Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Wet deposition flux and runoff output flux of mercury in a typical small agricultural watershed in Three Gorges Reservoir areas

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In order to explore the contributions of wet deposition and runoff formed by rainfall events to the water body mercury burden in Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), we conducted a 1-year successive study on the deposition fluxes and runoff output characteristics of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (TMeHg) in a typical small agricultural watershed in TGR areas. The results showed that the annual volume-weighted concentration (VWC) of THg and TMeHg was 18 and 0.23 ng L−1, respectively. Particulate form was the main form of both THg and TMeHg, accounting for 61 % of THg and 59 % of TMeHg. The annual deposition fluxes of THg and TMeHg in rainfall were 13 ± 2.4 μg m−2 year−1 and 174 ± 52 ng m−2 year−1, respectively. The VWCs of THg and TMeHg in runoff were 10 ± 6.5 and 0.15 ± 0.15 ng L−1. The annual output fluxes of THg and TMeHg to TGR from study area were 1.2 ± 0.73 μg m−2 year−1 and 17 ± 16 ng m−2 year−1, respectively.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asis (EANET) (2012) Data Report on the Acid Deposition inthe East Asian Region. http://www.eanet.asia/product/datarep/datarep12/datarep12.pdf

  • Allan CJ, Heyes A (1998) A preliminary assessment of wet deposition and episodic transport of total and methyl mercury from low order Blue Ridge watersheds, S.E. U.S.A. Water Air Soil Pollut 105:573–592

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Allan CJ, Heyes A, Roulet NT, St. Louis VL, Rudd JWM (2001) Spatial and temporal dynamics of mercury in Precambrian Shield upland runoff. Biogeochemistry 52:13–40

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Allan CJ, Roulet NT, Hill AR (1993) The biogeochemistry of pristine, headwater Precambrian shield watersheds: an analysis of material transport within a heterogeneous landscape. Biogeochemistry 22:37–79

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Babiarz CL, Hurley JP, Benoit JM, Shafer MM, Andren AW, Webb DA (1998) Seasonal influences on partitioning and transport of total and methylmercury in rivers from contrasting watersheds. Biogeochemistry 41:237–257

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baeyens W (1992) Speciation of mercury in different compartments of the environment. TrAC Trends Anal Chem 7(11):245–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bi CJ, Chen ZL, Shen J, Sun WW (2012) Variations of mercury distribution in the water column during the course of a tidal cycle in the Yangtze Estuarine intertidal zone, China. Sci China Chem 55(10):2224–2232

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bishop K, Lee YH, Pettersson C, Allard B (1995) Methylmercury output from the Svartberget catchment in northern Sweden during spring melt. Water Air Soil Pollut 80:221–224

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brosset C, Lord E (1995) Methylmercury in ambient air. Method of determination and some measurement results. Water Air Soil Pollut 82(3–4):739–750

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caffrey JM, Landing WM, Nolek SD, Gosnell KJ, Bagui SS, Bagui SC (2010) Atmospheric deposition of mercury and major ions to the Pensacola (Florida) watershed: spatial, seasonal, and inter-annual variability. Atmos Chem Phys 10:5425–5434

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen YP (2012) Geochemical distribution of mercury in the water and rainfall of Wujiang River basin. Southwest University, Chongqing (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chongqing Statistics Yearbook (2011) Chongqing statistical yearbook. Chongqing (In Chinese)

  • Eckley CS, Branfireun B (2009) Simulated rain events on an urban roadway to understand the dynamics of mercury mobilization in storm water runoff. Water Res 43:3635–3646

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Environmental Monitoring Center (1992) The background concentrations of trace elements in soil in China. China Environmental Science Publisher, Beijing, pp 1–195 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng XB, Tang SL, Li ZG, Wang SF, Liang L (2004) Landfill is an important atmospheric mercury emission source. Chin Sci Bull 49(19):2068–2072

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fu XW, Feng XB, Dong ZQ, Yin RS, Wang JX, Yang ZR, Zhang H (2010a) Atmospheric gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) concentrations and mercury depositions at a high-altitude mountain peak in south China. Atmos Chem Phys 10:2435–2437

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu XW, Feng XB, Zhu W, Rothenberg S, Yao H, Zhang H (2010b) Elevated atmospheric deposition and dynamics of mercury in a remote upland forest of southwestern China. Environ Pollut 158:2324–2333

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gilmour CC, Riedel GS, Ederington MC, Bell JT, Benoit JM, Gill GA, Stordal MC (1998) Methylmercury concentrations and production rates across a trophic gradient in the northern Everglades. Biogeochemistry 40:327–345

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guentzel J, Landing WM, Gill GA, Pollman CD (1995) Atmospheric deposition of mercury in Florida: the FAMS project (1992–1994). Water Air Soil Pollut 80:393–402

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guentzel J, Landing WM, Gill GA, Pollman CD (2001) Processes influencing rainfall deposition of mercury in Florida. Environ Sci Technol 35:863–873

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo YN, Feng XB, Li ZG, He TR, Yan HY, Meng B, Zhang JF, Qiu GL (2008) Distribution and wet deposition fluxes of total and methyl mercury in Wujiang reservoir Basin, Guizhou, China. Atmos Environ 42:7096–7103

