Mercury geochemistry of marine sediments from the eastern Laptev Sea: The spatial distribution, levels, and contamination assessment

D V Kim; V V Sattarova; K I Aksentov; E A Lopatnikov; M V Ivanov; A V Alatortsev; M S Melgunov

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114576

Mercury geochemistry of marine sediments from the eastern Laptev Sea: The spatial distribution, levels, and contamination assessment

Mar Pollut Bull. 2023 Feb:187:114576. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114576. Epub 2023 Jan 12.

Authors

D V Kim¹, V V Sattarova², K I Aksentov¹, E A Lopatnikov¹, M V Ivanov¹, A V Alatortsev¹, M S Melgunov³

Affiliations

¹ V.I. Il'ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute, Far Eastern Branch Russian Academy of Science, 43, Baltiiskaya St., Vladivostok 690041, Russia.
² V.I. Il'ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute, Far Eastern Branch Russian Academy of Science, 43, Baltiiskaya St., Vladivostok 690041, Russia. Electronic address: sval_80@poi.dvo.ru.
³ V.S. Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch Russian Academy of Science, 3, Ac. Koptyuga ave., Novosibirsk 630090, Russia.

PMID: 36640501
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114576

Abstract

Twenty-seven sediment samples from the eastern Laptev Sea were analyzed for mercury and total organic carbon as well as grain-size distribution. The average total mercury (THg) concentrations in sediments are 29 ± 14 μg kg^-1. A significant correlation of THg content with total organic carbon and clay and silt fractions was shown. The ²¹⁰Pb-dated sediment core was used to evaluate the contamination degree and flux of THg in sediments from the eastern Laptev Sea. The average sedimentation rate for the all dated intervals was 0.17 cm/year. The THg flux increased from 20 to 28 μg/m²/year in the period of 1892-1950 to 53-59 μg/m²/year in the modern period of 2011-2015. According to various indices, the ecological risk from THg in studied sediment was low.

Keywords: Arctic; Bottom sediment; Grain-size sediment fraction; Laptev Sea; Mercury; Organic carbon.

MeSH terms

Carbon
Environmental Monitoring
Geologic Sediments / chemistry
Mercury* / analysis
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Mercury
Water Pollutants, Chemical
Carbon