Influence of a chlor-alkali superfund site on mercury bioaccumulation in periphyton and low-trophic level fauna
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Abstract
In Berlin, New Hampshire, USA, the Androscoggin River flows adjacent to a former chlor-alkali facility that is a US Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site and source of mercury (Hg) to the river. The present study was conducted to determine the fate and bioaccumulation of methylmercury (MeHg) to lower trophic-level taxa in the river. Surface sediment directly adjacent to the source showed significantly elevated MeHg (10–40× increase, mean ± standard deviation [SD]: 20.1 ± 24.8 ng g–1 dry wt) and total mercury (THg; 10–30× increase, mean ± SD: 2045 ± 2669 ng g–1 dry wt) compared with all other reaches, with sediment THg and MeHg from downstream reaches elevated (3–7× on average) relative to the reference (THg mean ± SD: 33.5 ± 9.33 ng g–1 dry wt; MeHg mean ± SD: 0.52 ± 0.21 ng g–1 dry wt). Water column THg concentrations adjacent to the point source for both particulate (0.23 ng L–1) and dissolved (0.76 ng L–1) fractions were 5-fold higher than at the reference sites, and 2-fold to 5-fold higher than downstream. Methylmercury production potential of periphyton material was highest (2–9 ng g–1 d–1 dry wt) adjacent to the Superfund site; other reaches were close to or below reporting limits (0. 1 ng g–1 d–1 dry wt). Total Hg and MeHg bioaccumulation in fauna was variable across sites and taxa, with no clear spatial patterns downstream of the contamination source. Crayfish, mayflies, and shiners showed a weak positive relationship with porewater MeHg concentration.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Influence of a chlor-alkali superfund site on mercury bioaccumulation in periphyton and low-trophic level fauna |
| Series title | Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry |
| DOI | 10.1002/etc.2964 |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue | 7 |
| Year Published | 2015 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Wiley |
| Contributing office(s) | National Research Program - Western Branch, Toxic Substances Hydrology Program |
| Description | 10 p. |
| First page | 1649 |
| Last page | 1658 |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| Other Geospatial | Androscoggin River |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |