title: Mercury in the Gulf of Mexico: sources to receptors.
abstract: Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) fisheries account for 41% of the U.S. marine recreational fish catch and 16% of the nation's marine commercial fish landings. Mercury (Hg) concentrations are elevated in some fish species in the Gulf, including king mackerel, sharks, and tilefish. All five Gulf states have fish consumption advisories based on Hg. Per-capita fish consumption in the Gulf region is elevated compared to the U.S. national average, and recreational fishers in the region have a potential for greater MeHg exposure due to higher levels of fish consumption. Atmospheric wet Hg deposition is estimated to be higher in the Gulf region compared to most other areas in the U.S., but the largest source of Hg to the Gulf as a whole is the Atlantic Ocean (>90%) via large flows associated with the Loop Current. Redistribution of atmospheric, Atlantic and terrestrial Hg inputs to the Gulf occurs via large scale water circulation patterns, and further work is needed to refine estimates of the relative importance of these Hg sources in terms of contributing to fish Hg levels in different regions of the Gulf. Measurements are needed to better quantify external loads, in-situ concentrations, and fluxes of total Hg and methylmercury in the water column, sediments, and food web.
authors.affiliation: Reed Harris Environmental Ltd, 180 Forestwood Drive, Oakville, Ontario L6J4E6, Canada. reed@reed-harris.com
authors.forename: Reed
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Curtis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pollman
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Landing
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Axelrad
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Morey
authors.forename: Darren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rumbold
authors.forename: Dmitry
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dukhovskoy
authors.forename: Douglas H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Krish
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vijayaraghavan
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: R Dwight
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: Elsie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sunderland
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D020387:Food Chain; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008628:Mercury / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury