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Flux model to estimate the transport of mercury species in a contaminated lagoon (Ria de Aveiro, Portugal)

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Abstract

The concentrations of dissolved and particulate inorganic mercury (IHg(II)) and methylmercury (MeHg) from the contaminated Laranjo Bay (main freshwater discharge from the Antuã River) were measured by species-specific isotope dilution during six sampling campaigns at high and at low tide. Different effective riverine concentrations were calculated, based on salinity profiles, for specific hydrological conditions. The export fluxes of total Hg and MeHg (324 and 1.24 mol year−1, respectively) from the bay to the rest of the Aveiro Lagoon are much higher than the input fluxes from the Hg source (3.9 and 0.05 mol year−1) and from the Antuã River (10.4 and 0.10 mol year−1). Resuspension of contaminated sediments from Laranjo Bay is crucial for the transport of both IHg(II) and MeHg. Methylation and/or selective enrichment into biogenic particles is responsible for the mobilization of MeHg. Sorption of dissolved IHg(II) onto suspended particles limits its export flux. This is one of the rarest examples where both speciation fluxes and partitioning of mercury are studied in a contaminated coastal environment. Despite the lower fraction of total MeHg (relative to total Hg), the contaminated lagoon may have an impact on coastal areas, particularly if change in the lagoon geometry occurs, due to sea level rise.

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Abbreviations

C*:

Effective riverine concentration

Chl:

Chlorophyll

F in :

Input flux

F out :

Export flux

Hg0 :

Elemental mercury

HgDISS, HgPART :

Mercury, dissolved and particulate, respectively

HgTOT :

Total mercury

IHg(II)DISS, IHg(II)PART :

Inorganic mercury, dissolved and particulate, respectively

LOD:

Limit of detection

MeHgDISS, MeHgPART :

Methylmercury, dissolved and particulate, respectively

MeHgTOT :

Total methylmercury

Pha:

Phaeophytin

Q :

Average monthly river discharge, historic data

Q day :

Average daily river discharge, historic data

RD:

River discharge (estimated during sampling)

SPM:

Suspended particulate matter

T :

Water temperature

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Funding

T. Stoichev is grateful to the Foundation of Science and Technology (Portugal) for fellowship SFRH/BPD/88675/2012, co-financed by Programa Operacional Potencial Humano (POPH) / Fundo Social Europeu (FSE). The financial support of the European SUDOE Interreg IVB Programme through the Orque-Sudoe Project is acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Interdisciplinary Center of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal

    Teodor Stoichev, Cristina Marisa R. Almeida, Maria Clara P. Basto & Vitor M. Vasconcelos

  2. Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physico-Chimie pour l’Environnement et les Matériaux, CNRS/UNIV PAU & PAYS ADOUR, UMR5254, Mira, 64000, Pau, France

    Emmanuel Tessier & David Amouroux

  3. Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal

    Maria Clara P. Basto & Vitor M. Vasconcelos

Authors
  1. Teodor Stoichev
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  2. Emmanuel Tessier
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  3. Cristina Marisa R. Almeida
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  4. Maria Clara P. Basto
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  5. Vitor M. Vasconcelos
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  6. David Amouroux
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Correspondence to Teodor Stoichev.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Stoichev, T., Tessier, E., Almeida, C.M.R. et al. Flux model to estimate the transport of mercury species in a contaminated lagoon (Ria de Aveiro, Portugal). Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 17371–17382 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1925-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1925-2

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