Spatial and temporal patterns of mercury accumulation in lacustrine sediments across the Laurentian Great Lakes region

Paul E. Drevnick; Daniel R. Engstrom; Charles T. Driscoll; Edward B. Swain; Steven J. Balogh; Neil C. Kamman; David T. Long; Derek G.C. Muir; Matthew J. Parsons; Kristofer R. Rolfhus; Ronald Rossmann

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2011.05.025

Spatial and temporal patterns of mercury accumulation in lacustrine sediments across the Laurentian Great Lakes region

Paul E. Drevnick, Daniel R. Engstrom, Charles T. Driscoll, Edward B. Swain, Steven J. Balogh, Neil C. Kamman, David T. Long, Derek G.C. Muir, Matthew J. Parsons, Kristofer R. Rolfhus, Ronald Rossmann

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

87 Scopus citations

Abstract

Data from 104 sediment cores from the Great Lakes and "inland lakes" in the region were compiled to assess historical and recent changes in mercury (Hg) deposition. The lower Great Lakes showed sharp increases in Hg loading c. 1850-1950 from point-source water dischargers, with marked decreases during the past half century associated with effluent controls and decreases in the industrial use of Hg. In contrast, Lake Superior and inland lakes exhibited a pattern of Hg loading consistent with an atmospheric source - gradual increases followed by recent (post-1980) decreases. Variation in sedimentary Hg flux among inland lakes was primarily attributed to the ratio of watershed area:lake area, and secondarily to a lake's proximity to emission sources. A consistent region-wide decrease (∼20%) of sediment-Hg flux suggests that controls on local and regional atmospheric Hg emissions have been effective in decreasing the supply of Hg to Lake Superior and inland lakes.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	252-260
Number of pages	9
Journal	Environmental Pollution
Volume	161
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2011.05.025
State	Published - Feb 1 2012
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funding was provided by the Great Lakes Commission , Great Lakes Atmospheric Deposition (GLAD) Program .

Keywords

Great Lakes
Mercury
Paleolimnology
Sediment cores
Sediment mercury deposition

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10.1016/j.envpol.2011.05.025

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Drevnick, P. E., Engstrom, D. R., Driscoll, C. T., Swain, E. B., Balogh, S. J., Kamman, N. C., Long, D. T., Muir, D. G. C., Parsons, M. J., Rolfhus, K. R., & Rossmann, R. (2012). Spatial and temporal patterns of mercury accumulation in lacustrine sediments across the Laurentian Great Lakes region. Environmental Pollution, 161, 252-260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2011.05.025

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abstract = "Data from 104 sediment cores from the Great Lakes and {"}inland lakes{"} in the region were compiled to assess historical and recent changes in mercury (Hg) deposition. The lower Great Lakes showed sharp increases in Hg loading c. 1850-1950 from point-source water dischargers, with marked decreases during the past half century associated with effluent controls and decreases in the industrial use of Hg. In contrast, Lake Superior and inland lakes exhibited a pattern of Hg loading consistent with an atmospheric source - gradual increases followed by recent (post-1980) decreases. Variation in sedimentary Hg flux among inland lakes was primarily attributed to the ratio of watershed area:lake area, and secondarily to a lake's proximity to emission sources. A consistent region-wide decrease (∼20%) of sediment-Hg flux suggests that controls on local and regional atmospheric Hg emissions have been effective in decreasing the supply of Hg to Lake Superior and inland lakes.",

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note = "Funding Information: Funding was provided by the Great Lakes Commission , Great Lakes Atmospheric Deposition (GLAD) Program .",

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doi = "10.1016/j.envpol.2011.05.025",

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AU - Drevnick, Paul E.

AU - Engstrom, Daniel R.

AU - Driscoll, Charles T.

AU - Swain, Edward B.

AU - Balogh, Steven J.

AU - Kamman, Neil C.

AU - Long, David T.

AU - Muir, Derek G.C.

AU - Parsons, Matthew J.

AU - Rolfhus, Kristofer R.

AU - Rossmann, Ronald

N1 - Funding Information: Funding was provided by the Great Lakes Commission , Great Lakes Atmospheric Deposition (GLAD) Program .

PY - 2012/2/1

Y1 - 2012/2/1

N2 - Data from 104 sediment cores from the Great Lakes and "inland lakes" in the region were compiled to assess historical and recent changes in mercury (Hg) deposition. The lower Great Lakes showed sharp increases in Hg loading c. 1850-1950 from point-source water dischargers, with marked decreases during the past half century associated with effluent controls and decreases in the industrial use of Hg. In contrast, Lake Superior and inland lakes exhibited a pattern of Hg loading consistent with an atmospheric source - gradual increases followed by recent (post-1980) decreases. Variation in sedimentary Hg flux among inland lakes was primarily attributed to the ratio of watershed area:lake area, and secondarily to a lake's proximity to emission sources. A consistent region-wide decrease (∼20%) of sediment-Hg flux suggests that controls on local and regional atmospheric Hg emissions have been effective in decreasing the supply of Hg to Lake Superior and inland lakes.

AB - Data from 104 sediment cores from the Great Lakes and "inland lakes" in the region were compiled to assess historical and recent changes in mercury (Hg) deposition. The lower Great Lakes showed sharp increases in Hg loading c. 1850-1950 from point-source water dischargers, with marked decreases during the past half century associated with effluent controls and decreases in the industrial use of Hg. In contrast, Lake Superior and inland lakes exhibited a pattern of Hg loading consistent with an atmospheric source - gradual increases followed by recent (post-1980) decreases. Variation in sedimentary Hg flux among inland lakes was primarily attributed to the ratio of watershed area:lake area, and secondarily to a lake's proximity to emission sources. A consistent region-wide decrease (∼20%) of sediment-Hg flux suggests that controls on local and regional atmospheric Hg emissions have been effective in decreasing the supply of Hg to Lake Superior and inland lakes.

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KW - Paleolimnology

KW - Sediment cores

KW - Sediment mercury deposition

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JO - Environmental Pollution

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ER -

Spatial and temporal patterns of mercury accumulation in lacustrine sediments across the Laurentian Great Lakes region

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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