Deposition and cycling of sulfur controls mercury accumulation in Isle Royale fish

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2007 · Environmental Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es0712322· OSTI ID:20969915

Drevnick, Paul E; Canfield, Donald E; Gorski, Patrick R ^[1]

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1. Miami University, Oxford, OH (United States). Department of Zoology

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. 71 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 20969915
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 41, Issue 21; Other Information: [e-mail]; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
MERCURY
FISHES
CONTAMINATION
USA
SULFATES
DEPOSITION
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
CLEAN AIR ACTS
FRESH WATER
HEALTH HAZARDS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
LAKES
WATER POLLUTION
ANNUAL VARIATIONS
METHYLMERCURY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
SEDIMENTS
MONITORING