Fractionation, distribution and transport of mercury in rivers and tributaries around Wanshan Hg mining district, Guizhou Province, Southwestern China: Part 2 – Methylmercury

Water samples were collected during normal flow (2007) and during a drought period (2008) from five rivers and tributaries draining the Wanshan Hg mining district, Guizhou, China. Unfiltered methylmercury (MeHg) as well as particulate and dissolved fractions of MeHg (P-MeHg, D-MeHg) were measured to assess the spatial and temporal variation of MeHg contamination in the local river system. Most locations (about 80%) displayed higher MeHg concentrations during drought period than during normal discharge conditions. Concentrations of MeHg during the drought period ranged from <0.035 to 11 ng L−1 (geometric mean: 0.43), while during normal flow the concentrations ranged from <0.035 to only 3.4 ng L−1 (geometric mean: 0.21). Concentrations of MeHg were positively correlated with total Hg (THg) concentrations (R2 = 0.20–0.58, P < 0.001) and inversely related to distance from the calcines, during both sampling periods (R2 = 0.34 and 0.23, P < 0.001, for low and normal flow, respectively) indicating that calcines may be important sources of MeHg to the downstream environment. Approximately 39% of MeHg was bound to particulates and the rest was transported in the dissolved phase along stretches of the entire river, which was different from THg, as this was mainly transported bound to particulates (commonly more than 80%).