Influences on mercury bioaccumulation factors for the Savannah River.
Mercury TMDLs (Total Maximum Daily Loads) are a regulatory instrument designed to reduce the amount of mercury entering a water body and ultimately to control the bioaccumulation of mercury in fish. TMDLs are based on a BAF (bioaccumulation factor), which is the ratio of methyl mercury in fish to dissolved methyl mercury in water. Analysis of fish tissue and aqueous methyl mercury samples collected at a number of locations and over several seasons in a 118-km reach of the Savannah River demonstrated that species-specific BAFs varied by factors of three to eight. Factors contributing to BAF variability were location, habitat, and season-related differences in fish muscle tissue mercury levels and seasonal differences in dissolved methyl mercury levels. Overall (all locations, habitats, and seasons) average BAFs were 3.7 x 10(6) for largemouth bass, 1.4 x 10(6) for sunfishes, and 2.5 X 10(6) for white catfish. Determination of representative BAFs for mercury in fish from large rivers necessitates collecting large and approximately equal numbers of fish and aqueous methyl mercury samples over a seasonal cycle from the entire area and all habitats to be represented by the TMDL.
Paller
M H
MH
Environmental Analysis Section, Savannah River Site, Building 773-42A, Aiken, SC 29808, USA. michael.paller@srs.gov
Bowers
J A
JA
Littrell
J W
JW
Guanlao
A V
AV
D000818:Animals; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D013022:South Carolina; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury