Abstract
Concentrations of total Hg and five operationally defined Hg species were determined in the surface water of 25 Swedish forest lakes of different type. Regional and seasonal variations were studied during the ice-free season of 1986. The concentration of total Hg was usually in the range of 2 to 10 μg m-3. Hg concentrations were highly correlated to the concentration of humic matter measured as water color. Hg concentrations were about twice as high in acidic lakes (pH 5) than in circumneutral lakes, which is attributed basically to the acidity of humic compounds acting as Hg carriers in boreal waters. Significant seasonal variations were caused by hydrological processes. During periods of high water flow, Hg concentrations increased dramatically, especially in humic lakes. Between spring and autumn, chemically reactive Hg compounds were gradually replaced by more inert species. Hg/C ratios were higher than in surface runoff from forest watersheds, indicating a significant impact of direct deposition of Hg on lake surfaces during summer. Regional differences were small despite differences in Hg contamination.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Aastrup, M., Johnson, J., Bringmark, E., Bringmark, L. and Iverfeldt, Å.: 1991, Water, Air, and Soil Pollution (this volume).
Andersson, A.: 1979, ‘Mercury in soils’, in J.O. Nriagu (ed.), The Biogeochemistry of Mercury in the Environment, Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press, Amsterdam, New York and Oxford, pp. 79–106.
Andersson, T., Nilsson, Å. and Jansson, M.: 1989, ‘Coloured substances in Swedish lakes and rivers — temporal variation and regulating factors’, (manuscript).
Benes, P. and Havlik, B.: 1979, ‘Speciation of mercury in natural waters’, in J.O. Nriagu (ed.), The Biogeochemistry of Mercury in the Environment, Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press, Amsterdam, New York and Oxford, pp. 175–202.
Bengtsson, Å., Viklund, T., Häggbom, M., Andersson, T. and Håkanson, L.: 1987, Study lakes and catchments in the county of Västernorrland. Project Liming-Mercury-Cesium. Nat. Swed. Env. Prot. Board, Solna, SNV Report 3402, 81 p. (in Swedish).
Bengtsson, Å., Göthe, L., Andersson, T. and Håkanson, L.: 1988, Situation before treatment in the county of Västernorrland. Project Liming-Mercury-Cesium. Nat. Swed. Env. Prot. Board, Solna, SNV Report 3564, 70 p. (in Swedish).
Bloom, N.S. and Crecelius, E.A.: 1983, Mar. Chem. 14, 49.
Bloom, N.S. and Watras, C.J.: 1989, ‘Seasonal and vertical variability in the mercury speciation of an acidified Wisconsin lake’, in D.P. Vemet (ed.), Heavy Metals in the Environment (VII), CEP Consultants, Edinburgh, UK, Vol. 2, pp. 349–352.
Brosset, C. and Iverfeldt, Å.: 1989, Water Air Soil Pollut. 43, 147.
D'Itri, F.M., Anett, C.S. and Fast, A.W.: 1971, J. Mar. Technol. Soc. 5, 10.
Falkenmark, M.: 1979, Vatten — resurser, användning, problem (Water — resources, use, problems), Dep. of Agriculture Ds Jo 1979:8, Liber förlagsorder, Stockholm, 180 p. (in Swedish).
Fitzgerald, W.F.: 1979, ‘Distribution of mercury in natural waters.’, in J.O. Nriagu (ed.), The Biogeochemistry of Mercury in the Environment, Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press, Amsterdam, New York and Oxford, pp. 161–173.
Fitzgerald, W.F. and Watras, CI: 1989, Sci. Total Environ. 87/88, 223.
Glass, G.E., Leonard, E.E., Chan, W.H. and Orr, D.B.: 1986, J. Great Lakes Res. 12, 37.
Grahn, P., Thorssell, S., Nilsson, Å. and Håkanson, L.: 1987, Study lakes and catchments in the county of Örebro. Project Liming-Mercury-Cesium. Nat. Swed. Env. Prot. Board, Solna, SNV Report 3384, 83 p. (in Swedish).
Grahn, P., Thorssell, S., Nilsson, Å. and Håkanson, L.: 1988, Situation before treatment in the county of Örebro. Project Liming-Mercury-Cesium. Nat. Swed. Env. Prot. Board, Solna, SNV Report 3530, 73 p. (in Swedish). Håkanson, L.: 1980, Envir. Pollut. B 1, 235.
Håkanson, L.: 1986b, Projektplan 1985–1989. Projekt Kalkning-Kvicksilver. (Project plan 1985–1989. Project Liming-Mercury), Nat. Swed. Env. Prot. Board, Solna, SNV Report 3097, 29 p. (in Swedish).
Håkanson, L.: 1986b, Arbetsplan 1985–1989. Projekt Kalkning-Kvicksilver. (Working plan 1985–1989. Project Liming-Mercury), Nat. Swed. Env. Prot. Board, Solna, SNV Report 3099, 3099, 107 p. (in Swedish).
Håkanson, L., Nilsson, Å. and Andersson, T.: 1988, Environ. Pollut. 49, 145.
Håkanson, L., Borg, H. and Uhrberg, R.: 1990b, Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. 75, 79.
