title: Spatial and seasonal mercury distribution in the Ayapel Marsh, Mojana region, Colombia.
abstract: Geographical and temporal changes of total mercury (T-Hg) concentrations in sediments, macrophytes and fish were evaluated in the Ayapel Marsh, Mojana, Colombia. Sampling was conducted during 2006-2007, including both rainy and dry seasons, and T-Hg was measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Distribution of T-Hg in sediments and the macrophyte Eichhornia crassipes showed that higher concentrations were found along the flooding pathway of the Cauca River. Hg has also polluted the food chain. Highest T-Hg concentrations in fish were detected for the carnivorous Pseudoplatystoma fasciatun (0.432 ± 0.107 μg/g, fresh weight [fw]), and lowest in the non-carnivorous Prochilodus magdalenae (0.143 ± 0.053 μg/g, fw), with differences between trophic levels. T-Hg for fish samples (0.298 ± 0.148 μg/g, fw) did not exceed the limit consumption level (0.50 μg/g, fw). It is concluded that mercury-polluted sediments from the Cauca River, contribute to Hg deposition into the Ayapel Marsh. Accordingly, interventions must be conducted to decrease Hg accumulation in fish.
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Aguas, Química Aplicada y Ambiental, University of Córdoba, Montería, Colombia. jlmarrugon@yahoo.com
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marrugo-Negrete
authors.forename: Luís Norberto
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Benítez
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olivero-Verbel
authors.forename: Edineldo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lans
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vazquez Gutierrez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003105:Colombia; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D020387:Food Chain; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D005843:Geography; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D012621:Seasons; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D008628:Mercury