase in the Hg content of recent sediments was attributed to increased atmospheric deposition of the metal. Eight of the 11 systems studied were low-alkalinity lakes that presumably received most (≥90%) of their hydrologic input from precipitation falling directly onto the lake surface. Thus, the sedimentary Hg in these lakes seems more likely linked to direct atmospheric deposition onto the lake surfaces than to influxes from the watershed. The data imply that a potentially significant fraction of the high Hg burdens measured in game fish in certain lakes in north-central Wisconsin originated from atmospheric sources.
Suggested Citation
Rada, R., Wiener, J., Winfrey, M., Powell, D., 1989, Recent increases in atmospheric deposition of mercury to North-Central Wisconsin lakes inferred from sediment analyses: Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, v. 18, no. 1-2, p. 175-181, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01056202.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Recent increases in atmospheric deposition of mercury to North-Central Wisconsin lakes inferred from sediment analyses |
| Series title | Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology |
| DOI | 10.1007/BF01056202 |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue | 1-2 |
| Year Published | 1989 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Springer |
| Publisher location | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Contributing office(s) | Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center |
| Description | 7 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology |
| First page | 175 |
| Last page | 181 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Wisconsin |