The biogeochemistry of mercury at the sediment–water interface in the Thau lagoon. 1. Partition and speciation

Solid sediment, pore and epibenthic waters were collected from the Thau lagoon (France) in order to study the post-depositional partition and mobility of mercury in organic rich sediment. Total Hg (HgT) and monomethylmercury (MMHg) profiles were produced in both dissolved and solid phases. The distribution of HgT in the solid phase appeared to be related to the historical changes in the Hg inputs into the lagoon. HgT was in equilibrium between solid and solution phases in the sulfidic part of the cores, with a mean log Kd of 4.9 ± 0.2. The solid phase appeared to be a source of HgT for pore water in the upper oxic to suboxic parts of the cores. The MMHg represented a small fraction of HgT: 3–15% and 0.02–0.80% in the dissolved and solid phases, respectively. Its distribution was characterized by a main peak in the superficial sediments, and another deeper in the core within the sulfide-accumulating zone. In addition, high dissolved MMHg concentrations and methylated percentage were found in the epibenthic water. Ascorbate (pH 8) dissolution of the sediments and analyses of the soluble fraction suggest that the amorphous oxyhydroxides played a major role in controlling total and methylmercury mobility throughout the sediment–water interface. These features are discussed in terms of sources, transfer and transformations. Diffusive fluxes of HgT and MMHg from sediment to the water column for the warm period were estimated to be 40 ± 15 and 4 ± 2 pmol m−2 d−1, respectively.