High levels of mercury contamination in multiple media of the Carson River drainage basin of Nevada: implications for risk assessment.

Gustin, Mae Sexauer; Taylor, George; Leonard, Todd L.

doi:10.1289/ehp.94102772

Cited by 57 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…1). This area has been described in detail elsewhere [3][4][5][6]. Sampling points were selected based on their location relative to known Hg-contaminated sites and Hg distribution within the riverreservoir system [3,5].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The use of liquid Hg for the extraction of precious metals a century ago generated extensive hazardous wastes, resulting in significant Hg contamination of both the abiotic and biotic compartments of the environment in the Carson River Drainage Basin (CRDB) [1][2][3][4][5]. Contaminated mining wastes, previously accumulated in mill tailings, have been dispersed with time throughout the CRDB, in large part due to fluvial processes [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mercury pathways in the carson river—lahontan reservoir system, nevada, usa

Lyons

Heim

Chen

et al. 1996

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Concentrations of mercury (Hg) were determined in surface waters and associated river bank sediment samples in a river—reservoir system contaminated by mine wastes. The distribution of total and methyl Hg in surface waters along the Carson River was similar to that measured in river bank sediments and influenced by flow regimes. High levels of Hg (up to 7,585 and 7.2 ng Hg/L for total and methyl Hg, respectively) determined on surface water samples were in large part discharged from Hg‐contaminated tailings, distributed in the river bank sediments. Once introduced into the river during the spring snowmelt runoff, Hg was transported downstream and accumulated in the lacustrine part of the system. Elemental Hg (Hg0) increased from 0.02 ng/L in the noncontaminated region to about 2 ng/L in the reservoir. The vertical distribution of total methylmercury (MeHgT) in water of the reservoir differs from that observed elsewhere, in both Hg‐contaminated and noncontaminated lakes. The highest levels of MeHgT (<1 ng/L as Hg) and acid‐reactive Hg (4 ng/L) were observed in the alkaline and oxic surface waters. The decrease of pH with depth and the absence of oxygen in depth >10 m did not enhance MeHg production. In the anoxic hypolimnion of the reservoir, the recycling of MeHgT was more influenced by the redox cycling of Mn. The addition of group VI anions (SeO2−4, MoO2−4, and WO2−4) in the range of concentrations of oxyanion‐forming elements found in the Carson River system to anoxic sediment slurry spiked with SO2−4 resulted in the reduction of rates of MeHg production. Their negative effect on MeHg production was enhanced by increasing pH. Group VI anions, analogous to SO2−4 are inhibitory to sulfate‐reducing bacteria, which are known to play a key role in MeHg production in anoxic sediments. Accordingly, the particular water geochemistry of the Carson River system could partly explain the observed low levels of MeHg where one would expect higher concentrations.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury pathways in the carson river—lahontan reservoir system, nevada, usa

Lyons

Heim

Chen

et al. 1996

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…Exceptions are exposure to Hg in contaminated sites such as the Carson River Drainage Basin in Nevada, USA (Gustin, Tayler, & Leonard, 1994), and the Katun River Drainage Basin in Altai, Siberia (Baeyens et al, 2003a). However, the characterization of risk to human populations focuses more and more on exposure to MMHg over lifetime instead of acute exposure.…”

Section: Toxic and Health Aspectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Total Mercury and Methyl Mercury Concentrations in Fish from the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea

