Mercury concentrations in surface water and harvested waterfowl from the prairie pothole region of Saskatchewan

Environmental Science & Technology
Britt D HallChristopher M Somers

Abstract

Mercury cycling in prairie ecosystems is poorly understood. We examined methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in whole water from 49 diverse prairie wetlands and lakes in Saskatchewan. We also determined total Hg (THg) concentrations in waterfowl harvested by hunters for consumption. Average whole water MeHg concentrations ranged from 0.02 to over 4 ng L(-1) and were higher in water from wetland ponds compared to those in lakes. High MeHg concentrations in prairie wetlands present the possibility of increased Hg concentrations in biota inhabiting these and other similar systems. We therefore measured THg in 72 birds representing 13 species of waterfowl that commonly use prairie aquatic habitats. A large range in THg concentrations was observed among individual birds, with values ranging from below the detection limit to over 435 ng g(-1). When waterfowl were classified according to diet, we observed clear evidence of THg biomagnification with increasing proportion of animal prey consumed. THg concentrations in waterfowl collected by hunters did not exceed consumption guidelines of 0.5 mg kg(-1) developed for fish. This is the first study that has reported MeHg concentrations in water from the prairie pothole region of southern Sa...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jan 25, 2013·Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology·Elzbieta KalisinskaAndrzej Jackowski
Aug 29, 2013·Environmental Science & Technology·Xueqing XingZhonghua Wu
Mar 22, 2016·The Science of the Total Environment·Allyson JacksonColleen E Bryan
Sep 30, 2014·Reproductive Toxicology·Dzigbodi A DokeJulia M Gohlke
Feb 26, 2020·Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry·James C LeaphartJames C Beasley
Nov 30, 2010·The Auk·Lee R HageyMatthew D Krasowski
May 16, 2019·The Science of the Total Environment·Ernest J BorchertJames C Beasley

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