Does acid rain increase human exposure to mercury? A review and analysis of recent literature

Journal Article · Mon May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620140510· OSTI ID:64483

Richardson, G M ^[1]; Egyed, M ^[2]; Currie, D J ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Ottawa, Ontario (Canada). Dept. of Biology
2. Health and Welfare Canada, Ottawa, Ontario (Canada). Environmental Health Directorate

The literature suggests that acid deposition may lead to increased mercury (Hg) contamination of fish. Employing published empirical relationships, the authors have estimated the change in associated Hg contamination with an increase in sulfate deposition from 0.25 to 1.25 g sulfur/m{sup 2}/year. In seepage lakes, one can predict that Hg in walleye from these lakes, and subsequent human exposure due to consumption of these fish, would be elevated at the higher rate of sulfate deposition. However, for drainage lakes, increasing acidic deposition was predicted to reduce Hg accumulation in lake trout and northern pike. Subsequent human exposure to Hg due to consumption of these species from drainage lakes was therefore also predicted to be lower at the higher rate of acidic deposition. They concluded that the hypothesis that acidic deposition increases mercury (Hg) contamination in fish, and thereby mercury exposure in humans via fish consumption, is only true for acidic deposition onto seepage lakes.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 64483
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 14; ISSN ETOCDK; ISSN 0730-7268
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
ACID RAIN
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
DEPOSITION
FISHES
FOOD CHAINS
HEALTH HAZARDS
MERCURY
POLLUTION
SENSITIVITY
SULFATES
WATER POLLUTION