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Distributions of total mercury and methylmercury and regulating factors in lake water and surface sediment in the cold-arid Wuliangsuhai Lake region

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Abstract

This study aimed to understand the occurrence of mercury in the water environment of typical cold and arid lakes and the regulating environmental factors. Water and surface sediment samples were collected from July to August, 2022 in the Wuliangsuhai Lake region for the analysis of total mercury (THg) and total methylmercury (TMeHg). Lake water THg and TMeHg ranged between 19.20 ~ 668.10 and 0.10 ~ 11.40 ng/L, respectively, exceeding China's environmental quality standards and contents of other lakes and reservoirs in China and other areas. Surface sediments showed lower mean THg and TMeHg of 261.85 and 0.18 μg/kg, respectively, with the former significantly exceeding the background value of Inner Mongolia and unpolluted natural lakes but lower than those of lakes affected by human factors, such as aquaculture. Sediments showed relatively low methylation and TMeHg (0.01–0.21%) concentrations. Correlation analysis identified salinity, total dissolved solids, conductivity, and redox potential as important factors affecting mercury speciation in water, whereas those in surface sediments were organic matter, pH, and total iron content. This study conducted preliminary research on the different species of Hg in Wuliangsuhai Lake water environment, which can provide scientific evidence for the specific treatment of Hg pollution in agriculture, or industry and other related fields. Our results suggest that upstream and downstream regulatory agencies should strengthen the regulation of agricultural and industrial production, moderately reduce human activities, and reduce the use of mercury-rich substances such as pesticides.

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Acknowledgements

All authors acknowledge the Inner Mongolia Agricultural University to provide funds to complete the research.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant numbers 52060022 and 52260028]; the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Science and Technology Plan [2021GG0089]; the National Key R&D Program of China [grant numbers 2017YFE0114800 and 2019YFC0409204].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China

    Zhimou Cui, Xiaohong Shi, Shengnan Zhao, Junping Lu, Zhiqiang Tian, Hao Zhang, Xin Guo & Yanjun Wang

  2. Water Resources Protection and Utilization Key Laboratory, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China

    Xiaohong Shi, Shengnan Zhao & Junping Lu

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  1. Zhimou Cui
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  2. Xiaohong Shi
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  3. Shengnan Zhao
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  6. Hao Zhang
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  7. Xin Guo
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  8. Yanjun Wang
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. ZC was involved in the methodology, software, writing–original draft preparation, writing–reviewing and editing; XS and SZ provided the research ideas and experimental equipment; JL was involved in the methodology, software, writing–original draft preparation, writing–reviewing and editing; ZT, HZ, XG, and YW completed the experimental operation and the arrangement and processing of experimental data.

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Correspondence to Xiaohong Shi.

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Cui, Z., Shi, X., Zhao, S. et al. Distributions of total mercury and methylmercury and regulating factors in lake water and surface sediment in the cold-arid Wuliangsuhai Lake region. Environ Geochem Health 45, 7999–8013 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-023-01690-w

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