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Estimation and Mapping of Wet and Dry Mercury Deposition Across Northeastern North America

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Abstract

Whereas many ecosystem characteristics and processes influence mercury accumulation in higher trophic-level organisms, the mercury flux from the atmosphere to a lake and its watershed is a likely factor in potential risk to biota. Atmospheric deposition clearly affects mercury accumulation in soils and lake sediments. Thus, knowledge of spatial patterns in atmospheric deposition may provide information for assessing the relative risk for ecosystems to exhibit excessive biotic mercury contamination. Atmospheric mercury concentrations in aerosol, vapor, and liquid phases from four observation networks were used to estimate regional surface concentration fields. Statistical models were developed to relate sparsely measured mercury vapor and aerosol concentrations to the more commonly measured mercury concentration in precipitation. High spatial resolution deposition velocities for different phases (precipitation, cloud droplets, aerosols, and reactive gaseous mercury (RGM)) were computed using inferential models. An empirical model was developed to estimate gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) deposition. Spatial patterns of estimated total mercury deposition were complex. Generally, deposition was higher in the southwest and lower in the northeast. Elevation, land cover, and proximity to urban areas modified the general pattern. The estimated net GEM and RGM fluxes were each greater than or equal to wet deposition in many areas. Mercury assimilation by plant foliage may provide a substantial input of methyl-mercury (MeHg) to ecosystems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecosystems Research Group, Ltd., PO Box 1227, Norwich, VT, 05055, USA

    Eric K. Miller

  2. United States Environmental Protection Agency, N. Chelmsford, Massachusetts

    Alan Vanarsdale

  3. University of Michigan Air Quality Laboratory, Ann Arbor, Michigan

    Gerald J. Keeler

  4. United States Geological Survey, Montpelier, VT, USA

    Ann Chalmers

  5. Atmospheric Toxic Processes, Meteorological Service of Canada, Environnement Canada, Montréal, Québec, Canada

    Laurier Poissant

  6. Water Quality Division, Department of Environmental Conservation, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Waterbury, VT, USA

    Neil C. Kamman

  7. Ministère de l’environnement du Québec, Ste-Foy, Québec, Canada

    Raynald Brulotte

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  1. Eric K. Miller
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  2. Alan Vanarsdale
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  3. Gerald J. Keeler
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  4. Ann Chalmers
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  5. Laurier Poissant
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  6. Neil C. Kamman
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  7. Raynald Brulotte
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Correspondence to Eric K. Miller.

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Miller, E.K., Vanarsdale, A., Keeler, G.J. et al. Estimation and Mapping of Wet and Dry Mercury Deposition Across Northeastern North America. Ecotoxicology 14, 53–70 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-004-6259-9

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