Response of fish tissue mercury in a freshwater lake to local, regional, and global changes in mercury emissions.
A suite of mechanistic atmospheric and mercury (Hg) cycling and bioaccumulation models is applied to simulate atmospheric Hg deposition and Hg concentrations in the water column and in fish in a Hg-impaired freshwater lake located in the northeastern United States that receives its Hg loading primarily through deposition. Two future-year scenarios evaluate the long-term response of fish tissue Hg concentrations to reductions in local and nationwide coal-fired electric-generating utility and other Hg emissions and an increase or decrease in global (non-US) Hg emissions. Results indicate that fish tissue Hg concentrations in this ecosystem could require approximately 3 yr to 8 yr to begin to respond to declines in US emissions and deposition with a fish Hg reduction proportional to deposition reduction requiring over 50 yr. Furthermore, recovery could potentially be partially or completely offset by growth in non-US Hg emissions.
ENVIRON International Corporation, Novato, California, USA.
Krish
K
Vijayaraghavan
Leonard
L
Levin
Lynsey
L
Parker
Greg
G
Yarwood
David
D
Streets
D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000378:metabolism; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D038622:Internationality; D060106:Lakes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008628:Mercury / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury
Bioaccumulation; Deposition; Environmental modeling; Fish response; Global emissions; Mercury