Deposition and cycling of sulfur controls mercury accumulation in Isle Royale fish.
Mercury contamination of fish is a global problem. Consumption of contaminated fish is the primary route of methylmercury exposure in humans and is detrimental to health. Newly mandated reductions in anthropogenic mercury emissions aim to reduce atmospheric mercury deposition and thus mercury concentrations in fish. However, factors other than mercury deposition are important for mercury bioaccumulation in fish. In the lakes of Isle Royale, U.S.A., reduced rates of sulfate deposition since the Clean Air Act of 1970 have caused mercury concentrations in fish to decline to levels that are safe for human consumption, even without a discernible decrease in mercury deposition. Therefore, reductions in anthropogenic sulfur emissions may provide a synergistic solution to the mercury problem in sulfate-limited freshwaters.
Department of Zoology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, USA. pdrevnick@whoi.edu
Paul E
PE
Drevnick
Donald E
DE
Canfield
Patrick R
PR
Gorski
Avery L C
AL
Shinneman
Daniel R
DR
Engstrom
Derek C G
DC
Muir
Gerald R
GR
Smith
Paul J
PJ
Garrison
Lisa B
LB
Cleckner
James P
JP
Hurley
Robert B
RB
Noble
Ryan R
RR
Otter
James T
JT
Oris
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D013431:Sulfates / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D013431:Sulfates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury