Document Type
Article
Date
2011
Keywords
mercury, sediment cores, sediment mercury deposition, Great Lakes, paleolimnology
Language
English
Disciplines
Civil and Environmental Engineering | Engineering | Environmental Engineering
Description/Abstract
Data from 104 sediment cores from the Great Lakes and “inland lakes” in the region were compiled to assess historical and recent changes in mercury (Hg) deposition. The lower Great Lakes showed sharp increases in Hg loading c. 1850-1950 from point-source water dischargers, with marked decreases during the past half century associated with effluent controls and decreases in the industrial use of Hg. In contrast, Lake Superior and inland lakes exhibited a pattern of Hg loading consistent with an atmospheric source - gradual increases followed by recent (post-1980) decreases. Variation in sedimentary Hg flux among inland lakes was primarily attributed to the ratio of watershed area: lake area, and secondarily to a lake’s proximity to emission sources. A consistent region-wide decrease (~20%) of sediment Hg flux suggests that controls on local and regional atmospheric Hg emissions have been effective in decreasing the supply of Hg to Lake Superior and inland lakes.
Recommended Citation
Drevnick, P. E., Engstrom, D. R., Driscoll, C. T., Swain, E. B., Balogh, S. J., Kamman, N. C., . . . Rossmann, R. (2012). Spatial and temporal patterns of mercury accumulation in lacustrine sediments across the Laurentian Great Lakes region. Environmental Pollution, 161, 252-260. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2011.05.025
Additional Information
First and Syracuse University authors listed; for complete list of authors, please refer to article.