학술논문

Assessment of the Spatial Variations of Mercury and Methylmercury in the Sediment of a Lake and Its Inflow River Estuaries
Document Type
article
Source
Water, Vol 15, Iss 8, p 1494 (2023)
Subject
mercury
methylmercury
sediment
lake
estuaries
Hydraulic engineering
TC1-978
Water supply for domestic and industrial purposes
TD201-500
Language
English
ISSN
15081494
2073-4441
Abstract
The contents of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MMHg) were measured in Nansi Lake and its inflow river estuaries to investigate their spatial distribution characteristics and the geochemical relationships between THg, MMHg, and methylation rate (%MMHg) with mineral phases of the sediment. The contents of THg, MMHg, and %MMHg in the lake sediment were lower than those in the inflow river estuary sediment. Inputting of inflow rivers was primary source to THg and MMHg in Nansi Lake. The THg contents in the sediment decreased from the upper to the lower lake, while the MMHg contents indicated the opposite trends of spatial variations. The THg was significantly positively correlated with MMHg and %MMHg in estuarine sediment but has a significant negative correlation with MMHg and %MMHg in lake sediment. Total organic carbon (TOC), acid volatile sulfide (AVS), and clay have great influence on the distribution of THg in sediment. Methylmercury in the estuary sediment was positively correlated with THg, AVS, TOC, and clay, while these relationships were not revealed in the lake sediment. Cluster and principal component analysis results showed that THg, clay, and TOC were derived from the same sources in the sediment of Nansi Lake. It implied that for improving the water environmental quality of lakes, the environmental management of rivers entering the lake should be strengthened.