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Linking Cellulose Fiber Sediment Methyl Mercury Levels to Organic Matter Decay and Major Element Composition.

Regnell, Olof LU ; Elert, Mark ; Höglund, Lars Olof ; Falk, Anna Helena and Svensson, Anders (2014) In Ambio: a Journal of the Human Environment 43(7). p.878-890
Abstract
Methylation of mercury (Hg) to highly toxic methyl Hg (MeHg), a process known to occur when organic matter (OM) decomposition leads to anoxia, is considered a worldwide threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health. We measured temporal and spatial variations in sediment MeHg, total Hg (THg), and major elements in a freshwater lagoon in Sweden polluted with Hg-laden cellulose fibers. Fiber decomposition, confined to a narrow surface layer, resulted in loss of carbon (C), uptake of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S), and increased MeHg levels. Notably, fiber decomposition and subsequent erosion of fiber residues will cause buried contaminants to gradually come closer to the sediment-water interface. At an adjacent site where... (More)
Methylation of mercury (Hg) to highly toxic methyl Hg (MeHg), a process known to occur when organic matter (OM) decomposition leads to anoxia, is considered a worldwide threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health. We measured temporal and spatial variations in sediment MeHg, total Hg (THg), and major elements in a freshwater lagoon in Sweden polluted with Hg-laden cellulose fibers. Fiber decomposition, confined to a narrow surface layer, resulted in loss of carbon (C), uptake of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S), and increased MeHg levels. Notably, fiber decomposition and subsequent erosion of fiber residues will cause buried contaminants to gradually come closer to the sediment-water interface. At an adjacent site where decomposed fiber accumulated, there was a gain in C and a loss of S when MeHg increased. As evidenced by correlation patterns and vertical chemical profiles, reduced S may have fueled C-fixation and Hg methylation at this site. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Mercury, Methylation, Cellulose fiber, Decomposition, Major element cycles
in
Ambio: a Journal of the Human Environment
volume
43
issue
7
pages
878 - 890
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • pmid:24420263
  • wos:000343659300006
  • scopus:84910107426
  • pmid:24420263
ISSN
0044-7447
DOI
10.1007/s13280-013-0487-2
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
710b3358-653f-4a08-8697-94bb0403045e (old id 4291497)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:03:30
date last changed
2024-01-07 07:24:29
@article{710b3358-653f-4a08-8697-94bb0403045e,
  abstract     = {{Methylation of mercury (Hg) to highly toxic methyl Hg (MeHg), a process known to occur when organic matter (OM) decomposition leads to anoxia, is considered a worldwide threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health. We measured temporal and spatial variations in sediment MeHg, total Hg (THg), and major elements in a freshwater lagoon in Sweden polluted with Hg-laden cellulose fibers. Fiber decomposition, confined to a narrow surface layer, resulted in loss of carbon (C), uptake of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S), and increased MeHg levels. Notably, fiber decomposition and subsequent erosion of fiber residues will cause buried contaminants to gradually come closer to the sediment-water interface. At an adjacent site where decomposed fiber accumulated, there was a gain in C and a loss of S when MeHg increased. As evidenced by correlation patterns and vertical chemical profiles, reduced S may have fueled C-fixation and Hg methylation at this site.}},
  author       = {{Regnell, Olof and Elert, Mark and Höglund, Lars Olof and Falk, Anna Helena and Svensson, Anders}},
  issn         = {{0044-7447}},
  keywords     = {{Mercury; Methylation; Cellulose fiber; Decomposition; Major element cycles}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{7}},
  pages        = {{878--890}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Ambio: a Journal of the Human Environment}},
  title        = {{Linking Cellulose Fiber Sediment Methyl Mercury Levels to Organic Matter Decay and Major Element Composition.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13280-013-0487-2}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s13280-013-0487-2}},
  volume       = {{43}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}