Distribution of mercury in the environment at Almaden, Spain
An ecological survey of the concentration and distribution of mercury in terrestrial and aquatic systems near the mercury mine at Almaden, Spain, was initiated in 1974. Field studies were completed in 1977, and chemical analyses were completed in 1979. Sample collection at Almaden followed a trophic-level approach in which certain compartments were sampled at a given instant in time (fall 1974, fall 1975, spring 1976, fall 1976, spring 1977). Mean total mercury concentration in terrestrial plants (8 taxa combined) ranged from >100 ..mu..g/g within 0.5 km of the mine to 1 ..mu..g/g 20 km distant from the mine. Different plant species had different affinities for mercury, but moss species usually had higher total mercury concentration than vascular plants. Woody plants were lower in mercury concentration than forbs. Total mercury concentration in muscle, brain, kidney, and liver tissue from mice was highest at a station near the stream receiving liquid effluent from the mine (mean total mercury at this station ranging from 0.18 ..mu..g/g in muscle to 4.74 ..mu..g/g in kidney). Approximately 15 to 30% of total mercury in mouse tissue was in the methylated form. Total mercury concentration in muscle tissue from house sparrows varied inversely with distance from the mine, with highest concentrations exceeding 0.1 ..mu..g/g. Approximately 1 to 4% of total mercury in sparrow muscle was in the methylated form.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- OSTI ID:
- 5008706
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/TM-7446
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Atmospheric emission and plant uptake of mercury from agricultural soils near the Almaden mercury mine
Cadmium-109 and methyl mercury-203 metabolism, tissue distribution, and secretion into milk of cows
Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIRDS
CONTAMINATION
MERCURY
DISTRIBUTION
MICE
PLANTS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
BASELINE ECOLOGY
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
HEALTH HAZARDS
LAND POLLUTION
MINES
MONITORING
MUSCLES
SAMPLING
SPAIN
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
WATER POLLUTION
ANIMALS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ECOLOGY
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
EUROPE
HAZARDS
MAMMALS
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
POLLUTION
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES
WESTERN EUROPE
520200* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
510200 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560303 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Plants- (-1987)
560305 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)