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Total mercury and methylmercury distributions in surface sediments from Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, Norwegian Arctic

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Abstract

The total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) distributions in the surface sediments of Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, in the Norwegian Arctic were investigated in this study. The results showed that THg concentrations ranged from 9.11 to 86.73 ng g−1, whereas MeHg concentrations had an average of only 0.11 ng g−1. Factors that control the distribution and methylated transformation of mercury were examined, and the results suggested that the movements of ocean currents and glaciers affect the THg distribution. The total organic carbon (TOC) and N contents in the sediments were positively correlated with THg concentration, which indicated that the THg distribution at these stations was primarily controlled by organic matter in the sediments. A complex relationship was observed between the THg and S contents, possibly due to anthropogenic activities involved in the perennial scientific expedition. MeHg and THg exhibited similar correlations with the sediment chemical characteristics for all stations suggesting that MeHg may be produced locally through the microbial methylation of mercury.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to express our sincere gratitude to the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration, State Oceanic Administration of China for the field logistic support. Samples used in this study are provided by the Sediment Samples of Polar Sample Platform of the National Natural Resources. This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (nos. 41376189, 51278357, 41406213), Science Foundation of Shanghai Municipal Government (no. 12ZR1434800), State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse Foundation (Tongji University) (no. PCRRY11016).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Yang Liu, Xiaoli Chai, Yongxia Hao, Xiaofeng Gao, Zhibo Lu & Youcai Zhao

  2. SOA Key Laboratory for Polar Science, Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai, 200136, China

    Jie Zhang & Minghong Cai

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  1. Yang Liu
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  2. Xiaoli Chai
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  3. Yongxia Hao
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  4. Xiaofeng Gao
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  5. Zhibo Lu
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  7. Jie Zhang
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Correspondence to Xiaoli Chai.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Liu, Y., Chai, X., Hao, Y. et al. Total mercury and methylmercury distributions in surface sediments from Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, Norwegian Arctic. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 8603–8610 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3942-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3942-0

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