Mercury and methylmercury contamination
in the Nervión estuary (Ría de Bilbao)
Teodor Stoichev
(1) , Nathalie Molenat
(1) , Alberto De Diego
(2) ,
David Amoutoux
(1)
(1) Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, CNRS/LCABIE, Hélioparc Pau-Pyrénées,
64053 Pau, France
(2) Universidad del Pais Vasco/EHU, Facultad de Clencias, 48080 Bilbao, Espana
David.Amouroux@univ-pau.fr
Abstract
Duringone year, an investigation has allowed to monitor the distribution
and chemical speciation of mercury at several sampling stations in the
Nervión estuary (Basque Country, Spain). The mercury lcvds have shown
an important seasonal variability. High concentrations have been obtained for both inorganic (Hg(II)) and metltvlmercury (MMHg); thev
suggest that mercury contamination in this estuary is matter of concern.
Résumé
Durant une année, une étude a permis d’effectuer le suivi de la distribution et de la spéciation chimique du mercure sur plusieurs stations
d'échantillonnage dans l’estuaire du Nerviôn (Pays basque, Espagne).
Les teneurs en mercure ont montré une importante variabilité saisonnière. De très fortes concentrations ont été observées, à la fois en mercure inorganique (Hg(II)) et ett méthylmercure (MMHg), et suggèrent
que la contamination en mercure dans cet estuaire cst préoccupante.
Introduction
Because of the high industrialisation and urbanisation of the Ria de Bilbao, the estuary ot the Nervión river and its tributaries are subject to important anthropogenic inpurs (Cearreta et al, 2000). Among the major
contamination sources in this area are the metallurgical and paper industries. To assess the potential mercury pollution in the Neivión estuary
with regard to the seasonal variability six water sampling campaigns
(Novembcr 1998, January 1999, March 1999, May 1999, July 1999 and
October 1999), presenting various hydrological regimes (fig. 1), have
been performed within the estuary and upstream. Collected waters
were filtered after sampling to allow the determination of the mercury
species in both of the dissolved and of the particulate phase.
308
in the Nervión estuary (Ría de Bilbao)
Teodor Stoichev
(1) , Nathalie Molenat
(1) , Alberto De Diego
(2) ,
David Amoutoux
(1)
(1) Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, CNRS/LCABIE, Hélioparc Pau-Pyrénées,
64053 Pau, France
(2) Universidad del Pais Vasco/EHU, Facultad de Clencias, 48080 Bilbao, Espana
David.Amouroux@univ-pau.fr
Abstract
Duringone year, an investigation has allowed to monitor the distribution
and chemical speciation of mercury at several sampling stations in the
Nervión estuary (Basque Country, Spain). The mercury lcvds have shown
an important seasonal variability. High concentrations have been obtained for both inorganic (Hg(II)) and metltvlmercury (MMHg); thev
suggest that mercury contamination in this estuary is matter of concern.
Résumé
Durant une année, une étude a permis d’effectuer le suivi de la distribution et de la spéciation chimique du mercure sur plusieurs stations
d'échantillonnage dans l’estuaire du Nerviôn (Pays basque, Espagne).
Les teneurs en mercure ont montré une importante variabilité saisonnière. De très fortes concentrations ont été observées, à la fois en mercure inorganique (Hg(II)) et ett méthylmercure (MMHg), et suggèrent
que la contamination en mercure dans cet estuaire cst préoccupante.
Introduction
Because of the high industrialisation and urbanisation of the Ria de Bilbao, the estuary ot the Nervión river and its tributaries are subject to important anthropogenic inpurs (Cearreta et al, 2000). Among the major
contamination sources in this area are the metallurgical and paper industries. To assess the potential mercury pollution in the Neivión estuary
with regard to the seasonal variability six water sampling campaigns
(Novembcr 1998, January 1999, March 1999, May 1999, July 1999 and
October 1999), presenting various hydrological regimes (fig. 1), have
been performed within the estuary and upstream. Collected waters
were filtered after sampling to allow the determination of the mercury
species in both of the dissolved and of the particulate phase.
308