Effects of sediment composition on inorganic mercury partitioning, speciation and bioavailability in oxic surficial sediments.
Artificially prepared sediments were used to assess the effects of sediment composition on inorganic Hg partitioning, speciation and bioavailability. Organic coating in sediment greatly increased the Hg partitioning and the amount of bioavailable Hg bound with the clay and the Fe and Mn oxides, but had little effect on that bound with the quartz and calcium carbonate as a result of weaker binding of humic acids and fulvic acids. The clay content increased the concentration of Hg in the sediments but inhibited the gut juice extraction due to the strong binding of Hg-organic matter (OM) complexes. Most Hg in the sediments was complexed by OM (mainly distributed in the organo-complexed phase and the strongly complexed phase), and the Hg-OM complexes (especially Hg in the strongly complexed phase) in sediments contributed much to gut juice extraction. Redistribution of Hg-OM complexes between sediments and gut juices may occur during gut juice extraction and modify Hg bioavailability and speciation in sediments.
Zhong
Huan
H
Atmospheric Marine Coastal Environment Program and Department of Biology, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Wang
Wen-Xiong
WX
D000818:Animals; D001578:Benzopyrans; D001682:Biological Availability; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005618:Fresh Water; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006812:Humic Substances; D007419:Intestinal Secretions / Q000378:metabolism; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D009348:Nematoda / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
D001578:Benzopyrans; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006812:Humic Substances; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury; C005023:fulvic acid