Agah

Leermakers

Elskens

et al. 2006

Water Air Soil Pollut

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In order to understand the bioaccumulation of mercury in fish in the Iranian coastal waters of the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf, different fish species were sampled from both regions in January 2002. Mullet fishes were sampled from the Caspian Sea and six other species from the Persian Gulf: Largetooth flounder, Spotfin flathead, Japanese threadfin bream, Greater lizardfish, Elongate sole and Giant seacatfish. In the Persian Gulf, total Hg concentrations in fish ranged from 0.0123 to 0.0867 mg kg −1 w.w. (0.0614 to 0.433 mg kg −1 d.w.). Methylmercury accounts for 64-100% of the total mercury. Highest mercury concentrations were observed in the predatory fish: Giant seacatfish, Threadfin bream and the larger Greater lizardfish caught near Mogham Port. In these species the methylmercury fraction is always higher than 90%. A low methylmercury fraction was only observed in the smallest specimen of flounder and Elongate sole. In the Caspian Sea Hg concentrations in Mullet ranged from 0.0102 to 0.108 mg kg −1 w.w. The observed concentrations are comparable to those found in other areas of the Persian Gulf as well as in other marine environments and are much lower then the WHO guideline of 0.5 mg kg −1 w.w.

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“…High concentrations of Hg in water (dissolved) and drift samples from the Diagonal Drain and S-Line Canal throughout the irrigation season (Table 2) likely resulted from previous mining activities. During the late 1800s, the use of liquid Hg by the Comstock Mining District to extract gold and silver released 6.8 million metric tons of Hg into the Carson River and contaminated river sediments downstream of Virginia City, NV (Smith 1943;Cooper et al 1985;Gustin et al 1994). Flooding of the Carson River before construction of the Lahontan Dam in 1915 resulted in Hg contamination of soils and sediment over a large portion of the Carson Desert (terminus of the Carson River) (Hallock et al 1993a).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contaminant Loading in Drainage and Fresh Water Used for Wetland Management at Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge

Kilbride

Paveglio

Altstatt

et al. 1998

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

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Throughout the western United States, studies have identified various detrimental effects of contaminants to aquatic biota from the use of agricultural drainage water for management of arid wetlands. However, little is known about the relative contributions of contaminant loading from pollutants dissolved in water compared with those carried by drifting material (e.g., detritus) associated with drainage water. Consequently, we determined loading rates for contaminants dissolved in water and those incorporated by drifting material for drainage (Diagonal Drain) as well as fresh (S-Line Canal) water used for wetland management at Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge (SNWR), Nevada during the early, middle, and late periods of the irrigation season (June through mid-November) in 1993. We found loading rates for trace elements throughout the irrigation season were almost entirely (> 98%) associated with contaminants dissolved in the water rather than incorporated by drift. Although drift contributed little to the total loading for trace elements to SNWR wetlands, contaminant concentrations were much greater in drift compared with those dissolved in water. Loading rates for dissolved As, B, Hg, and total dissolved solids (TDS) differed among periods for the Diagonal Drain. Along the Diagonal Drain, loading rates for dissolved As, B, Hg, Mo, unionized ammonia (NH3-N), TDS, and Zn differed among its three sampling sites. B was the only trace element with differences in loading rates for drift among periods from the Diagonal Drain. In contrast, loading rates for As, B, Cr, Cu, Hg, Se, and Zn in drift differed among periods for the S-Line Canal. Along Diagonal Drain, loading rates in drift for B (middle and late periods), Cr, Cu, and Zn differed among sites. Hg (x- >/= 12.0 ng/L) and NH3-N (x- >/= 0.985 mg/L) dissolved in water as well as B (x- >/= 97.4 µg/g DW) and Hg (x- >/= 0.461 µg/g DW) in drift from the Diagonal Drain and S-Line Canal exceeded screening levels (SLs) for protection of aquatic biota throughout the irrigation season. Dissolved As (x- >/= 0.0426 mg/L) in water from the Diagonal Drain during all periods exceeded the SL for protection of aquatic biota. Dissolved B (x- = 1.03 mg/L) in water from the Diagonal Drain during the early period exceeded the SL for protection of aquatic biota.

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High levels of mercury contamination in multiple media of the Carson River drainage basin of Nevada: implications for risk assessment.

Cited by 57 publications

References 25 publications

Mercury pathways in the carson river—lahontan reservoir system, nevada, usa

Mercury pathways in the carson river—lahontan reservoir system, nevada, usa

Total Mercury and Methyl Mercury Concentrations in Fish from the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea

Contaminant Loading in Drainage and Fresh Water Used for Wetland Management at Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge

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