Mercury Accumulation in Periphyton of Eight River Ecosystems1

doi:10.1111/j.1752-1688.2007.00078.x

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Wiley InterScience

JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association

Volume 43 Issue 4, Pages 957 - 968

Published Online: 28 Jun 2007

Published on behalf of the American Water Resources Association

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Mercury Accumulation in Periphyton of Eight River Ecosystems¹

Amanda H. Bell ^* and Barbara C. Scudder ^*

*Respectively, U.S. Geological Survey, Wisconsin Water Science Center, 8505 Research Way, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562 (E-Mail/Bell: ahbell@usgs.gov).

¹ Paper No. J05062 of the Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA). Discussions are open until February 1, 2008.

KEYWORDS

algae • sediment • rivers/streams • periphyton • mercury/methylmercury • bioaccumulation

ABSTRACT

Abstract: In 2003, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency studied total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in periphyton at eight rivers in the United States in coordination with a larger USGS study on mercury cycling in rivers. Periphyton samples were collected using trace element clean techniques and NAWQA sampling protocols in spring and fall from targeted habitats (streambed surface-sediment, cobble, or woody snags) at each river site. A positive correlation was observed between concentrations of THg and MeHg in periphyton (r² = 0.88, in log-log space). Mean MeHg and THg concentrations in surface-sediment periphyton were significantly higher (1,333 ng/m² for MeHg and 53,980 ng/m² for THg) than cobble (64 ng/m² for MeHg and 1,192 ng/m² for THg) or woody snag (71 ng/m² for MeHg and 1,089 ng/m² for THg) periphyton. Concentrations of THg in surface-sediment periphyton had a strong positive correlation with concentrations of THg in sediment (dry weight). The ratio of MeHg:THg in surface-sediment periphyton increased with the ratio of MeHg:THg in sediment. These data suggest periphyton may play a key role in mercury bioaccumulation in river ecosystems.