Leaching of mercury from seal carcasses into Antarctic soils

J 2017

Leaching of mercury from seal carcasses into Antarctic soils

ZVĚŘINA, Ondřej, Pavel COUFALÍK, Kristián BRAT, Rostislav ČERVENKA, Jan KUTA et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Leaching of mercury from seal carcasses into Antarctic soils

Authors

ZVĚŘINA, Ondřej (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Pavel COUFALÍK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Kristián BRAT (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Rostislav ČERVENKA (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Jan KUTA (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Ondřej MIKEŠ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Josef KOMÁREK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Heidelberg, Springer Heidelberg, 2017, 0944-1344

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10406 Analytical chemistry

Country of publisher

Germany

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 2.800

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/17:00094571

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7879-3

UT WoS

000394254000032

Keywords in English

Mercury; Methylmercury; Seal; Soil; Antarctica

Abstract

V originále

More than 400 seal mummies and skeletons are now mapped in the northern part of James Ross Island, Antarctica. Decomposing carcasses represent a rare source of both organic matter and associated elements for the soil. Owing to their high trophic position, seals are known to carry a significant mercury body burden. This work focuses on the extent of the mercury input from seal carcasses and shows that such carcasses represent locally significant sources of mercury and methylmercury for the environment. Mercury contents in soil samples from the surrounding areas were determined using a single-purpose AAS mercury analyzer. For the determination of methylmercury, an ultra-sensitive isotopic dilution HPLC-ICP-MS technique was used. In the soils lying directly under seal carcasses, mercury contents were higher, with levels reaching almost 40 ug/kg dry weight of which methylmercury formed up to 2.8 % of the total. The spatial distribution implies rather slow vertical transport to the lower soil layers instead of a horizontal spread. For comparison, the background level of mercury in soils of the investigated area was found to be 8 ug/kg dry weight, with methylmercury accounting for less than 0.1 %. Apart from the direct mercury input, an enhanced level of nutrients in the vicinity of carcasses enables the growth of lichens and mosses with accumulative ability with respect to metals. The enhanced capacity of soil to retain mercury is also anticipated due to the high content of total organic carbon (from 1.6 to 7.5 %). According to the results, seal remains represent a clear source of mercury in the observed area.

Links

GAP503/12/0682, research and development project

Name: Transformace sloučenin rtuti půdní mikroflórou: možné využití pro bioremediační technologie

Investor: Czech Science Foundation

LM2015051, research and development project

Name: Centrum pro výzkum toxických látek v prostředí (Acronym: RECETOX RI)

Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR

LO1214, research and development project

Name: Centrum pro výzkum toxických látek v prostředí (Acronym: RECETOX)

Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR

Citovat

ZVĚŘINA, Ondřej, Pavel COUFALÍK, Kristián BRAT, Rostislav ČERVENKA, Jan KUTA, Ondřej MIKEŠ and Josef KOMÁREK. Leaching of mercury from seal carcasses into Antarctic soils. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. Heidelberg: Springer Heidelberg, 2017, vol. 24, No 2, p. 1424-1431. ISSN 0944-1344. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7879-3.

@article{1360285,
   author = {Zvěřina, Ondřej and Coufalík, Pavel and Brat, Kristián and Červenka, Rostislav and Kuta, Jan and Mikeš, Ondřej and Komárek, Josef},
   article_location = {Heidelberg},
   article_number = {2},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7879-3},
   keywords = {Mercury; Methylmercury; Seal; Soil; Antarctica},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0944-1344},
   journal = {Environmental Science and Pollution Research},
   title = {Leaching of mercury from seal carcasses into Antarctic soils},
   url = {http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-016-7879-3},
   volume = {24},
   year = {2017}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1360285
AU  - Zvěřina, Ondřej - Coufalík, Pavel - Brat, Kristián - Červenka, Rostislav - Kuta, Jan - Mikeš, Ondřej - Komárek, Josef
PY  - 2017
TI  - Leaching of mercury from seal carcasses into Antarctic soils
JF  - Environmental Science and Pollution Research
VL  - 24
IS  - 2
SP  - 1424-1431
EP  - 1424-1431
PB  - Springer Heidelberg
SN  - 09441344
KW  - Mercury
KW  - Methylmercury
KW  - Seal
KW  - Soil
KW  - Antarctica
UR  - http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-016-7879-3
N2  - More than 400 seal mummies and skeletons are now mapped in the northern part of James Ross Island, Antarctica. Decomposing carcasses represent a rare source of both organic matter and associated elements for the soil. Owing to their high trophic position, seals are known to carry a significant mercury body burden. This work focuses on the extent of the mercury input from seal carcasses and shows that such carcasses represent locally significant sources of mercury and methylmercury for the environment. Mercury contents in soil samples from the surrounding areas were determined using a single-purpose AAS mercury analyzer. For the determination of methylmercury, an ultra-sensitive isotopic dilution HPLC-ICP-MS technique was used. In the soils lying directly under seal carcasses, mercury contents were higher, with levels reaching almost 40 ug/kg dry weight of which methylmercury formed up to 2.8 % of the total. The spatial distribution implies rather slow vertical transport to the lower soil layers instead of a horizontal spread. For comparison, the background level of mercury in soils of the investigated area was found to be 8 ug/kg dry weight, with methylmercury accounting for less than 0.1 %. Apart from the direct mercury input, an enhanced level of nutrients in the vicinity of carcasses enables the growth of lichens and mosses with accumulative ability with respect to metals. The enhanced capacity of soil to retain mercury is also anticipated due to the high content of total organic carbon (from 1.6 to 7.5 %). According to the results, seal remains represent a clear source of mercury in the observed area.
ER  -

ZVĚŘINA, Ondřej, Pavel COUFALÍK, Kristián BRAT, Rostislav ČERVENKA, Jan KUTA, Ondřej MIKEŠ and Josef KOMÁREK. Leaching of mercury from seal carcasses into Antarctic soils. \textit{Environmental Science and Pollution Research}. Heidelberg: Springer Heidelberg, 2017, vol.~24, No~2, p.~1424-1431. ISSN~0944-1344. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7879-3.

Detailed Information on Publication Record