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hall BD, Manolopoulos H, Hurley JP, Schauer JJ, St. Louis VL, Kenski D, Graydon J, Babiarz CL, Cleckner LB, Keeler GJ (2005) Methyl and total mercury in precipitation in the Great Lakes region. Atmos Environ 39:7557–7569

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hammerschmidt CR, Lamborg CH, Fitzgerald WF (2007) Aqueous phase methylation as a potential source of methylmercury in wet deposition. Atmos Environ 41:1663–1668

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He TR, Feng XB, Guo YN, Qiu GL, Li ZG, Liang L, Lu J (2008) The impact of eutrophication on the biogeochemical cycling of mercury species in a reservoir: a case study from Hongfeng Reservoir, Guizhou, China. Environ Pollut 154:56–67

  • Huang J, Kang SC, Wang SX, Wang L, Zhang QG, Guo JM, Wang K, Zhang GS, Tripathee L (2013) Wet deposition of mercury at Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet. Sci Total Environ 447:123–132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobsen OH, Moldrup P, de Jonge H, de Jonge LW (1998) Mobilization and transport of natural colloids in a macroporous soil. Phys Chem Earth 23:159–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keeler GJ, Landis MS, Norris GA, Christianson EM, Dvonch JT (2006) Sources of mercury wet deposition in eastern Ohio, USA. Environ Sci Technol 40:5874–5881

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly CA, Rudd JWM, St. Louis VL, Heyes A (1995) Is total mercury concentration a good predictor of methylmercury concentration in aquatic systems? Water Air Soil Pollut 80:715–724

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Landis MS, Keeler GJ (2002) Atmospheric mercury deposition to Lake Michigan during the Lake Michigan mass balance study. Environ Sci Technol 36:4518–4524

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li MJ, Jiang T, He RJ, Mu ZJ, Li XM, Wei SQ, Xie DT (2012) Impact of rock weathering on water chemical characteristic in a typical small agricultural watershed of Three Gorges reservoir areas. China Environ Sci 32(8):1495–1501 (In Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li P (2013) Spatial and temporal distribution of mercury in water of the water-level-fluctuating zone in the Three Gorges Reservoir. South West University, Chongqing (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lombard MAS, Bryce JG, Mao H, Talbot R (2011) Mercury deposition in Southern New Hampshire, 2006–2009. Atmos Chem Phys 11:7657–7668

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lorey P, Driscoll CT (1999) Historical trends of mercury deposition to Adirondack lakes. Environ Sci Technol 33:718–722

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lynam MM, Keeler GJ (2006) Source-receptor relationships for atmospheric mercury in urban Detroit, Michigan. Atmos Environ 40:3144–3155

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mao H, Talbot RW, Sigler JM, Sive BC, Hegarty JD (2008) Seasonal and diurnal variations of Hg0 over New England. Atmos Chem Phys 8:1403–1421

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mason RP, Fitzgerald WF (1990) Alkylmercury species in the equatorial Pacific. Nature 347:457–459

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mason RP, Fitzgerald WF, Morel FMM (1994) The biochemical cycling of elementary mercury: anthropogenic influences. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 58:3191–3198

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mason RP, Lawson NM, Sheu GR (2000) Annual and seasonal trends in mercury deposition in Maryland. Atmos Environ 34:1691–1701

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meng B, Feng XB, Chen CX, Qiu GL, Guo YN, Liu K, Yao H, Zhang JF (2011) Distribution of total mercury and methylmercury in two hydroelectric reservoirs of Guizhou Province, China. Chin J Ecol 30(5):951–960 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mou SS, Pu FY, Qing CL (1982) Soil types in Chongqing district and its correlations with background concentration of 11 elements. Chongqing Environ Prot 4:58–63 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Munthe J, Hultberg H (2004) Mercury and methylmercury in runoff from a forested catchment–concentrations, fluxes, and their response to manipulations. Water Air Soil Pollut Focus 4:607–618

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nater EA, Grigal DF (1992) Regional trends in mercury distribution across the Great Lakes States, North Central USA. Nature 258:139–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rytuba JJ (2000) Sources of mercury from mineral deposits. In: Grosse D (eds) Assessing and managing mercury from historic and current mining activities U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development. Proceedings 28–30 November, 11–16

  • Sakata M, Marumoto K, Narukawa M, Asakura K (2006) Mass balance and sources of mercury in Tokyo Bay. J Oceanogr 62:767–775

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scherbatskoy T, Shanley JB, Keeler GJ (1998) Factors controlling mercury transport in an upland forested catchment. Water Air Soil Pollut 105:427–438

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schlüter K (2000) Review: evaporation of mercury from soils, an integration and synthesis of current knowledge. Environ Geol 39:249–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shanley JB, Mast MA, Campbell DH, Aiken GR, Krabbenhoft DP, Hunt RJ, Walker JF, Schuster PF, Chalmers A, Aulenbach BT, Peters NE, Marvin-DiPasquale M, Clow DW, Shafer MM (2008) Comparison of total mercury and methylmercury cycling at five sites using the small watershed approach. Environ Pollut 154:143–154

