Mercury in rivers in NW England: from rural headwaters to the heartlands of the historic industrial base

Rowland, A.P.; Neal, C.; Scholefield, P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2974-6431; Halford, A.P.; Vincent, C.D.; Hockenhull, K.. 2010 Mercury in rivers in NW England: from rural headwaters to the heartlands of the historic industrial base. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 12. 2299-2306. https://doi.org/10.1039/C0EM00398K

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Abstract/Summary

Total mercury (T-Hg) concentrations in rivers are described across a rural to urban/industrial and agricultural landscape gradient in NW England. T-Hg ranges between 0.2 and 230 ng L-1. The regional median was 3.6 ng L-1 with individual river medians ranging between 1.9 and 8.3 ng L-1. Median T-Hg concentrations were sometimes moderately higher for the lowland areas and at higher flows. Our estimates suggest that the Ribble estuary receives 9.2 kg yr-1 and the Wyre estuary 0.7 kg yr-1. In order to examine regional inputs from urban/industrial components, regression analysis was undertaken by comparing three types of hydrochemical signature: suspended sediments (SS), which provides a measure of the particulate component, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), that provides an indication of humic/fulvic acids that are part of the organic colloids and strong chelating agents, and boron a marker of sewage effluents and population density. The results show high positive relationships of T-Hg with both SS and DOC, but no relationship with the urban/industrial signal. The regression analysis with T-Hg indicated on average a gradient of 0.33 ng mg-1 for DOC and 0.2 ng mg-1 for SS. They indicate the primary importance of a diffuse source of T-Hg. For the upland areas and cleaner river systems, the linkages between T-Hg and DOC were particularly strong, while for the lowland areas, the linkage with SS proved stronger. Analysis of a later subset of data that partitions the SS into organic and inorganic fractions indicated that the T-Hg was primarily linked with the organic fraction. Indeed, multiple regression of T-Hg with DOC and POM reveal gradients similar to other parts of the World

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1039/C0EM00398K
Programmes:	CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry > BGC Topic 1 - Monitoring and Interpretation of Biogeochemical and Climate Changes > BGC - 1.4 - Develop innovative, effective methods for monitoring fluxes, exposure and effects
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Shore Acreman
ISSN:	1464-0325
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Chemistry
Date made live:	08 Dec 2010 14:07 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/11427

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