title: Distribution of sedimentary mercury off Svalbard, European Arctic.
abstract: The European Arctic, including the Svalbard archipelago, receives mercury loads due to long range atmospheric transport, local contamination, melting of glaciers and as a result of bedrock weathering. Few studies have been devoted to the contamination history and sources of sedimentary mercury in the Svalbard area. This knowledge gap is addressed in this study. Concentrations of total mercury (10-80ng/g), fractions of mercury differing with affinity to the sediment matrix (88-97% refractory, 3-12% mobile), organic and methyl mercury (100-500pg/g) were measured in surface and subsurface sediments in the Spitsbergen fjords and in the Barents Sea off Svalbard. The atmospheric mercury signal can be observed in the Barents Sea, while in the Svalbard fjords it is strongly modified by supply of mercury from natural sources that may include weathering of rocks and glaciers melting, all modified by organic matter supply. Sedimentary methyl mercury concentrations seem to be dependent on environmental factors affecting mercury methylation rather than on location of sampling stations.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oceanology, PO Box 197, Sopot, Poland. Electronic address: hyron@iopan.gda.pl.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bełdowski
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oceanology, PO Box 197, Sopot, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miotk
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oceanology, PO Box 197, Sopot, Poland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaborska
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oceanology, PO Box 197, Sopot, Poland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pempkowiak
mesh_terms: D001110:Arctic Regions; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D046448:Ice Cover; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D013538:Svalbard; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Barents Sea; Fjords; Methyl-mercury; Organic mercury; Solid speciation; Spitsbergen