Publication Type Journal Article
Title Seasonal variation of methylmercury in sediment cores from the Tagus Estuary (Portugal)
Authors Carlos E. Monteiro Rute Cesário Nelson J. O Driscoll Marta Nogueira Monica Valega Miguel Caetano João Canário
Groups
Journal MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
Year 2016
Month March
Volume 104
Number 1
Pages 162-170
Abstract Seasonal and spatial variations of dissolved and particulate methylmercury were evaluated for the first time in sediment cores from the Tagus Estuary. Results showed the highest MeHg concentrations in summer months indicating that the seasonally methylation process occurs not only at the topmost layers of the sediments but also in the deeper layers of the sediment column. The proportion of MeHg (up to 92\%) in some of our pore water samples was higher than values reported in the literature for other estuaries suggesting that the sedimentary environment in the Tagus tends to favour Hg methylation. This work points to the importance of seasonal variation of the MeHg production in sediment cores. In physically dominated estuaries this enhances seasonal MeHg production in deeper sediments that can have serious ecological impacts due to resuspension or advection processes under extreme events by the increase of MeHg transported to the water column. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.01.042
ISBN
Publisher PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Book Title
ISSN 0025-326X
EISSN 1879-3363
Conference Name
Bibtex ID ISI:000374198100031
Observations
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