Mercury concentration and isotopic compositions in lake waters and lake sediment from Canada and China

In contrast, the isotope compositions of lake sediments show predominantly negative Delta199Hg and negligible delta200Hg values that are similar to atmospheric elemental Hg(0) and terrestrial soils and plants. We conclude that the source of Hg in lake surface water is likely dominated by direct atmospheric precipitation, while the Hg in lake sediments is primarily derived from watershed inputs of terrestrial particles.

The concurrent odd Hg isotope anomalies in surface waters suggest that methylmercury (MeHg) from the watershed wetland, together with Hg(II) derived from the catchment weathering is likely another Hg source to lake waters besides atmospheric deposition. We suggest that the different Hg sources and isotope compositions between lake water and sediments would result in different isotope signatures for MeHg that is produced in water column and in sediments.

Therefore, our study not only elucidates the sources of Hg to lake systems, but also has implications in distinguishing between different MeHg sources and in tracing the bioaccumulation of MeHg in aquatic organism.