Håkanson, L., Nilsson, Å. and Andersson, T.: 1990b, Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 50, 311.
Iverfeldt, Å.: 1988, Mar. Chem. 23, 441–456.
Iverfeldt, Å.: 19918, ‘Occurrence and turnover of atmospheric mercury over the Nordic countries’, Water, Air, and Soil Pollution (this volume).
Iverfeldt, Å.: 1991b, ‘Mercury in forest canopy throughfall water and its relation to atmospheric deposition’, Water, Air, and Soil Pollution (this volume).
Iverfeldt, Å. and Lindqvist, O.: 1986, Atm. Env. 20, 1567.
Iverfeldt, Å. and Johansson, K.: 1988, Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 23, 1626.
Johansson J.Å., Lindgren G., Andersson, L, Nilsson, Å. and Håkanson, L.: 1987, Study lakes and catchments in the county of Gävleborg. Project Liming-Mercury-Cesium. Nat. Swed. Env. Prot. Board, Solna, SNV Report 3583, 90 p. (in Swedish).
Johansson J.Å., Lindgren G., Sveden, L, Nilsson, Å. and Håkanson, L.: 1988, Situation before treatment in the county of Gövleborg. Project Liming-Mercury-Cesium. Nat. Swed. Env. Prot. Board, Solna, SNV Report 3553, 80 p. (in Swedish).
Johansson, K.: 1985, Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 22, 2359.
Johansson, K. and Iverfeldt, Å.: 1990, Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 24 (in press).
Johansson, K., Aastrup, M., Andersson, A., Bringmark, L. and Iverfeldt, Å.: 1991, ‘Mercury in Swedish forest soils and waters — assessment of critical load’, Water, Air, and Soil Pollution (this volume).
Jones, R.I., Salonen, K. and De Haan, H.: 1988, Freshwat. Biol. 19, 357–369.
Jönsson, C.-P., Karlsson, L., Mårtenson, B., Andersson, T. and Håkanson, L.: 1987, Study lakes and catchments in the county of Kronoberg. Project Liming-Mercury-Cesium. Nat. Swed. Env. Prot. Board, Solna, SNV Report 3360, 68 p. (in Swedish).
Jönsson, C.-P., Karlsson, L., Andersson, T. and Håkanson, L.: 1988, Situation before treatment in the county of Kronoberg. Project Liming-Mercury-Cesium. Nat. Swed. Env. Prot. Board, Solna, SNV Report 3540, 70 p. (in Swedish).
Lindqvist, O., Johansson, K., Aastrup, M., Andersson, A., Bringmark, L., Hovsertius, G., Håkanson, L., Iverfeldt, Å., Meili, M. and Timm, B.: 1991, ‘Mercury in the Swedish environment — Recent research on causes, consequences and corrective methods.’ Water, Air and Soil Pollution, special issue (in press).
Lee, Y.H. and Iverfeldt, Å.: 1991, ‘Measurement of methylmercury and mercury in run-off, lake and rain waters’, Water, Air, and Soil Pollution (this volume).
Lodenius, M. and Seppänen, A.: 1984, Vatten 40, 302–307.
McMurtry, M.J., Wales, D.L., Scheider, W.A., Beggs, G.L. and Dimond, P.E.: 1989, Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 46, 426.
Meili, M.: 1991, ‘The coupling of mercury and organic matter in the biogeochemical cycle — towards a mechanistic model for the boreal forest zone’, (this volume).
Meili, M.: 1991b, ‘Fluxes, pools, and turnover of mercury in Swedish forest lakes’, (this volume).
Meili, M.: 1991c, ‘Sources, concentrations and characteristics of organic matter in softwater lakes and streams of the Swedish forest region, (accepted for publication in Hydrobiologia).
Pennanen, V.: 1988, Humic fractions in dimictic lakes in Finland, Dep. of Limnology, Univ. of Helsinki, Finland, Thesis, 28 p.
Ramamoorthy, S. and Kushner, D.J.: 1975, Nature 256, 399.
Rasmussen, J.B., Godbout, L. and Schallenberg, M.: 1989, Limnol. Oceanogr. 34, 1336.
Schintu, M., Kauri, T. and Kudo, A.: 1989, Wat. Res. 23, 699.
Schnitzer, M. and Kemdorff, H.: 1981, Water Air Soil Pollut. 15, 97.
SMHI: 1986, Väder och Vatten 1986 (Weather and Water 1986), Swedish Meteorol. Hydrol. Institute, Norrköping (in Swedish).
SNV: 1986, Acidic and acidified waters. Monitor 1986 (ed. C. Berries), Nat. Swed. Env. Prot. Board, Solna, 180 p. (in Swedish).
Verta, M.: 1990, Mercury in Finnish forest lakes and reservoirs: anthropogenic contribution to the load and accumulation in fish, Nat. Board of Waters and the Environment, Helsinki, Publ. of the Water and Environment Research Institute No. 6, 1990.
Wrembel, HZ: 1983, Acta Hydrochim. Hydobiol. 11, 523.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Meili, M., Iverfeldt, A. & Håkanson, L. Mercury in the surface water of Swedish forest lakes —concentrations, speciation and controlling factors. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 56, 439–453 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00342290
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00342290