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Mercury in Aquatic Organisms of the Ebro River Basin

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Book cover The Ebro River Basin

Part of the book series: The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry ((HEC,volume 13))

Abstract

It is well known that chlor-alkali industry has traditionally used the mercury (Hg)-electrolysis process to produce mainly chlorinated solvents. Unfortunately, a fraction of the Hg used during production is released through drainage into the aquatic environment where it can be incorporated to biota. In Europe, Spain and Germany are leading in the number of plants which still use this technology. Moreover, it should be highlighted that three out of the eight chlor-alkali plants in Spain which are still operating with this process are located in the Ebro River basin in the proximities of Sabiñánigo and Monzón cities – along the tributaries Gállego and Cinca Rivers, respectively – and Flix along the Ebro River. Therefore, the mid-low Ebro River watershed might be considered as a hot spot of aquatic mercury pollution in Spain.

This chapter focuses on all the information published up to date about total mercury (THg) and organomercury, with special emphasis on methylmercury (MeHg), in different aquatic organisms sampled along the Ebro River.

First, a brief explanation of the current knowledge regarding the sources and cycling of Hg and its transformation into MeHg is presented. Later, in this chapter, THg and limited data on organomercury levels in aquatic organisms of the Ebro River basin are detailed. The aquatic organisms most commonly studied in the Ebro River basin are zebra mussel, red swamp crayfish, and different fish species, namely European catfish, northern pike, common carp, rudd, roach, barbell, and bleak.

According to the different sentinel species analyzed, THg levels in specimens collected downstream from the impacted areas are 10–20 times greater than upstream levels. It clearly points out the relevance of chlor-alkali plants in terms of mercury river pollution.

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  1. Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona, 18-26, 08034, Barcelona, Spain

    Luis Carrasco, Josep M. Bayona & Sergi Díez

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  1. Luis Carrasco
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  2. Josep M. Bayona
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  3. Sergi Díez
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Correspondence to Sergi Díez .

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  1. , Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, c/Jordi Girona 18-26, Barcelona, 08034, Spain

    Damià Barceló

  2. , Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, Barcelona, 08034, Spain

    Mira Petrovic

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Carrasco, L., Bayona, J.M., Díez, S. (2010). Mercury in Aquatic Organisms of the Ebro River Basin. In: Barceló, D., Petrovic, M. (eds) The Ebro River Basin. The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry(), vol 13. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/698_2010_71

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