The mercury isotope composition of Arctic coastal seawater

Štrok, Marko; Baya, Pascale Anabelle; Hintelmann, Holger

doi:10.1016/j.crte.2015.04.001

Cited by 94 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Overall, we hypothesized that Hg(II) photoreduction in marginal seas may be of low magnitude, which may not cause Δ 199 Hg shift of the precipitation‐derived Hg. In a recent study, insignificant difference in Δ 199 Hg values with depth were observed in seawater columns of the Canadian Arctic coast (Štrok et al, ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 92%

Mercury Inputs to Chinese Marginal Seas: Impact of Industrialization and Development of China

Yin

Guo

Hu³

et al. 2018

JGR Oceans

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In the past decades, China has experienced substantial economic growth and industrialization. However, the effects of vast development of China on Hg input to the nearby oceans are still unclear. In this study, the influx and isotopic compositions of Hg in four 210Pb‐dated sediment cores were examined to investigate changes in Hg deposition to the marginal seas off China over a century. Nearshore cores had higher Hg influxes than offshore cores. Increases of Hg influxes started since the 1950s, which coincides with China's economic development. Dramatic historical changes in Hg isotopic composition were observed in the cores (δ202Hg: −2.01‰ to −0.69‰; Δ199Hg: −0.16‰ to 0.31‰; n = 106). δ202Hg increased from the deep to the surface layers of the cores. The offshore cores mainly showed positive Δ199Hg values, but the pre‐1950 samples had more positive Δ199Hg values than the younger samples. The nearshore cores mainly showed negative Δ199Hg values in the pre‐1950s samples, but the younger samples showed Δ199Hg values close to zero. A triple‐mixing isotope model, used to quantify the contribution of potential Hg inputs (e.g., direct discharge of industrial Hg, soil Hg, and precipitation‐derived Hg), showed clear evidence of enhanced industrial Hg inputs to the ocean margin, but slightly decreased watershed soil Hg inputs in the last few decades. The variations of watershed‐derived Hg were likely caused by the construction of impoundments in major rivers of China. This study demonstrates that mercury inputs to Chinese marginal seas have been largely altered due to the industrialization and economic development of China.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 92%

Mercury Inputs to Chinese Marginal Seas: Impact of Industrialization and Development of China

Yin

Guo

Hu³

et al. 2018

JGR Oceans

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“…Finally, direct measurements of Hg isotopic composition in the dissolved pool of THg are difficult due to the low THg concentrations in pelagic waters and the challenge associated with concentrating sufficient quantities of dissolved Hg for analysis. The Hg isotopic composition of seawater has been measured in only one study, in a costal location (Štrok et al, ). The Δ 199 Hg values for dissolved THg from Arctic coastal waters (Δ 199 Hg average = 0.22 ± 0.06‰, 1 SD) are within the range of values measured for marine particles in the NPSG.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our study investigates the biogeochemical and photochemical pathways that control the distribution and speciation of Hg in the marine pelagic food web utilizing THg concentrations and Hg stable isotope ratios that vary following mass‐dependent fractionation (MDF) and mass‐independent fractionation (MIF). Hg isotope ratios have proven to be effective at tracking the sources and sinks of Hg in a number of estuarine and marine ecosystems (e.g., Kwon et al, ; Li et al, ; Senn et al, ; Štrok et al, ) and for exploring physicochemical reactions within the water column including reduction, photodegradation, oxidation, and methylation (e.g., Bergquist & Blum, ; Chandan et al, ; Kritee et al, ). Hg stable isotope ratios exhibit MDF (represented by δ 202 Hg values) during all abiotic and biotic physicochemical reactions that have been investigated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury Cycling in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre as Revealed by Mercury Stable Isotope Ratios

Motta

Blum

Johnson

et al. 2019

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

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The oceans are an important global reservoir for mercury (Hg), and marine fish consumption is the dominant human exposure pathway for its toxic methylated form. A more thorough understanding of the global biogeochemical cycle of Hg requires additional information on the mechanisms that control Hg cycling in pelagic marine waters. In this study, Hg isotope ratios and total Hg concentrations are used to explore Hg biogeochemistry in oligotrophic marine environments north of Hawaii. We present the first measurements of the vertical water column distribution of Hg concentrations and the Hg isotopic composition in precipitation, marine particles, and zooplankton near Station ALOHA (22°45′N, 158°W). Our results reveal production and demethylation of methylmercury in both the euphotic (0–175 m) and mesopelagic zones (200–1,000 m). We document a strong relationship between Hg isotopic composition and depth in particles, zooplankton, and fish in the water column and diurnal variations in Δ199Hg values in zooplankton sampled near the surface (25 m). Based on these observations and stable Hg isotope relationships in the marine food web, we suggest that the Hg found in large pelagic fish at Station ALOHA was originally deposited largely by precipitation, transformed into methyl‐Hg, and bioaccumulated in situ in the water column. Our results highlight how Hg isotopic compositions reflect abiotic and biotic production and degradation of methyl‐Hg throughout the water column and the importance of particles and zooplankton in the vertical transport of Hg.

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“…The bioaccumulation and biomagnification of its toxic form mono-methylmercury (MMHg) in aquatic food webs may pose significant threats to human health and the environment . The atmosphere plays a critical role in the global biogeochemical cycle of Hg and is an important reservoir of Hg; for example, more than 6 Â 10 9 g of mercury were found in the single troposphere (Blum, 2011;Lin and Pehkonen, 1998;Slemr et al, 1985;Strok et al, 2015). Hg could be naturally released or re-emitted into the atmosphere by volcanic eruptions, forest fires, sea salt…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mass-dependent and mass-independent fractionation of mercury isotopes in precipitation from Guiyang, SW China

Wang

Chen

Feng

et al. 2015

Comptes Rendus. Géoscience

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The mercury isotope composition of Arctic coastal seawater

Cited by 94 publications

References 33 publications

Mercury Inputs to Chinese Marginal Seas: Impact of Industrialization and Development of China

Mercury Inputs to Chinese Marginal Seas: Impact of Industrialization and Development of China

Mercury Cycling in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre as Revealed by Mercury Stable Isotope Ratios

Mass-dependent and mass-independent fractionation of mercury isotopes in precipitation from Guiyang, SW China

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