MERGANSER: an empirical model to predict fish and loon mercury in New England lakes.
Environ Sci Technol
; 46(8): 4641-8, 2012 Apr 17.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22372609
ABSTRACT
MERGANSER (MERcury Geo-spatial AssessmeNtS for the New England Region) is an empirical least-squares multiple regression model using mercury (Hg) deposition and readily obtainable lake and watershed features to predict fish (fillet) and common loon (blood) Hg in New England lakes. We modeled lakes larger than 8 ha (4404 lakes), using 3470 fish (12 species) and 253 loon Hg concentrations from 420 lakes. MERGANSER predictor variables included Hg deposition, watershed alkalinity, percent wetlands, percent forest canopy, percent agriculture, drainage area, population density, mean annual air temperature, and watershed slope. The model returns fish or loon Hg for user-entered species and fish length. MERGANSER explained 63% of the variance in fish and loon Hg concentrations. MERGANSER predicted that 32-cm smallmouth bass had a median Hg concentration of 0.53 µg g(-1) (root-mean-square error 0.27 µg g(-1)) and exceeded EPA's recommended fish Hg criterion of 0.3 µg g(-1) in 90% of New England lakes. Common loon had a median Hg concentration of 1.07 µg g(-1) and was in the moderate or higher risk category of >1 µg g(-1) Hg in 58% of New England lakes. MERGANSER can be applied to target fish advisories to specific unmonitored lakes, and for scenario evaluation, such as the effect of changes in Hg deposition, land use, or warmer climate on fish and loon mercury.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Contaminantes Químicos del Agua
/
Aves
/
Peces
/
Mercurio
/
Modelos Teóricos
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Animals
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Environ Sci Technol
Año:
2012
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos