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Mercury Speciation in the Water of Minamata Bay, Japan

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Abstract

The speciation of mercury (Hg) in Minamata Bay (Japan) was studied over a 2-year period (2006–2008). Concentrations of dissolved total Hg, dissolved methylmercury (MeHg), particulate total Hg, and suspended solids were 0.43 ± 0.14 ng/l (mean ± standard deviation), 0.10 ± 0.06 ng/l, 3.04 ± 2.96 ng/l, and 5.94 ± 2.10 mg/l, respectively. Correlations between concentrations of particulate total Hg and suspended solids at four depths (surface: 0 m; mid-depth: −6 m, −10 m; and bottom +1 m layer) were only significant in the bottom +1 m layer. The mean dissolved MeHg concentration and the ratio of dissolved MeHg to dissolved total Hg were considerably higher in summer compared to other seasons. The data suggest that bottom sediment was not the sole source of MeHg, and that MeHg may be produced in the water column by the conversion of divalent Hg eluted from resuspended bottom sediment. The correlation between seawater characteristics such as salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), and dissolved MeHg concentration indicates that Hg methylation could be influenced by the heterotrophic activity of microorganisms in the seawater. In particular, inverse correlations were observed between DO, salinity, and MeHg concentration. However, dissolved MeHg concentrations did not correlate with seawater characteristics such as pH or chlorophyll-a.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the financial support received in the form of a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (No.18560500) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and a grant from the Kyushu University Foundation. We are also thankful to the kind support and help of Dr Steven J. Balogh with our investigation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute for Minamata Disease, Minamata, Kumamoto, 867–0008, Japan

    Akito Matsuyama, Tomomi Eguchi, Ikuko Sonoda & Kohji Marumoto

  2. Faculty of Engineering, Nagasaki University, Bunkyo-machi 1–14, Nagasaki, 852–8521, Japan

    Akihide Tada

  3. Faculty of Engineering, Kyusyu University, Nishiku Motooka 744, Fukuokashi, 819–0395, Japan

    Shinichirou Yano & Akira Tai

  4. Faculty of Science, Kagoshima University, Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890–0065, Japan

    Takashi Tomiyasu

  5. International Mercury Laboratory Inc, Minamata, Kumamoto, 867–0034, Japan

    Hirokatsu Akagi

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  1. Akito Matsuyama
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  2. Tomomi Eguchi
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  3. Ikuko Sonoda
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  4. Akihide Tada
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  5. Shinichirou Yano
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  6. Akira Tai
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  7. Kohji Marumoto
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  8. Takashi Tomiyasu
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  9. Hirokatsu Akagi
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Correspondence to Akito Matsuyama.

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Matsuyama, A., Eguchi, T., Sonoda, I. et al. Mercury Speciation in the Water of Minamata Bay, Japan. Water Air Soil Pollut 218, 399–412 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0654-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0654-z

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