108
R.R. Turner and G.R. Southworth
5. Natural burial of mercury-contaminated sediments has effectively removed a
considerable inventory of mercury from contact with the biosphere at many
sites, but especially marine bays, lakes, and reservoirs where bulk sedimentation rates have been relatively high. Uncertainty persists about the
permanence of this burial in some cases where extreme natural events, such
as hurricanes, or anthrogenic activities, such as dredging, may disinter longburied inventories.
6. Natural recovery, even augmented by remedial efforts, at many sites where Hg
contamination has been widely dispersed is unlikely to reduce mercury inputs
to levels at which contamination of fish and invertebrates approaches
background concentrations. This is not to imply that full recovery is not
eventually possible. Given sufficient money and/or time, even the most
difficult sites could be restored (e.g., Minamata Bay, see Kudo and Turner, this
Vol.). However, one has to question seriously whether the large commitment
of resources to achieve background contamination levels is mandatory to
protect human and ecological health.
References
Abelson DHG, Gustavson E (1979) Water quality and sediment analysis for heavy metals in selected
lakes in the Pinchi fault area of north central BC Omineca Peace Region, British Columbia Ministry
of the Environment, Vancouver
Allan R), Brydges T, Dodge D, Hamilton RD, JetTs OG, Shiaze (eds) (1984) Mercury pollution in the
Wabigoon-English river system of Northwestern Ontario and possible remedial measures. Ontario
Ministry of the Environment, Toronto, Canada
Annett CS, D'ltri FM, Ford JR, Prince HH (1975) Mercury in fish and waterfowl from Ball Lake,
Ontario. J Environ Qual 4(2):219-222
Armstrong FA), Hamilton AI, (1973) Pathways of mercury in a polluted northwestern Ontario lake,
In:Singer PC (ed) Trace metals and metal-organic interaction in natural waters. Ann Arbor Science
Publishers, Ann Arbor, pp 131-155
Armstrong FA), Scott DP (1979) Decrease in mercury content of fishes in Ball Lake, Ontario, since
imposition of controls on mercury discharges. J Fish Res Board Can 36:670-672
Bailey OS, (1974) The occurrence of mercury in the fish and sediment of the North Fork of the Holston
River 1970-1972. Basic Data Bulletin 41, Virginia State Water Control Board. Richmond, Virginia. 62
pp
Barkay T, Gillman M, Turner RR (1997) Effects of dissolved organic carbon and salinity on
bioavailability of mercury. Appl Environ Microbiol 63(11 ):4267-4271
Barnett MO, Turner RR (1995) Bioavailability of mercury in East Fork Poplar Creek Soils. Y /ER-215,
US Department of Energy Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Barnett MO, Harris LA, Turner RR, Henson T), Melton RE, Stevenson RJ (1995) Characterization of
mercury species in contaminated floodplain soils. Water Air Soil Pollut 80:ll05-ll08
Barnett MO, Owens JG, Lindberg SE, Turner RR (1996) Mercury concentrations in air during the
phase I remediation of Lower East Fork Poplar Creek floodplain at the Oak Ridge Y -12 Plant, Oak
Ridge, Tennessee. Rep No Y/ER-281, US Department of Energy Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, Oak Ridge,
Tennessee
Barnett MO, Harris LA, Turner RR, Stevenson R), Henson T), Melton RC, Hoffman DP (1997)
Formation of mercuric sulfide in soiL Environ Sci Technol 31(ll):3037-3043
Baron LA, Ashwood TL, Sample BE, Welch C (1997) Monitoring bioaccumulation of contaminants in
the belted kingfisher (Ceryle ahyon). Environ Monit Assess 47:153-165
R.R. Turner and G.R. Southworth
5. Natural burial of mercury-contaminated sediments has effectively removed a
considerable inventory of mercury from contact with the biosphere at many
sites, but especially marine bays, lakes, and reservoirs where bulk sedimentation rates have been relatively high. Uncertainty persists about the
permanence of this burial in some cases where extreme natural events, such
as hurricanes, or anthrogenic activities, such as dredging, may disinter longburied inventories.
6. Natural recovery, even augmented by remedial efforts, at many sites where Hg
contamination has been widely dispersed is unlikely to reduce mercury inputs
to levels at which contamination of fish and invertebrates approaches
background concentrations. This is not to imply that full recovery is not
eventually possible. Given sufficient money and/or time, even the most
difficult sites could be restored (e.g., Minamata Bay, see Kudo and Turner, this
Vol.). However, one has to question seriously whether the large commitment
of resources to achieve background contamination levels is mandatory to
protect human and ecological health.
References
Abelson DHG, Gustavson E (1979) Water quality and sediment analysis for heavy metals in selected
lakes in the Pinchi fault area of north central BC Omineca Peace Region, British Columbia Ministry
of the Environment, Vancouver
Allan R), Brydges T, Dodge D, Hamilton RD, JetTs OG, Shiaze (eds) (1984) Mercury pollution in the
Wabigoon-English river system of Northwestern Ontario and possible remedial measures. Ontario
Ministry of the Environment, Toronto, Canada
Annett CS, D'ltri FM, Ford JR, Prince HH (1975) Mercury in fish and waterfowl from Ball Lake,
Ontario. J Environ Qual 4(2):219-222
Armstrong FA), Hamilton AI, (1973) Pathways of mercury in a polluted northwestern Ontario lake,
In:Singer PC (ed) Trace metals and metal-organic interaction in natural waters. Ann Arbor Science
Publishers, Ann Arbor, pp 131-155
Armstrong FA), Scott DP (1979) Decrease in mercury content of fishes in Ball Lake, Ontario, since
imposition of controls on mercury discharges. J Fish Res Board Can 36:670-672
Bailey OS, (1974) The occurrence of mercury in the fish and sediment of the North Fork of the Holston
River 1970-1972. Basic Data Bulletin 41, Virginia State Water Control Board. Richmond, Virginia. 62
pp
Barkay T, Gillman M, Turner RR (1997) Effects of dissolved organic carbon and salinity on
bioavailability of mercury. Appl Environ Microbiol 63(11 ):4267-4271
Barnett MO, Turner RR (1995) Bioavailability of mercury in East Fork Poplar Creek Soils. Y /ER-215,
US Department of Energy Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Barnett MO, Harris LA, Turner RR, Henson T), Melton RE, Stevenson RJ (1995) Characterization of
mercury species in contaminated floodplain soils. Water Air Soil Pollut 80:ll05-ll08
Barnett MO, Owens JG, Lindberg SE, Turner RR (1996) Mercury concentrations in air during the
phase I remediation of Lower East Fork Poplar Creek floodplain at the Oak Ridge Y -12 Plant, Oak
Ridge, Tennessee. Rep No Y/ER-281, US Department of Energy Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, Oak Ridge,
Tennessee
Barnett MO, Harris LA, Turner RR, Stevenson R), Henson T), Melton RC, Hoffman DP (1997)
Formation of mercuric sulfide in soiL Environ Sci Technol 31(ll):3037-3043
Baron LA, Ashwood TL, Sample BE, Welch C (1997) Monitoring bioaccumulation of contaminants in
the belted kingfisher (Ceryle ahyon). Environ Monit Assess 47:153-165