Physical controls on total and methylmercury concentrations in streams and lakes of the northeastern USA

The physical factors controlling total mercury (HgT) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in lakes and streams of northeastern USA were assessed in a regional data set containing 693 HgT and 385 corresponding MeHg concentrations in surface waters. Multiple regression models using watershed charac...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecotoxicology (London) 2005-03, Vol.14 (1-2), p.125-134
Main Authors: Shanley, James B, Kamman, Neil C, Clair, Thomas A, Chalmers, Ann
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Climate change
Environmental Monitoring
Fishes
Freshwater
Lakes
Low flow
Mercury
Mercury - analysis
Mercury - pharmacokinetics
Methylmercury
Methylmercury Compounds - analysis
Methylmercury Compounds - pharmacokinetics
Models, Theoretical
New England
Permeability
Regression Analysis
Seasonal variations
Seasons
Soil
Soil permeability
Stream discharge
Streams
Surface water
Tissue Distribution
Water Movements
Water Pollutants - analysis
Water Pollutants - pharmacokinetics
Water Pollution - prevention & control
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Summary:The physical factors controlling total mercury (HgT) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in lakes and streams of northeastern USA were assessed in a regional data set containing 693 HgT and 385 corresponding MeHg concentrations in surface waters. Multiple regression models using watershed characteristics and climatic variables explained 38% or less of the variance in HgT and MeHg. Land cover percentages and soil permeability generally provided modest predictive power. Percent wetlands alone explained 19% of the variance in MeHg in streams at low-flow, and it was the only significant (p < 0.02) predictor for MeHg in lakes, albeit explaining only 7% of the variance. When stream discharge was added as a variable it became the dominant predictor for HgT in streams, improving the model r2 from 0.19 to 0.38. Stream discharge improved the MeHg model more modestly, from r2 of 0.25 to 0.33. Methylation efficiency (MeHg/HgT) was modeled well (r2 of 0.78) when a seasonal term was incorporated (sine wave with annual period). Physical models explained 18% of the variance in fish Hg concentrations in 134 lakes and 55% in 20 reservoirs. Our results highlight the important role of seasonality and short-term hydrologic changes to the delivery of Hg to water bodies.
ISSN:0963-9292
1573-3017
DOI:10.1007/s10646-004-6264-z