Elevated mercury concentrations in soils, sediments, water, and fish of the Madeira River basin, Brazilian Amazon: a function of natural enrichments?

Previous site-specific investigations have found that mercury concentrations in water, sediments, and biota of the Brazilian Amazon are elevated above global averages, and that these concentrations are a direct result of widespread mercury amalgamation mining operations conducted by non-organized prospectors. In order to assess the regional impacts of Hg contamination from these non-organized gold mining activities, water, sediments, and fish were systematically collected in 1997 along a 900-km reach of the Madeira River. The sampling program extended from the Amazon River upstream to Porto Velho, the site of historic and ongoing mercury amalgamation mining. Mercury concentrations were found to be elevated above global averages in all sampled media. However, the geochemical data suggest that the high mercury levels are due largely to natural sources and natural biogeochemical processes, and that the impacts of anthropogenically released mercury from mine sites is relatively localized.

Mercury biogeochemistry in the Idrija river, Slovenia, from above the mine into the Gulf of Trieste.

The Idrija Mine is the second largest Hg mine in the world which operated for 500 years. Mercury (Hg)-laden tailings still line the banks, and the system is a threat to the Idrija River and water bodies downstream including the Soca/Isonzo River and the Gulf of Trieste in the northern Adriatic Sea. A multidisciplinary study was conducted in June 1998 on water samples collected throughout the Idrija and Soca River systems and waters and sediments in the Gulf. Total Hg in the Idrija River increased >20-fold downstream of the mine from <3 to >60 ng liter(-1) with methyl mercury (MeHg) accounting for approximately 0.5%. Concentrations increased again downstream and into the estuary with MeHg accounting for nearly 1.5% of the total. While bacteria upstream of the mine did not contain mercury detoxification genes (mer), such genes were detected in bacteria collected downstream. Benthic macroinvertebrate diversity decreased downstream of the mine. Gulf waters near the river mouth contained up to 65 ng liter(-1) total Hg with approximately 0.05 ng liter(-1) MeHg. Gulf sediments near the river mouth contained 40 microgram g(-1) total Hg with MeHg concentrations of about 3 ng g(-1). Hg in sediment pore waters varied between 1 and 8 ng liter(-1), with MeHg accounting for up to 85%. Hg methylation and MeHg demethylation were active in Gulf sediments with highest activities near the surface. MeHg was degraded by an oxidative pathway with >97% C released from MeHg as CO(2). Hg methylation depth profiles resembled profiles of dissolved MeHg. Hg-laden waters still strongly impact the riverine, estuarine, and marine systems. Macroinvertebrates and bacteria in the Idrija River responded to Hg stress, and high Hg levels persist into the Gulf. Increases in total Hg and MeHg in the estuary demonstrate the remobilization of Hg, presumably as HgS dissolution and recycling. Gulf sediments actively produce MeHg, which enters bottom waters and presumably the marine food chain.

Mercury levels in surface waters of the Carson River-Lahontan Reservoir system, Nevada: Influence of historic mining activities.

Total mercury (HgT), methylmercury (MeHg), and other operationally defined Hg species were determined on water samples collected from a river-reservoir system impacted by historic mine wastes. Simultaneously, a comprehensive study was undertaken to determine the influence of some major physico-chemical parameters on the fate of Hg within the system. Total Hg levels showed an increase from background concentrations of 4 ng liter(-1) upstream of mining activity, to peak values of 1500-2100 ng liter(-1) downstream of Hg contaminated mine tailings piles. MeHg concentrations varied from 0.1 to 7 ng liter(-1) in surface waters. In both cases, peak values were associated with the highest concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS). Particulate Hg (HgP) was typically >50% of HgT and increased downstream. The dissolved fraction of MeHg (MeHgD) always constituted a large portion of total methylmercury (MeHgT). The [MeHgT]/[HgT] ratio decreased downstream suggesting either a high percentage of inorganic Hg input from point sources, or low specific rates of MeHg production within the aquatic system. The latter could be due to the combined effects on microbial populations of both high levels of Hg concentrations found in water and sediments, and other factors related to the aqueous geochemistry of the system. Concentrations of HgT in the water column appeared to be enhanced by inputs of contaminated particles from the watershed during spring snow melt. In the reservoir, significant losses of Hg from the water column were observed. In addition to losses of Hg bound to particles by sedimentation, the removal through volatilization of dissolved gaseous Hg could be an important pathway.