These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Seasonal variation of monomethylmercury concentrations in surface sediments of the Tagus Estuary (Portugal).
    Author: Canário J, Branco V, Vale C.
    Journal: Environ Pollut; 2007 Jul; 148(1):380-3. PubMed ID: 17240023.
    Abstract:
    Surface sediments (0-2cm) were collected at 40 sites along the Tagus Estuary in July and December 2004. The sediments were analysed for total mercury, monomethylmercury (MMHg) and interpretative parameters (e.g. redox potential, pH, C(org)). No significant differences in total Hg, pH, Al, Fe, Mn and C(org) were found between sediments collected in the two periods, but MMHg concentrations were higher in July. On average sediments were warmer and more reducing in summer. On the basis of these results, an increase of 7kg of MMHg (+37%) in surface sediments of the Tagus Estuary was estimated. Presumably higher temperatures in summer promote the increase of microbial activity and higher methylation rates. The alterations observed in this study point to the potential importance of seasonal changes in MMHg production at surface sediments with eventual changes in the MMHg uptake by benthic invertebrates and other organisms in the food web.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]