Isotopic Composition of Inorganic Mercury and Methylmercury Downstream of a Historical Gold Mining Region

Environmental Science & Technology
Patrick M DonovanMartin Tsz Ki Tsui

Abstract

We measured total mercury (THg) and monomethyl mercury (MMHg) concentrations and mercury (Hg) isotopic compositions in sediment and aquatic organisms from the Yuba River (California, USA) to identify Hg sources and biogeochemical transformations downstream of a historical gold mining region. Sediment THg concentrations and δ(202)Hg decreased from the upper Yuba Fan to the lower Yuba Fan and the Feather River. These results are consistent with the release of Hg during gold mining followed by downstream mixing and dilution. The Hg isotopic composition of Yuba Fan sediment (δ(202)Hg = -0.38 ± 0.17‰ and Δ(199)Hg = 0.04 ± 0.03‰; mean ± 1 SD, n = 7) provides a fingerprint of inorganic Hg (IHg) that could be methylated locally or after transport downstream. The isotopic composition of MMHg in the Yuba River food web was estimated using biota with a range of %MMHg (the percent of THg present as MMHg) and compared to IHg in sediment, algae, and the food web. The estimated δ(202)Hg of MMHg prior to photodegradation (-1.29 to -1.07‰) was lower than that of IHg and we suggest this is due to mass-dependent fractionation (MDF) of up to -0.9‰ between IHg and MMHg. This result is in contrast to net positive MDF (+0.4 to +0.8‰) previously obser...Continue Reading

References

Oct 14, 2000·The Science of the Total Environment·R SchetagneJ J Fournier
Mar 9, 2005·The Science of the Total Environment·Steven J BaloghHeather J Offerman
Apr 12, 2005·Environmental Science & Technology·Aaron J SloweyGordon E Brown
Dec 13, 2005·The Science of the Total Environment·Richard W StoorDavid E Armstrong
Jul 11, 2006·Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology·Chad R Hammerschmidt, William F Fitzgerald
Mar 22, 2007·Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry·Joel D Blum, Bridget A Bergquist
Aug 22, 2007·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·Jason D DemersJoseph B Yavitti
Sep 29, 2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Reed C HarrisMichael T Tate
Dec 14, 2007·Environmental Science & Technology·Alex T ChowJohn A Harrison
Dec 17, 2008·Environmental Science & Technology·Abir BiswasZhouqing Xie
May 30, 2009·Environmental Science & Technology·Mark Marvin-DipasqualeBritt D Hall
May 30, 2009·Environmental Science & Technology·Lia C ChasarGeorge R Aiken
Oct 8, 2009·Environmental Science & Technology·Martin Tsz Ki TsuiEdward A Nater
May 7, 2010·Environmental Science & Technology·Jan G WiederholdRuben Kretzschmar
Jun 12, 2010·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·Darren M WardCarol L Folt
Aug 19, 2010·Environmental Science & Technology·Martin Tsz Ki TsuiYabing H Nollet
Sep 22, 2010·Environmental Science & Technology·Lynne E GratzLaura S Sherman
Jan 22, 2011·Environmental Science & Technology·Gretchen E GehrkeBen K Greenfield
Nov 23, 2011·Environmental Science & Technology·Laura S ShermanJ Timothy Dvonch
May 23, 2012·Environmental Science & Technology·Martin JiskraRuben Kretzschmar
Oct 5, 2012·Environmental Science & Technology·Martin Tsz Ki TsuiYabing H Nollet
Oct 16, 2012·The Science of the Total Environment·Laura S Sherman, Joel D Blum
Apr 20, 2013·Environmental Science & Technology·Colin A CookeDaniel R Engstrom
May 15, 2013·Environmental Science & Technology·Jan G WiederholdRuben Kretzschmar
Oct 30, 2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Michael Bliss SingerSubhajit Ghoshal
Nov 6, 2013·The Science of the Total Environment·Mark Marvin-DiPasqualeCraig A Stricker
Mar 5, 2014·Environmental Science & Technology·Patrick M DonovanJohn Peryam
Aug 12, 2014·Environmental Science & Technology·Martin Tsz-Ki TsuiMary E Power
Nov 18, 2014·Environmental Science & Technology·Priyanka ChandanBridget A Bergquist
Dec 2, 2014·Environmental Science & Technology·Jan G WiederholdRuben Kretzschmar
Dec 10, 2014·Environmental Science & Technology·Robin S SmithRuben Kretzschmar
Mar 4, 2015·Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry·Kate L BuckmanCelia Y Chen
Mar 18, 2015·Environmental Science & Technology·Robin S SmithRuben Kretzschmar
Apr 17, 2015·Environmental Science & Technology·Steven J BaloghAkihide Tada
May 29, 2015·Environmental Science & Technology·David M WaltersJames T Oris

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 21, 2016·The Science of the Total Environment·Michael Bliss SingerMark Marvin-DiPasquale
May 29, 2016·The Science of the Total Environment·Patrick M DonovanMartin T K Tsui
May 10, 2017·Environmental Science & Technology·Sarah E RothenbergAlexis Donohue
Feb 2, 2018·Environmental Science. Processes & Impacts·Carluvy Baptista-SalazarHarald Biester
Nov 23, 2016·Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology·M StaufferJ A Corcho Alvarado
Dec 16, 2019·The Science of the Total Environment·Shuyuan HuangHui Lin
Feb 5, 2019·Analytica Chimica Acta·S E JanssenD P Krabbenhoft
Jan 28, 2020·Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety·Yuanyuan ZhangJianfeng Liu
Dec 17, 2019·The Science of the Total Environment·Martin Tsz-Ki TsuiSae Yun Kwon
Apr 26, 2019·The Science of the Total Environment·Spencer J WashburnMichael Bliss Singer
Jun 24, 2021·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Laure LaffontLaurence Maurice
Sep 9, 2017·Environmental Science & Technology·Spencer J WashburnRichard C Landis
Nov 30, 2021·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Shuyuan HuangYaojin Chen

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.