New assessment of organic mercury formation in highly polluted sediments in the Lenga estuary, Chile

作者：Yanez Jorge^*; Guajardo Marjory; Miranda Cristian; Soto Cesar; Mansilla Hector D; Flegal A Russell

来源：Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2013, 73(1): 16-23.

DOI：10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.06.015

• Mercury
• Organic mercury
• Methylation assessment
• Sediments

Anomalously high levels of mercury in sediment in the Lenga estuary, Chile are comparable to the most contaminated sites previously reported elsewhere. Total mercury (Hg-total) concentrations range from 0.5 to 129 mg kg(-1) and organic mercury (Hg-org) from 11 to 53 mu g kg(-1). The highest levels are in areas near the previous wastewater outfall of a chlo-alkali plant. The results show that the proportion of Hg-org/Hg-total in the sediment varies by more than two orders of magnitude (0.02-5.7%) according to the concentration of Hg-total. No correlation between the concentration of Hg-org and Hg-total was found. The lack of correlation does contrast with the findings of other authors in culture media. Our results indicate that even at very high concentrations of Hg-total and organic matter do not influence organic mercury formation in estuary sediments. The disparity in Hg-total and Hg-org concentrations also attests to environmental differences in the formation.

• 出版日期2013-8-15