Guentzel, J. L., Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC, USA, jguentze@coastal.edu

A WATERSHED APPROACH TO MERCURY CYCLING AND TRANSPORT IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Concentrations of total Hg in water were determined from sites along a geographical gradient within South Carolina. Sites with differing watershed characteristics were chosen to identify potential factors governing the spatial variability of Hg levels throughout the state Overall, there is a spatial west to east gradient in the state, with water column concentrations of total Hg (10-55 pM) and total organic carbon (10-2500 uM) increasing as one moves from the western upstate piedmont region to the eastern coastal floodplain region (r2 = 0.70; p<0.001). Correspondingly, 89% of the SC fish consumption advisories are located within these coastal flood plain regions. There is a significant correlation between increasing fish Hg concentrations and increasing percent wetland area across the state (r2 = 0.62; p<0.001). A time series study of mercury speciation within a coastal flood plain river (25% wetland area) indicates that 70-90% of the total and methyl Hg are found in the <0.45 micron size class and dissolved methyl Hg concentrations range from 3-26% of the total Hg in the river and from 4-7% in the seawater end member.

Poster presentation

Presentation is given by student: No
Session #:187
Date: 03-03-2008
Time: 17:30 - 19:30