Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk, Al. Pilsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland.
J Environ Sci (China). 2010;22(8):1144-50. doi: 10.1016/s1001-0742(09)60230-8.
The aim of this study was to characterize mercury (Hg) contamination in the coastal waters of the Southern Baltic Sea, and to investigate transformations of Hg in the initial links of the marine food chain. Concentrations of Hg in water, particulate matter, plankton and macrophytes at various stations in the coastal zone (a bay with restricted water exchange, near an industrial city, river mouths, and the open sea) were measured in 2006-2008. Hg concentrations observed in the Southern Baltic varied greatly, showing the highest average values in all environmental compartments near the river mouths. In shallow, sheltered parts of the gulf, where water exchange is restricted, Hg concentrations in the water and in macrophytes were elevated relative to those in the coastal zone of the deeper part of the bay and in the open Baltic. Distance to the river mouth, terrestrial runoff, and quantity and quality of organic matter were more important than seasonal variations in controlling Hg and HgSPM concentrations in water samples. Mercury concentrations in the surface microlayer at the air/sea interface were over 10 times higher than those in the bulk surface water. Concentrations of Hg in macrophytes in the winter were significantly higher than those in the warm seasons (spring, summer, autumn). This was probably the combined effect of higher availability of Hg in porewaters and leaf growth inhibition.
本研究的目的是描述波罗的海南部沿海海域的汞（Hg）污染情况，并研究 Hg 在海洋食物链的初始环节中的转化情况。在 2006-2008 年期间，在沿海地区（一个水交换受限的海湾、一个工业城市附近、河口和开阔海域）的不同站点测量了水中、颗粒物、浮游生物和大型藻类中的 Hg 浓度。在波罗的海南部观察到的 Hg 浓度变化很大，在所有环境介质中，在河口附近的平均值最高。在海湾较浅、受保护的部分，水交换受限，与海湾较深部分的沿海地区和开阔的波罗的海相比，水中和大型藻类中的 Hg 浓度升高。与季节性变化相比，距河口的距离、陆地径流以及有机物的数量和质量对控制水样中 Hg 和 HgSPM 浓度更为重要。在空气/海界面的表面微层中，Hg 的浓度比在水体中的浓度高出 10 倍以上。冬季大型藻类中的 Hg 浓度明显高于温暖季节（春季、夏季和秋季）。这可能是由于间隙水中 Hg 的可用性更高以及叶片生长抑制的综合作用。
