TY - JOUR
T1 - Ultraviolet absorbance as a proxy for total dissolved mercury in streams
AU - Dittman, Jason A.
AU - Shanley, James B.
AU - Driscoll, Charles T.
AU - Aiken, George R.
AU - Chalmers, Ann T.
AU - Towse, Janet E.
N1 - Funding Information:
Support for this study was provided by Northeast States Research Consortium and the Syracuse University Center of Excellence through a fellowship for J. Dittman. We thank K. Butler, M. Montesdeoca, E. Mason, and C. Fuss for their laboratory assistance. Also thanks go to P. McHale, S. Signell, R. Masters and the staff of the Adirondack Ecological Center for help with sample collection. This is a contribution of the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study. The use of brand names is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the USGS.
PY - 2009/6
Y1 - 2009/6
N2 - Stream water samples were collected over a range of hydrologic and seasonal conditions at three forested watersheds in the northeastern USA. Samples were analyzed for dissolved total mercury (THgd), DOC concentration and DOC composition, and UV254 absorbance across the three sites over different seasons and flow conditions. Pooling data from all sites, we found a strong positive correlation of THgd to DOC (r2 = 0.87), but progressively stronger correlations of THgd with the hydrophobic acid fraction (HPOA) of DOC (r2 = 0.91) and with UV254 absorbance (r2 = 0.92). The strength of the UV254 absorbance-THgd relationship suggests that optical properties associated with dissolved organic matter may be excellent proxies for THgd concentration in these streams. Ease of sample collection and analysis, the potential application of in-situ optical sensors, and the possibility for intensive monitoring over the hydrograph make this an effective, inexpensive approach to estimate THgd flux in drainage waters.
AB - Stream water samples were collected over a range of hydrologic and seasonal conditions at three forested watersheds in the northeastern USA. Samples were analyzed for dissolved total mercury (THgd), DOC concentration and DOC composition, and UV254 absorbance across the three sites over different seasons and flow conditions. Pooling data from all sites, we found a strong positive correlation of THgd to DOC (r2 = 0.87), but progressively stronger correlations of THgd with the hydrophobic acid fraction (HPOA) of DOC (r2 = 0.91) and with UV254 absorbance (r2 = 0.92). The strength of the UV254 absorbance-THgd relationship suggests that optical properties associated with dissolved organic matter may be excellent proxies for THgd concentration in these streams. Ease of sample collection and analysis, the potential application of in-situ optical sensors, and the possibility for intensive monitoring over the hydrograph make this an effective, inexpensive approach to estimate THgd flux in drainage waters.
KW - DOC
KW - Dissolved organic carbon
KW - Mercury
KW - Ultraviolet absorbance
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U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2009.01.031
DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2009.01.031
M3 - Article
C2 - 19250728
AN - SCOPUS:64149128260
SN - 0269-7491
VL - 157
SP - 1953
EP - 1956
JO - Environmental Pollution
JF - Environmental Pollution
IS - 6
ER -