Mercury distribution in water masses of the South Atlantic Ocean (24°S to 20°S), Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone

Mercury (Hg) is a toxic globally spread pollutant that has been found at increasing concentrations in the South Atlantic Ocean. The present work provides the first insight into the total mercury (HgT, unfiltered waters) content in the water of the Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone (BEEZ), within a 2...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine pollution bulletin 2022-03, Vol.176, p.113425-113425, Article 113425
Main Authors: Kütter, Vinicius Tavares, de Oliveira Pires, Alina Criane, da Rosa Quintana, Guilherme Castro, Mirlean, Nicolai, Silva-Filho, Emmanoel Vieira, Machado, Wilson, Garnier, Jeremie, Aguilera, Orangel, Rosário, Renan Peixoto, Kawakami, Silvia Keiko, Albuquerque, Ana Luiza Spadano
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atlantic Ocean
Atomic properties
Brazil
Cabo Frio
Campos basin
Coastal shelf
Deep water
Economics
Exclusive economic zone
Exclusive economic zones
Fluorescence
Intermediate water
Intermediate water masses
Mercury
Pollutants
Tropical climate
Upwelling
Vitoria-Trindade ridge
Water
Water analysis
Water depth
Water masses
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Water sampling
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Summary:Mercury (Hg) is a toxic globally spread pollutant that has been found at increasing concentrations in the South Atlantic Ocean. The present work provides the first insight into the total mercury (HgT, unfiltered waters) content in the water of the Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone (BEEZ), within a 24°S to 20°S. Water samples were collected from surface to 3400 m depth along transects, and analyzed with atomic fluorescence. The mean HgT concentration for the Tropical Water mass (TW) was 6.3 ± 1.4 pM (n = 16), for the South Atlantic Central Water (SACW), 5.9 ± 0.7 pM (n = 8), for the Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW), 5.0 ± 0.6 pM (n = 2), for the Upper Circumpolar Deep Water (UCDW), 6.5 pM (n = 1), and for the North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW), 5.7 ± 0.9 pM (n = 12). HgT concentrations were highest throughout the BEEZ in comparison with other parts of the Atlantic Ocean, farther from the coast. •Important HgT hotspot was found at surface waters in the SACW upwelling area.•Atmospheric influence of the South Atlantic Convergence Zone and aerosol deposition in HgT in waters.•HgT in bottom waters were probably related to age waters, and the recirculation processes.
ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113425