Mercury stable isotopes in sediments and largemouth bass from Florida lakes, USA

Humans and wildlife can be exposed to mercury (Hg) through the consumption of fish with elevated concentrations of methylmercury (MeHg). Studies have shown that increased atmospheric deposition of Hg often leads to increased MeHg concentrations in aquatic organisms. However, depending on the ecosystem characteristics, reductions in Hg emissions may not always lead to immediate decreases in fish MeHg concentrations. Measurements of natural abundance Hg stable isotope ratios may enable a better understanding of these complex relationships. To gain insight into the sources of Hg to sport fish in central Florida, we measured the Hg isotopic compositions of surface sediments and largemouth bass from freshwater lakes. We found that fish collected from lakes located near the large Crystal River coal-fired power plant did not display evidence of anomalous negative δ202Hg values that were observed in nearby precipitation. This suggests that Hg recently deposited from the atmosphere is not preferentially methylated and bioaccumulated in these lakes relative to previously deposited Hg accumulated in the lake sediments. We also observed significant positive Δ199Hg values in the fish that were correlated with light penetration depth in the lakes from which they were collected. This indicates that a significant amount of photochemical degradation of MeHg (up to ~ 40%) occurred prior to uptake of the remaining MeHg into the food webs. These results suggest that depending on physical lake characteristics and biogeochemical factors, decreased atmospheric Hg deposition may not lead to immediate short-term reductions in fish MeHg concentrations. Instead, recovery of some freshwater fish populations to baseline MeHg concentrations may take decades to centuries.

► Mercury isotope ratios were measured in sediments and bass from 20 lakes in Florida.
► Isotopic compositions of fish indicated sediments were the primary Hg source.
► Mercury recently emitted by a local source did not preferentially enter the fish.
► Declines in fish Hg concentrations may take decades to centuries.