Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Montserrat Filella, Tomas Matousek
Summary: This study presents the distribution of germanium and its species in Lake Geneva for the first time, revealing that the concentration of inorganic germanium in the lake exceeds that of organic species.
APPLIED GEOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
S. M. Hamze-Ziabari, A. M. Razmi, U. Lemmin, D. A. Barry
Summary: Submesoscale filaments have been found in Lake Geneva for the first time based on high-resolution 3D numerical simulations, field observations, and remote sensing imagery. These filaments are formed during summertime and have significant impacts on the biophysical processes in the lake.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alex da Silva de Freitas, Ana Dalva de Oliveira Santos, Louise da Cruz Felix, Rejany Ferreira dos Santos, Daniele Maia Bila, Valquiria Maria de Carvalho Aguiar, Estefan Monteiro da Fonseca, Jose Antonio Baptista Neto
Summary: This study analyzed the surface sediment of Niteroi Harbour and found that the pseudototal trace metal content was far above the background value of Guanabara Bay, indicating high pollution rate. Therefore, it emphasizes the need for stricter monitoring of harbours.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Victor Malov, Dmitry Subetto, Vera Strakhovenko, Ekaterina Ovdina, Natalia Belkina
Summary: This paper presents data on the lateral distribution of total mercury in Lake Onego, the second largest lake in Europe, for the first time. The vertical distribution of total mercury in two types of bottom sediments stratification is also studied. The study reveals that the most common form of mercury in the water is dissolved+colloid, and the total mercury content in the bottom sediments is relatively low. Furthermore, the paper discusses the factors responsible for the increase in mercury content in the bottom sediments.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Remo Luis Roethlin, Adrian Gilli, Bernhard Wehrli, Robin Sue Gilli, Jan Georg Wiederhold, Nathalie Dubois
Summary: Historical industrial activities at Horn Richterwil in Switzerland have caused widespread metal contamination on land and in lake sediments. Using various techniques, researchers estimated the age and sources of contamination, revealing two different contamination events and pathways.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maolan Wang, Liyue Zhao, Yangjie Wan, Haoquan Wu, Chang He, Qianyu Zhao
Summary: This study measured sediment samples from a cage fish farm to determine the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope compositions and found that aquaculture waste has an impact on sediment organic matter, particularly with a high contribution ratio of waste feed.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kanghee Cho, Jinkyu Kang, Songbae Kim, Oyunbileg Purev, Eunji Myung, Hyunsoo Kim, Nagchoul Choi
Summary: Thermal treatment of mercury-contaminated soil was studied to investigate Hg desorption behavior at different temperatures. Results showed that soil properties and composition had an impact on Hg desorption efficiency, with mine soil showing higher removal efficiency above 300 degrees Celsius compared to industrial soil. The desorption of Hg during thermal treatment was observed to be influenced by soil properties, with the organic matter content playing a role in controlling Hg release.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Montserrat Filella, Sebastian Wey, Tomas Matousek, Mathieu Coster, Juan-Carlos Rodriguez-Murillo, Jean-Luc Loizeau
Summary: Arsenic speciation was investigated in Lake Geneva, with a focus on the Petit Lac and the Grand Lac. The lack of water column mixing since 2012 has led to decreased oxygen saturation at the bottom of the Grand Lac. MA(iii) and TMAO were found in both lake and river samples, and iAs(v) was identified as the predominant arsenic species. The total dissolved arsenic concentrations showed different distribution patterns in the Petit Lac and the Grand Lac.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-PROCESSES & IMPACTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hailei Su, Di Shi, Jiwei Yang, Yanru Tao, Fuhong Sun, Yuan Wei
Summary: The study revealed that mercury concentrations in sediments from Taihu Lake were relatively high, posing a moderate ecological risk level. This highlights the importance of strengthening monitoring and management to mitigate the impacts of mercury pollution.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Takashi Tomiyasu, Chihiro Nozoe, Wilder Leonardo Gamboa Ruiz, Hitoshi Kodamatani, Ryo Kanzaki
Summary: This study investigates the distribution of selenium in sediment of Kagoshima Bay and its correlation with mercury concentration. It is found that selenium is primarily derived from marine biological materials and that geothermal activity contributes to selenium supply in surrounding sediment.
ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dandan Duan, Pei Lei, Wenlu Lan, Tianshen Li, Hao Zhang, Huan Zhong, Ke Pan
Summary: This study investigated the concentrations of total mercury and methylmercury in sediments from seven mangrove forests in China, finding that litterfall plays a significant role in regulating the levels of mercury. The organic matter in the sediments was predominantly derived from litterfall, influencing the accumulation of MeHg. Furthermore, the addition of mangrove litter stimulated the production of MeHg under anaerobic conditions, suggesting that litterfall acts as a source of inorganic Hg and labile carbon, facilitating Hg methylation.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jose G. Dorea, Lucas Cabrera Monteiro, Jose Vicente Elias Bernardi, Iara Oliveira Fernandes, Sandy Flora Barbosa Oliveira, Joao Pedro Rudrigues de Souza, Ygor Oliveira Sarmento Rodrigues, Ludgero Cardoso Galli Vieira, Jurandir Rodrigues de Souza
Summary: Freshwater ecosystems are crucial for human and wildlife survival, but anthropogenic activities have led to mercury pollution in the Brazilian Savanna ecosystem. The study found that increased land use intensity may result in an accumulation of mercury in sediments and macrophytes over a short period of time.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaohong Fang, Bo Peng, Zhaoliang Song, Sicheng Wu, Danting Chen, Yafang Zhao, Jing Liu, Yanan Dai, Xianglin Tu
Summary: Analysis of major and trace elements in sediments from the Four River inlets of Dongting Lake revealed differences in element compositions, which are influenced by source lithology, chemical weathering, hydrological sorting, and anthropogenic processes. The findings suggest the need for a geochemical background scheme for future assessment of heavy metal contamination in the watershed sediments.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mirta L. Menone, Mauricio Diaz-Jaramillo, Francesca Mitton, Daniela S. Garanzini, Patricia Gomes Costa, Leonardo Lupi, German Lukaszewicz, Mariana Gonzalez, Solange Jara, Karina S. B. Miglioranza, Gilberto Fillmann, Ricardo O. Barra
Summary: Estuarine saltmarshes in South America are affected by chemical and petrochemical industries, resulting in the presence of non-essential trace elements (NTEs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments. The native cordgrass Spartina densiflora exhibits different responses to pollution in different saltmarsh areas, with the ability to increase NTEs levels in rhizosediments and bioconcentrate Cd in roots. However, general translocation of contaminants is not observed. Conversely, PAHs contents are higher in cordgrass tissues, bulk sediments, and rhizosediments, with lower levels in rhizosediments compared to bulk sediments. The study highlights the capacity of S. densiflora to retain, remove, and/or translocate priority contaminants depending on their chemical characteristics and the level of contamination.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Giuseppe Mancini, Simone Cappello, Giuseppe De Marco, Tiziana Cappello, Maria Maisano, Rosalba Gornati, Massimiliano Scalici, Antonella Luciano, Paolo Viotti, Debora Fino
Summary: This study combines traditional chemical characterization with simultaneous biological evaluation to assess the efficiency and sustainability of soil washing on Hg-contaminated sediment. Different extracting agents were compared for their efficiency in removing Hg from contaminated sediments. Biological evaluation through histological, immunohistochemical, and enzymatic analysis showed significant differences in tissue alteration and functional integrity between organisms in contact with contaminated and restored sediments.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Y. Be'eri-Shlevin, M. Bueno, E. Tessier, A. Romero-Rama, A. Sukenik, T. Zohary, D. Amouroux
Summary: The study of dissolved selenium in Lake Kinneret revealed seasonal and vertical variations in selenium concentration, with phytoplankton activity playing a significant role in the selenium cycle. Volatile selenium compounds are produced and released into the atmosphere through phytoplankton uptake and activity.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sylvain Bouchet, Emmanuel Tessier, Jeremy Masbou, David Point, Xavier Lazzaro, Mathilde Monperrus, Stephane Guedron, Dario Acha, David Amouroux
Summary: This study investigated the rates and environmental drivers of monomethylmercury (MMHg) photodegradation and inorganic mercury (IHg) photoreduction in high-altitude lakes. The study found that transformations mostly occurred in subsurface waters exposed to UV radiation and were mainly influenced by the level of dissolved organic matter (DOM). The stable isotope analysis revealed similar extent of Hg isotopic fractionation during MMHg photodegradation among different natural waters.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Limnology