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shanley JB, Chalmers AT (2012) Stream water fluxes of total mercury and methylmercury into and out of Lake Champlain. Environ Pollut 161:311–320

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • St. Louis VL, Rudd JWM, Kelly CA, Beaty KG, Bloom NS, Flett RJ (1994) Importance of wetlands as sources of methylmercury to boreal forest ecosystems. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 51:1065–1076

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • St. Louis VL, Rudd JWM, Kelly CA, Beaty KG, Flett RJ, Roulet NT (1996) Production and loss of methylmercury and loss of total mercury from boreal forest catchments containing different types of wetlands. Environ Sci Technol 30:2719–2729

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Swain EB, Engstrom DR, Brigham ME, Henning TA, Brezonik PL (1992) Increasing rates of atmospheric mercury deposition in midcontinental North America. Science 257:784–787

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tan M (2009) Circulation effect: climatic significance of the short term variability of the oxygen isotopes in stalagmites from monsoonal China-Dialogue between paleoclimate records and modern climate research. Quat Sci 29(5):851–862 (In Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • US EPA (2001a) Method 1631, revision B: mercury in water by oxidation, purge and trap, and cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry. Washington 1–33

  • US EPA (2001b) Method 1630: methylmercury in water by distillation, aqueous ethylation, purge and trap and CVAFS. Washington 1–41

  • US EPA (1993) Method 300: revision 2.1, determination of inorganic anions by ion chromatography. Washington 1–28

  • Ullrich SM, Tanton TW, Abdrashitova SA (2001) Mercury in the aquatic environment: a review of factors affecting methylation. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 31:241–293

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang DY, He L, Wei SQ, Feng XB (2006) Estimation of mercury emission from different sources to atmosphere in Chongqing, China. Sci Total Environ 366:722–728

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang FY, Zhang JZ (2013) Mercury contamination in aquatic ecosystems under a changing environment: implications for the Three Gorges Reservoir. Chin Sci Bull 58(2):141–149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang YM, Wang DY, Meng B, Peng YL, Zhao L, Zhu JS (2012) Spatial and temporal distributions of total and methyl mercury in precipitation in core urban areas, Chongqing, China. Atmos Chem Phys 12:9417–9426

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang YM, Peng YL, Wang DY, Zhang C (2014) Wet deposition fluxes of total mercury and methylmercury in core urban areas, Chongqing, China. Atmos Environ 92:87–96

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang ZW, Zhang XS, Xiao JS, Ci ZJ, Yu PZ (2009) Mercury fluxes and pools in three subtropical forested catchments, southwest China. Environ Pollut 157:801–808

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu XQ, Qiu CQ, Deng GQ, Hui JY, Zhang XH (1999) Chemical-ecological effect of mercury pollution in the Three Gorges Reservoir area. Acta Hydrbiol Sin 23(3):197–203 (In Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yan HY, Li QH, Meng B, Wang CP, Feng XB, He TR, Dominik J (2013) Spatial distribution and methylation of mercury in a eutrophic reservoir heavily contaminated by mercury in Southwest China. Appl Geochem 33:182–190

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang YK, Chen H, Wang DY (2009) Spatial and temporal distribution of gaseous elemental mercury in Chongqing, China. Environ Monit Assess 156:479–489

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang C, Chen H, Wang DY, Sun RG, Zhang JY (2014) Distribution and risk assessment of mercury species in soil of the water-level-fluctuating zone in the Three Gorges Reservoir. Environ Sci 35(3):1060–1067 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang H, Feng XB, Thorjørn L, Qiu GL, Vogt RD (2010) In inland China, rice, rather than fish, is the major pathway for methylmercury exposure. Environ Health Perspect 118:1183–1188

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao RD, Sun YX, Wang DW, Chen YH, Xiao Q (2010) Research on spatial variability of soil organic matter in Beijing field. Chin J Soil Sci 41(3):552–557 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (No. 2013CB430004) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41373113, 41173116).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, People’s Republic of China

    Zheng Zhao, Dingyong Wang, Ya Wang & Zhijian Mu

  2. Chongqing Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Chongqing, 400716, People’s Republic of China

    Dingyong Wang & Zhijian Mu

  3. Chongqing Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chongqing, 401329, People’s Republic of China

    Jinshan Zhu

Authors
  1. Zheng Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dingyong Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ya Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zhijian Mu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jinshan Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dingyong Wang.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(DOCX 356 kb)

Total of 5 figures were involved in the supplementary data. There were: monthly and seasonal variation characteristics of precipitation, monthly variation and seasonal variation characteristics of runoff volumes of Sub-1 and Sub-2, percentages of main ions in rainfall, regression analyses of precipitation with concentrations of THg and TMeHg, and monthly variation and seasonal variation characteristics of THg and TMeHg in runoff of the watershed.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhao, Z., Wang, D., Wang, Y. et al. Wet deposition flux and runoff output flux of mercury in a typical small agricultural watershed in Three Gorges Reservoir areas. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 5538–5551 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3701-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3701-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation