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Differentiated availability of geochemical mercury pools controls methylmercury levels in estuarine sediment and biota

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  • Sofi Jonsson

    (Umeå University
    Umeå Marine Sciences Centre, Umeå University)

  • Ulf Skyllberg

    (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Mats B. Nilsson

    (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Erik Lundberg

    (Umeå Marine Sciences Centre, Umeå University)

  • Agneta Andersson

    (Umeå Marine Sciences Centre, Umeå University
    Umeå University)

  • Erik Björn

    (Umeå University)

Abstract

Neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg) formed from inorganic divalent mercury (HgII) accumulates in aquatic biota and remains at high levels worldwide. It is poorly understood to what extent different geochemical Hg pools contribute to these levels. Here we report quantitative data on MeHg formation and bioaccumulation, in mesocosm water-sediment model ecosystems, using five HgII and MeHg isotope tracers simulating recent Hg inputs to the water phase and Hg stored in sediment as bound to natural organic matter or as metacinnabar. Calculations for an estuarine ecosystem suggest that the chemical speciation of HgII solid/adsorbed phases control the sediment Hg pool’s contribution to MeHg, but that input of MeHg from terrestrial and atmospheric sources bioaccumulates to a substantially greater extent than MeHg formed in situ in sediment. Our findings emphasize the importance of MeHg loadings from catchment runoff to MeHg content in estuarine biota and we suggest that this contribution has been underestimated.

Suggested Citation

  • Sofi Jonsson & Ulf Skyllberg & Mats B. Nilsson & Erik Lundberg & Agneta Andersson & Erik Björn, 2014. "Differentiated availability of geochemical mercury pools controls methylmercury levels in estuarine sediment and biota," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms5624
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5624
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