Eric Capo, Elias Broman, Stefano Bonaglia, Andrea G. Bravo, Stefan Bertilsson, Anne L. Soerensen, Jarone Pinhassi, Daniel Lundin, Moritz Buck, Per O. J. Hall, Francisco J. A. Nascimento, Erik Bjorn
Summary: The expansion of oxygen-deficient zones in marine systems may lead to a compositional change of Hg-methylating microbial groups in sediments, promoting the expansion of Hg methylators whose metabolism and biology have not yet been characterized.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Daniel Cossa, Joel Knoery, Daniela Banaru, Mireille Harmelin-Vivien, Jeroen E. Sonke, Ian M. Hedgecock, Andrea G. Bravo, Ginevra Rosati, Donata Canu, Milena Horvat, Francesca Sprovieri, Nicola Pirrone, Lars-Eric Heimburger-Boavida
Summary: Mercury contamination in the Mediterranean, especially in its methylated form, is higher than in other regions of Europe. Methylmercury accounts for a large proportion of the total mercury, and plays a significant role in the supply of mercury to the adjacent North Atlantic Ocean. The concentrations of methylmercury vary in different areas of the Mediterranean, with higher levels associated with low oxygen water masses. This variation is transferred through the food chain and affects the mercury content in top-predatory fish. Monitoring and mitigation strategies are necessary to protect Mediterranean populations from mercury exposure, while still allowing seafood consumption. There are still gaps in our understanding of mercury cycling in the Mediterranean, which requires further research.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Isabel Sanz-Saez, Carla Pereira-Garcia, Andrea G. Bravo, Laura Trujillo, Marti Pla i Ferriol, Miguel Capilla, Pablo Sanchez, Rosa Carmen Rodriguez Martin-Doimeadios, Silvia G. Acinas, Olga Sanchez
Summary: The study reveals the wide distribution and activity of marine bacteria encoding mer genes in the global ocean, with Alteromonas bacteria exhibiting the highest tolerance capacity and efficient degradation ability for MeHg. The prevalence of Alteromonas bacteria in the deep ocean is confirmed, highlighting the importance of biological reductive MeHg degradation in the ocean Hg biogeochemical cycle.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Zoe Le Bras, Sylvain Bouchet, Lenny H. E. Winkel
Summary: Current methods for measuring emissions of volatile organic sulfur (S), selenium (Se), bromine (Br), and iodine (I) species from aquatic ecosystems are not sensitive enough or automated, limiting the understanding of species distribution and production mechanisms. In this study, a sensitive and high-throughput method using thermal desorption coupled with gas chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (TD-GC-ICPMS) is presented for the simultaneous quantification of S, Se, Br, and I species in atmospheric and aqueous samples. The method allows the detection of unknown volatile species and has been successfully applied to samples collected during a cruise in the Baltic and North Seas.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fanny Cusset, S. James Reynolds, Alice Carravieri, David Amouroux, Oceane Asensio, Roger C. Dickey, Jerome Fort, B. John Hughes, Vitor H. Paiva, Jaime A. Ramos, Laura Shearer, Emmanuel Tessier, Colin P. Wearn, Yves Cherel, Paco Bustamante
Summary: This study investigates the temporal variations in mercury exposure in sooty terns, a tropical seabird, and its relationship with trophic changes and ecosystem-wide changes. The findings reveal a significant increase in mercury concentrations in the feathers of sooty terns over the past 145 years, highlighting the impact of global mercury emissions and ecosystem changes on tropical marine predators.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bastien Duval, Emmanuel Tessier, Leire Kortazar, Luis Angel Fernandez, Alberto de Diego, David Amouroux
Summary: The cycling of mercury in remote alpine lakes, which are sensitive ecosystems, involves methylation and bio-magnification pathways. A study conducted in the Western/Central Pyrenees analyzed the speciation and variations of mercury in pristine lakes at high altitudes. The findings suggest that environmental changes, such as global warming and potential eutrophication, can significantly affect the turnover of mercury and the burden of methylmercury in these remote ecosystems.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Alina Kleindienst, Igor Zivkovic, Emmanuel Tessier, Alkuin Koenig, Larseric Heimburger-Boavida, Milena Horvat, David Amouroux
Summary: By assessing the measurement uncertainties, we validated the application of an indirect method for determining DMHg and suggested the potential for generating more precise and accurate DMHg data.
ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Esther S. Breuninger, Julie Tolu, Sylvain Bouchet, Lenny H. E. Winkel
Summary: Although oceans play a crucial role in the global selenium cycle, there is limited quantitative information available on selenium concentrations and speciation in marine environments. This study developed a sensitive method using species-specific isotope dilution gas chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ID-GC-ICPMS) to determine the different selenium chemical fractions in seawater, allowing for the measurement of selenium concentrations in brackish and marine systems.
ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elaheh Lotfi-Kalahroodi, Mickael Le Bechec, Emmanuel Tessier, Thierry Pigot, David Amouroux
Summary: The key factors affecting the abiotic photodemethylation process of monomethylmercury (MMHg) in freshwaters are unclear. This study investigated the photodemethylation pathway in a model freshwater under anoxic and oxic conditions. The results showed that photodecomposition of MMHg to Hg(0) is mainly induced by a first photodemethylation step to iHg(II) followed by a photoreduction step to Hg(0). The rate of photodemethylation and photoreduction was higher under anoxic conditions, and UV light played a stronger role in photoreduction compared to photodemethylation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sylvain Bouchet, Anne L. Soerensen, Erik Bjorn, Emmanuel Tessier, David Amouroux
Summary: Identifying Hg sources and controlling Hg levels in aquatic ecosystems is crucial. This study investigated the Hg concentrations and stable isotopes in sediment, seston, and fish from different basins in the Baltic Sea. The results showed that terrestrial and industrial sources contribute to Hg in sediments, while atmospheric inputs affect odd Hg isotopes. Additionally, wet-deposited Hg accumulates more in northern basins, and the extent of MMHg photodegradation varies across different regions.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Natalia Torres-Rodriguez, Jingjing Yuan, Sven Petersen, Aurelie Dufour, David Gonzalez-Santana, Valerie Chavagnac, Helene Planquette, Milena Horvat, David Amouroux, Cecile Cathalot, Ewan Pelleter, Ruoyu Sun, Jeroen E. Sonke, George W. Luther III, Lars-Eric Heimburger-Boavida
Summary: Methylmercury, a potent toxin, poses a threat to the global population through the consumption of marine fish. This study investigates the release of mercury from hydrothermal vents and finds that its contribution to oceanic mercury levels is small compared to anthropogenic inputs. The majority of mercury released from the vents is rapidly diluted in seawater, suggesting that most of the mercury in the ocean is of anthropogenic origin. Implementing emissions reduction measures could effectively decrease mercury levels in the global ocean and marine fish.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
M. Groeneveld, N. Catalan, K. Einarsdottir, A. G. Bravo, D. N. Kothawala
Summary: This study assesses the stability of fluorescence characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) to differences in solution pH and finds that fluorescence intensity is generally stable within the pH range of 5.5 to 7.5. However, commercial humic substance samples are more sensitive to pH changes.
ANALYTICAL METHODS
(2022)