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Title: Fate, effect, and ecological risk of mercury from historic releases in the Danvers Estuary (Massachusetts)

Abstract

High concentrations (up to 400 mg/kg) of mercury were initially detected in intertidal sediments adjacent to a manufacturing area. Based on the potential for ecological risk from exposure to the sediments, a detailed investigation was initiated to determine the distribution, fate and ecological effects of the mercury. The program consisted of collecting undisturbed sediment cores from an area radiating out from the high concentration area approximately 300 meters. The cores were analyzed for total mercury, grain size, total organic carbon, and methylmercury. Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) were also collected and analyzed for total mercury. Sediments and mussels were also collected from areas of the estuary approximately 1 km away and unaffected by historic mercury releases to serve as an estimate of background concentrations. Concentrations of total mercury, methylmercury and mercury in M. edulis tissue showed very similar distribution patterns and a strong statistical correlation (r{sup 2} of approximately 0.8). The elevated concentrations (10 to 20 mg/kg) were confined to an area with a radius less than 30 meters and dropped off very abruptly. Beyond 30 meters, concentrations were equal to or less than concentrations considered to represent background both from reference samples and sampling reported in the literature. The resultsmore » were compared to ecological effects levels or benchmarks developed for the investigation. Levels outside the 30 meter radius were determined to pose no imminent hazard or risk or harm (as defined by the Massachusetts Contingency Plan and the benchmarks developed for the project). There was no imminent hazard from the sediments within the 30 meter radius but the comparison to benchmarks within the area indicated risk of ecological harm.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. CH2M Hill, Boston, MA (United States)
  2. Morton International, Danvers, MA (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
242378
Report Number(s):
CONF-9511137-
ISBN 1-880611-03-1; TRN: IM9626%%206
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: 2. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) world conference, Vancouver (Canada), 5-9 Nov 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Second SETAC world congress (16. annual meeting): Abstract book. Global environmental protection: Science, politics, and common sense; PB: 378 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE, APPLIED STUDIES; MASSACHUSETTS; WATER POLLUTION; BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS; ESTUARIES; MERCURY; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION; SEDIMENTS; MUSSELS; SENSITIVITY; METHYLMERCURY; ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION

Citation Formats

Mauahan, J, and Raddatz, A. Fate, effect, and ecological risk of mercury from historic releases in the Danvers Estuary (Massachusetts). United States: N. p., 1995. Web.
Mauahan, J, & Raddatz, A. Fate, effect, and ecological risk of mercury from historic releases in the Danvers Estuary (Massachusetts). United States.
Mauahan, J, and Raddatz, A. 1995. "Fate, effect, and ecological risk of mercury from historic releases in the Danvers Estuary (Massachusetts)". United States.
@article{osti_242378,
title = {Fate, effect, and ecological risk of mercury from historic releases in the Danvers Estuary (Massachusetts)},
author = {Mauahan, J and Raddatz, A},
abstractNote = {High concentrations (up to 400 mg/kg) of mercury were initially detected in intertidal sediments adjacent to a manufacturing area. Based on the potential for ecological risk from exposure to the sediments, a detailed investigation was initiated to determine the distribution, fate and ecological effects of the mercury. The program consisted of collecting undisturbed sediment cores from an area radiating out from the high concentration area approximately 300 meters. The cores were analyzed for total mercury, grain size, total organic carbon, and methylmercury. Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) were also collected and analyzed for total mercury. Sediments and mussels were also collected from areas of the estuary approximately 1 km away and unaffected by historic mercury releases to serve as an estimate of background concentrations. Concentrations of total mercury, methylmercury and mercury in M. edulis tissue showed very similar distribution patterns and a strong statistical correlation (r{sup 2} of approximately 0.8). The elevated concentrations (10 to 20 mg/kg) were confined to an area with a radius less than 30 meters and dropped off very abruptly. Beyond 30 meters, concentrations were equal to or less than concentrations considered to represent background both from reference samples and sampling reported in the literature. The results were compared to ecological effects levels or benchmarks developed for the investigation. Levels outside the 30 meter radius were determined to pose no imminent hazard or risk or harm (as defined by the Massachusetts Contingency Plan and the benchmarks developed for the project). There was no imminent hazard from the sediments within the 30 meter radius but the comparison to benchmarks within the area indicated risk of ecological harm.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/242378}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1995},
month = {Sun Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1995}
}

Conference:
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