Periphyton biofilms influence net methylmercury production in an industrially contaminated system

Olsen, Todd Andrew; Brandt, Craig C.; Brooks, Scott C.

doi:10.1021/acs.est.6b01538

Title: Periphyton biofilms influence net methylmercury production in an industrially contaminated system

Journal Article · Mon Sep 12 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Environmental Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b01538· OSTI ID:1326487

Olsen, Todd Andrew ^[1]; Brandt, Craig C. ^[1]; Brooks, Scott C. ^[1]

Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Mercury (Hg) methylation and methylmercury (MMHg) demethylation activity of periphyton biofilms from East Fork Poplar Creek, Tennessee, USA (EFPC) were measured during 2014-2015 using stable Hg isotopic rate assays. ²⁰¹Hg^II and MM²⁰²Hg were added to intact periphyton samples and the formation of MM²⁰¹Hg and loss of MM²⁰²Hg were monitored over time and used to calculate first-order rate constants for methylation and demethylation, respectively. The influence of location, temperature/season, light exposure and biofilm structure on methylation and demethylation were examined. Between-site differences in net methylation for samples collected from an upstream versus downstream location were driven by differences in the demethylation rate constant (k_d). In contrast, the within-site seasonal difference in net methylation was driven by changes in the methylation rate constant (k_m). Samples incubated in the dark had lower net methylation due to km values that were 60% less than those incubated in the light. Disrupting the biofilm structure decreased km by 50% and resulted in net demethylating conditions. Overall, the measured rates resulted in a net excess of MMHg generated which could account for 27-85% of the MMHg flux in EFPC and suggests intact, actively photosynthesizing periphyton biofilms harbor zones of MMHg production.

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Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 1326487

Journal Information:: Environmental Science and Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology; ISSN 0013-936X

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 38 works

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
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methylmercury
periphyton

Title: Periphyton biofilms influence net methylmercury production in an industrially contaminated system

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