Abstract
We determined mercury in fish (perch Perca fluviatilis) from 26 Russian lakes in three regions over four years. The lakes ranged in size from 2 to 395,000 ha, in pH from 4.5 to 10.0, and in color from 3 to 190 hazen. Sixteen lakes were drainage lakes, with permanent outlets, and 10 were seepage lakes, with no permanent inlets or outlets. The lakes were generally located in forested regions with little or no human habitation in the watershed. The three regions were geologically distinct: Precambrian Shield granitic bedrock covered with thin soil; Triassic bedrock covered with thick glacial tills; and Triassic bedrock covered with thin sediments. At each lake water samples were collected and analyzed for pH, add neutralizing capacity (ANC), major cations, and anions. Dissolved mercury species were estimated with a thermodynamic equilibrium model (MINTEQA2). Mercury content of dorsal muscle varied from 0.04 to 1.0 μg/g wet weight, and was linearly related to calculated HgCH3Cl (r20.68, p<0.001). Lake HgCH3Cl, in turn, was related to lake pH (r2=0.86, p<0.001). Stepwise multiple regression selected lake HgCH3Cl and color as the factors most highly related to fish mercury content, with the model accounting for 75% of the variation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ager, D.V.: 1980, The Geology of Europe, McGraw-Hill, London, 535 pp.
Bodaly, R.A., Rudd, J.W.M., Fudge, RJ.P., Kelly, C.A.: 1993, Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 50, 980–987.
Boudou, A., Detnomdedieu, M., Georgescauld, D., Ribeyre, F., Saouter, E.: 1991, Water Air Soil Pollut. 56, 807–821.
Chadwick, M.J., Kuylenstierna, J.C.I.: 1991, Perspect. Energy 1, 71–93.
Driscoll, C.T., Blette, V., Yan, C. et al.: 1995, Water Air Soil Pollut. 80, 499–508.
Dyrssen, D., Wedborg, M.: 1991, Water Air Soil Pollut. 56, 507–519.
FAO/SIDA: 1980, Fish. Tech. Pap, 212, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 33 pp.
Faust, B.C.: 1992, Environ. Toxicol. Chan. 11, 1373–1376.
Futter, M.N.: 1994, Sci Tot. Environ. 145, 7–12.
Grieb, T.M., Driscoll, C.T., Gloss, S.P., et al.: 1990, Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 9, 919–930.
Haines, T.A., Komov, V., Jagoe, C.H.: 1992, Environ. Pollut. 78, 107–112.
Haines, T.A., Komov, V.T., Jagoe, C.H.: 1994, in Watras, C.J., and Huckabee, J.W. (eds.), Mercury Pollution: Integration and Synthesis, Lewis, Boca Raton, pp. 397–407.
Hudson, R.J.M., Gherini, S.A., Watras, C.J., Porcella, D.B.: 1994, in Watras, C.J., and Huclcabee, J.W. (eds.), Mercury Pollution: Integration and Synthesis, Lewis, Boca Raton, pp. 473–523.
Lee, Y.-H., Hultberg, H.: 1990, Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 9, 833–841.
Lee, Y.-H., Iverfeldt, Å.: 1991, Water Air Soil Pollut. 56, 309–321.
Lindqvist, O., Johansson, K., Aastrup, M. et al.: 1991, Water Air Soil Pollut. 55, 1–261.
Mason, R.P., Reinfelder, J.R., Morel, F.M.M.: 1995a, Water Air Soil Pollut. 80, 915–921.
Mason, R.P., Reinfelder, J.R., Morel, F.M.M., et al.:1995, Environ. Sci. Technol. Submitted.
McMurtry, M.J., Wales, D.L., Scheider, W.A., et al.: 1989, Can. J. Fish. Aquat Sci. 46, 426–434.
Meili, M.: 1994, in Watras, C.J., and Huckabee, J.W. (eds.), Mercury Pollution: Integration and Synthesis, Lewis, Boca Raton, pp. 99–106.
Nilsson, Å., Håkanson, L.: 1992, Hydrobiologia 235/236, 675–683.
Porcella, D.B.: 1994, in Watras, C.J., and Huclcabee, J.W. (eds.), Mercury Pollution: Integration and Synthesis Lewis, Boca Raton, pp. 3–19.
Rodgers, D.W.: 1994, in Watras, C.J., and Huclcabee, J.W. (eds.), Mercury Pollution: Integration and Synthesis, Lewis, Boca Raton, pp. 427–439.
SAS Institute Inc.: 1989, SAS/STAT User's Guide, Vers. 6, 4th ed., Vol 2, SAS Institute, Cary, 846 pp.
Spry, D.J., Wiener, J.G.: 1991, Environ. Pollut. 71, 243–304.
Stumm, W., Morgan, JJ.: Aquatic Chemistry, 2nd ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, 780 pp.
Verta, M.: 1990, Pub. Water Environ. Res. Inst. 6, National Board of Waters and the Environment, Finland, Helsinki, 33 pp.
Watras, C.J., Morrison, KA, Host, J.S.: 1995, Limnol. Oceanogr. 40, 556–565.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Haines, T.A., Komov, V.T., Matey, V.E. et al. Perch mercury content is related to acidity and color of 26 Russian lakes. Water Air Soil Pollut 85, 823–828 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00476931
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00476931