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Long-term dynamics of total mercury in surficial bottom sediments of the Volga River’s reservoir in central Russia

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Abstract

The long-term dynamics of mercury in bottom sediments of Uglich Reservoir were examined. Samples of the 0–5-cm surface layer of bottom sediment collected during research expeditions in 1958, 1977, 1991, and 2012 were analyzed. An increase in the average mercury concentration from 1958 to 1977 (0.440 ± 0.039 and 0.668 ± 0.065 mg/kg d.w., respectively) was followed by a decrease in 2012 (0.260 ± 0.021 mg/kg d.w.). During all years except 1991, a significant correlation was found between mercury content and the amount of organic matter in the sediments (r = 0.54–0.87, p < 0.01), flow velocity (r = 0.38–0.53, p < 0.01), and the rate of sedimentation in the reservoir (r = − 0.51 to − 0.69, p < 0.01). Calculations based on these results and previously published data from the study region on the density of atmospheric mercury precipitation showed that the watershed as a whole received 2.4–3.0 t on an annual basis, and in the same period, the water surface received 9.7–12.8 kg of mercury. The bottom sediment contained 4.31 (2012)–7.40 (1977) tons of mercury. Thus, most of the mercury in the Uglich Reservoir is assumed to originate from runoff and terrigenous sources within the watershed.

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Acknowledgements

Support was received from the Program on Biological Resources of Russian Federation, Russian Academy of Sciences. Dr. Christopher Robinson helped with the English version of the manuscript.

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  1. Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters, Russian Academy of Sciences, Borok, Russia, 152742

    Yury G. Udodenko, Viktor T. Komov & Viktor V. Zakonnov

  2. Cherepovets State University, Lunacharskogo, 5, Cherepovets, Russia, 162600

    Yury G. Udodenko & Viktor T. Komov

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Udodenko, Y.G., Komov, V.T. & Zakonnov, V.V. Long-term dynamics of total mercury in surficial bottom sediments of the Volga River’s reservoir in central Russia. Environ Monit Assess 190, 198 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-6575-9

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