Abstract
Although many sources of Hg to surface waters have been identified including atmospheric deposition, resuspenseon of contaminated sediments, and direct discharges, there are very few recent data on ambient concentrations in the large lakes. Thus, an investigation of Hg concentrations in Lake Champlain and Lake Michigan was completed in the summer of 1993. Three depths of water including the microlayer, 30 cm below the surface, and 1 m below the thermocline were collected for each sampling event using ultra-clean techniques. All samples were processed in the field for dissolved and particulate fractions in a portable plastic enclosure equipped with a HEPA filter, and then analyzed by dual amalgamation and cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectroscopy in a Class 100 clean room at the University of Michigan. In addition, samples were analyzed for other trace metals by ICP-MS. Results from the two field investigations include the following: (1) On average, Lake Michigan water samples had higher concentrations of Hg than Lake Champlain; (2) There was no consistent pattern of Hg concentrations in the water column; (3) There was variability in the concentrations of Hg from the same depths over consecutive sampling periods. This paper discusses these results, and examines the relationship between the patterns in mercury concentrations and other physical and chemical data collected during the investigation.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Bloom, N. and Effler, S.W.: 1990. Water, Air, and SoilPollut. 53, 251–265
Douglas, J.: 1991.EPRIJ. 16, 4–11.
Driscoll, C., Yan, C., Schofield, C.L., Munson, R. and Holsapple, J.: 1994. Environ. Sci. Technol. 28, 136–143.
Gill, G.A. and Bruland, K.W.: 1990. Environ. Sci. Technol. 24, 1392–1400.
Hardy, J.T.: 1988. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 20, 1051–1057.
Hoyer, M.H. and Keeler, G.J.: 1994. Submitted to Environ. Sci. Technol.
Meili, M., Iverfeldt, A., and Hakanson, L.: 1991. Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 56, 439–453.
Rossman, R. and Barres, J.: 1988. J. Great Lakes Res. 8, 271–280.
Watzin, M.C.: 1992. A Research and Monitoring Agenda for Lake Champlain: U.S. EPA, Boston, MA. 196 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Cleckner, L.B., Esseks, E.S., Meier, P.G., Keeler, G.J. (1995). Mercury Concentrations In Two Great “Waters”. In: Porcella, D.B., Huckabee, J.W., Wheatley, B. (eds) Mercury as a Global Pollutant. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0153-0_63
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0153-0_63
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4069-3
Online ISBN: 978-94-011-0153-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive