Mercury sources, distribution, and bioavailability in the North Pacific Ocean: Insights from data and models

Elsie M. Sunderland; David P. Krabbenhoft; John W. Moreau; Sarah A. Strode; William M. Landing

doi:10.1029/2008gb003425

journal article May 01, 2009

Mercury sources, distribution, and bioavailability in the North Pacific Ocean: Insights from data and models

Elsie M. Sunderland

David P. Krabbenhoft John W. Moreau

Sarah A. Strode William M. Landing

Global Biogeochemical Cycles Vol. 23 No. 2 · American Geophysical Union (AGU)

View at Publisher Save 10.1029/2008gb003425

Abstract

Fish harvested from the Pacific Ocean are a major contributor to human methylmercury (MeHg) exposure. Limited oceanic mercury (Hg) data, particularly MeHg, has confounded our understanding of linkages between sources, methylation sites, and concentrations in marine food webs. Here we present methylated (MeHg and dimethylmercury (Me2Hg)) and total Hg concentrations from 16 hydrographic stations in the eastern North Pacific Ocean. We use these data in combination with information from previous cruises and coupled atmospheric‐oceanic modeling results to better understand controls on Hg concentrations, distribution, and bioavailability. Total Hg concentrations (average 1.14 ± 0.38 pM) are elevated relative to previous cruises. Modeling results agree with observed increases and suggest that at present atmospheric Hg deposition rates, basin‐wide Hg concentrations will double relative to circa 1995 by 2050. Methylated Hg accounts for up to 29% of the total Hg in subsurface waters (average 260 ± 114 fM). We observed lower ambient methylated Hg concentrations in the euphotic zone and older, deeper water masses, which likely result from decay of MeHg and Me2Hg when net production is not occurring. We found a significant, positive linear relationship between methylated Hg concentrations and rates of organic carbon remineralization (r2 = 0.66, p < 0.001). These results provide evidence for the importance of particulate organic carbon (POC) transport and remineralization on the production and distribution of methylated Hg species in marine waters. Specifically, settling POC provides a source of inorganic Hg(II) to microbially active subsurface waters and can also provide a substrate for microbial activity facilitating water column methylation.

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Details

Published: May 01, 2009
Vol/Issue: 23(2)
License: View

Authors

E

Elsie M. Sunderland

School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts USA

D

David P. Krabbenhoft

U.S. Geological Survey Middleton Wisconsin USA

J

John W. Moreau

School of Earth Sciences University of Melbourne Melbourne Australia

S

Sarah A. Strode

Department of Atmospheric Sciences University of Washington Seattle Washington USA

W

William M. Landing

Department of Oceanography Florida State University Tallahassee Florida USA

Cite This Article

Elsie M. Sunderland, David P. Krabbenhoft, John W. Moreau, et al. (2009). Mercury sources, distribution, and bioavailability in the North Pacific Ocean: Insights from data and models. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 23(2). https://doi.org/10.1029/2008gb003425

Mercury sources, distribution, and bioavailability in the North Pacific Ocean: Insights from data and models

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