Mercury contamination in Poplar Creek and the Clinch River. Environmental Sciences Division Publication No. 2286

Technical Report · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5302895

Elwood, J W

The East Fork of Poplar Creek (EFPC), Poplar Creek (PC), and the Clinch River (CR) below the mouth of Poplar Creek were found to be contaminated with mercury, based on analyses and comparisons of Hg concentrations in fish and sediments collected from these environs. Concentrations of total mercury (..sigma.. Hg) in muscle of all largemouth bass collected in Poplar Creek in 1976 exceeded the FDA's proposed action level for Hg in fish of 0.5 ppM, and 95% of the ..sigma.. Hg in these fish was in the methyl form. The permitted level of intake by humans of largemouth bass from Poplar Creek containing an average ..sigma.. Hg concentration of 0.73 ppM, is calculated to be 40 g/day, based on the FDA recommended maximum intake level of methylmercury. Largemouth bass weighing more than 200 g collected from the Clinch River at the mouth of Poplar Creek also contained ..sigma.. Hg concentrations in excess of the FDA's proposed limit and data for this species indicate that ..sigma.. Hg levels in the Clinch River are elevated 7 miles below the mouth of Poplar Creek relative to concentrations in largemouth bass from Melton Hill Reservoir. Sediment data show that Bear Creek and East Fork of Poplar Creek are potential sources of the elevated Hg concentrations in Poplar Creek and the Clinch River. Recommendations are given for further defining the sources of Hg contamination in these streams and for examining the mechanisms and rates of Hg transport in the Poplar Creek-Clinch River system. 45 references, 15 figures, 7 tables.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5302895
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-8893; ON: DE84007914
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
CLINCH RIVER
CONTAMINATION
DATA
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEDERAL REGION IV
FISHES
INFORMATION
MASS TRANSFER
MERCURY
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
METALS
METHYLMERCURY
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OAK RIDGE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RIVERS
SEDIMENTS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TENNESSEE
USA
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION