Modeling the fate of mercury in aquatic environments
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
The Mercury Cycling Model was formulated for analyzing mercury biogeochemistry in freshwater aquatic environments. MCM was developed using general physical and chemical principles to simulate environmental mercury in conjunction with field research in Northwestern Wisconsin seepage lakes. Two successive research projects (Mercury in Temperate Lakes, Mercury Accumulation Processes and Pathways) provided information and data for the model. Boundary conditions for MCM are the atmosphere, lake margins, and deep sediments. Exchanges of mercury with the atmosphere and with surface and ground waters require estimates of inputs. Compartments within the model include four mercury species (elemental mercury [Hg(O)], inorganic mercury [Hgli], methylmercury [CH3Hg+], and a fourth unspecified species), water column biota (primary producers, primary consumers, forage fish, and predatory or game fish), two layers in the water column and two sediment layers; The time step is monthly. The Wisconsin lakes, two of the Great Lakes, Adirondack lakes, and Florida Lakes have been or are being simulated. The MCM demonstrated the potential of source loading being overshadowed by the effect of water quality factors and in-lake processes for controlling mercury accumulation in fish. Application to an and surface water adjacent to mercury sources indicates the potential for model application in assessment of mitigation alternatives. However, additional process studies are needed to extend application under conditions of high pH and selenium levels and with different wetland/riparian interactions.
- OSTI ID:
- 49505
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9410273-; TRN: IM9523%%328
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 15. annual meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), Denver, CO (United States), 30 Oct - 3 Nov 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 15th annual meeting: Abstract book. Ecological risk: Science, policy, law, and perception; PB: 286 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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