Historic contamination alters mercury sources and cycling in temperate estuaries relative to uncontaminated sites.

ABSTRACT: Mercury (Hg) is a global and persistent pollutant which can be methylated to more toxic forms (methylmercury; MeHg) in natural systems. Both forms pose a health risk to humans and wildlife, and exposure often begins in aquatic environments. Therefore, quantifying aquatic concentrations and identifying source pathways is important for understanding biotic exposure. In this study, data from estuaries in the Northeast United States were combined to evaluate how point source contamination impacts the concentration and source dynamics of water column total and MeHg with an emphasis on sediment versus non-sediment sources. Partial least squares regression models were implemented to identify a set of variables most related to water column MeHg and total Hg (HgT) across the estuaries. The main fin

SUBMITTER: Seelen EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7855490 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature