Identification of multiple mercury sources to stream sediments near Oak Ridge, TN, USA

Patrick M. Donovan; Joel D. Blum; Jason D. Demers; Baohua Gu; Scott C. Brooks; John Peryam

doi:10.1021/es4046549

Identification of multiple mercury sources to stream sediments near Oak Ridge, TN, USA

Patrick M. Donovan, Joel D. Blum, Jason D. Demers, Baohua Gu, Scott C. Brooks, John Peryam

Biogeochemical Dynamics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sediments were analyzed for total Hg concentration (THg) and isotopic composition from streams and rivers in the vicinity of the Y-12 National Security Complex (Y12) in Oak Ridge, TN (USA). In the stream directly draining Y12, where industrial releases of mercury (Hg) have been documented, high THg (3.26 to 60.1 μg/g) sediments had a distinct Hg isotopic composition (δ²⁰²Hg of 0.02 ± 0.15‰ and Δ ¹⁹⁹Hg of -0.07 ± 0.03‰; mean ± 1SD, n = 12) compared to sediments from relatively uncontaminated streams in the region (δ²⁰²Hg = -1.40 ± 0.06‰ and Δ ¹⁹⁹Hg of -0.26 ± 0.03‰; mean ± 1SD, n = 6). Additionally, several streams that are nearby but do not drain Y12 had sediments with intermediate THg (0.06 to 0.21 μg/g) and anomalous δ ²⁰²Hg (as low as -5.07‰). We suggest that the low δ²⁰²Hg values in these sediments provide evidence for the contribution of an additional Hg source to sediments, possibly derived from atmospheric deposition. In sediments directly downstream of Y12 this third Hg source is not discernible, and the Hg isotopic composition can be largely explained by the mixing of low THg sediments with high THg sediments contaminated by Y12 discharges.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3666-3674
Number of pages	9
Journal	Environmental Science and Technology
Volume	48
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/es4046549
State	Published - Apr 1 2014

Access to Document

10.1021/es4046549

Cite this

@article{64a3e16a99ee4b14b2e64b01e647aff2,

title = "Identification of multiple mercury sources to stream sediments near Oak Ridge, TN, USA",

abstract = "Sediments were analyzed for total Hg concentration (THg) and isotopic composition from streams and rivers in the vicinity of the Y-12 National Security Complex (Y12) in Oak Ridge, TN (USA). In the stream directly draining Y12, where industrial releases of mercury (Hg) have been documented, high THg (3.26 to 60.1 μg/g) sediments had a distinct Hg isotopic composition (δ202Hg of 0.02 ± 0.15‰ and Δ 199Hg of -0.07 ± 0.03‰; mean ± 1SD, n = 12) compared to sediments from relatively uncontaminated streams in the region (δ202Hg = -1.40 ± 0.06‰ and Δ 199Hg of -0.26 ± 0.03‰; mean ± 1SD, n = 6). Additionally, several streams that are nearby but do not drain Y12 had sediments with intermediate THg (0.06 to 0.21 μg/g) and anomalous δ 202Hg (as low as -5.07‰). We suggest that the low δ202Hg values in these sediments provide evidence for the contribution of an additional Hg source to sediments, possibly derived from atmospheric deposition. In sediments directly downstream of Y12 this third Hg source is not discernible, and the Hg isotopic composition can be largely explained by the mixing of low THg sediments with high THg sediments contaminated by Y12 discharges.",

author = "Donovan, {Patrick M.} and Blum, {Joel D.} and Demers, {Jason D.} and Baohua Gu and Brooks, {Scott C.} and John Peryam",

year = "2014",

month = apr,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1021/es4046549",

language = "English",

volume = "48",

pages = "3666--3674",

journal = "Environmental Science and Technology",

issn = "0013-936X",

publisher = "American Chemical Society",

number = "7",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Identification of multiple mercury sources to stream sediments near Oak Ridge, TN, USA

AU - Donovan, Patrick M.

AU - Blum, Joel D.

AU - Demers, Jason D.

AU - Gu, Baohua

AU - Brooks, Scott C.

AU - Peryam, John

PY - 2014/4/1

Y1 - 2014/4/1

N2 - Sediments were analyzed for total Hg concentration (THg) and isotopic composition from streams and rivers in the vicinity of the Y-12 National Security Complex (Y12) in Oak Ridge, TN (USA). In the stream directly draining Y12, where industrial releases of mercury (Hg) have been documented, high THg (3.26 to 60.1 μg/g) sediments had a distinct Hg isotopic composition (δ202Hg of 0.02 ± 0.15‰ and Δ 199Hg of -0.07 ± 0.03‰; mean ± 1SD, n = 12) compared to sediments from relatively uncontaminated streams in the region (δ202Hg = -1.40 ± 0.06‰ and Δ 199Hg of -0.26 ± 0.03‰; mean ± 1SD, n = 6). Additionally, several streams that are nearby but do not drain Y12 had sediments with intermediate THg (0.06 to 0.21 μg/g) and anomalous δ 202Hg (as low as -5.07‰). We suggest that the low δ202Hg values in these sediments provide evidence for the contribution of an additional Hg source to sediments, possibly derived from atmospheric deposition. In sediments directly downstream of Y12 this third Hg source is not discernible, and the Hg isotopic composition can be largely explained by the mixing of low THg sediments with high THg sediments contaminated by Y12 discharges.

AB - Sediments were analyzed for total Hg concentration (THg) and isotopic composition from streams and rivers in the vicinity of the Y-12 National Security Complex (Y12) in Oak Ridge, TN (USA). In the stream directly draining Y12, where industrial releases of mercury (Hg) have been documented, high THg (3.26 to 60.1 μg/g) sediments had a distinct Hg isotopic composition (δ202Hg of 0.02 ± 0.15‰ and Δ 199Hg of -0.07 ± 0.03‰; mean ± 1SD, n = 12) compared to sediments from relatively uncontaminated streams in the region (δ202Hg = -1.40 ± 0.06‰ and Δ 199Hg of -0.26 ± 0.03‰; mean ± 1SD, n = 6). Additionally, several streams that are nearby but do not drain Y12 had sediments with intermediate THg (0.06 to 0.21 μg/g) and anomalous δ 202Hg (as low as -5.07‰). We suggest that the low δ202Hg values in these sediments provide evidence for the contribution of an additional Hg source to sediments, possibly derived from atmospheric deposition. In sediments directly downstream of Y12 this third Hg source is not discernible, and the Hg isotopic composition can be largely explained by the mixing of low THg sediments with high THg sediments contaminated by Y12 discharges.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84897492427&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1021/es4046549

DO - 10.1021/es4046549

M3 - Article

C2 - 24588770

AN - SCOPUS:84897492427

SN - 0013-936X

VL - 48

SP - 3666

EP - 3674

JO - Environmental Science and Technology

JF - Environmental Science and Technology

IS - 7

ER -

Identification of multiple mercury sources to stream sediments near Oak Ridge, TN, USA

Abstract

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this