GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, Marseille, France.
Chemosphere. 2023 Dec;345:140522. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140522. Epub 2023 Oct 23.
Mercury (Hg) fulminate was used as a primary fuse in World War (WW) munitions, and may consequently be a Hg source for impacted environments. Mercury is a conspicuous and persistent pollutant, with methylmercury (MeHg) acting as a notorious neurotoxin. Considerable amounts of munitions were intentionally dumped in the North Sea and Baltic Sea following the First and Second WWs. After more than 70 years on the seafloor many munitions have corroded and likely release explosive compounds, including Hg fulminate. The Germany coastal city of Kiel was a manufacturing centre for submarines, and accordingly a prominent target for bombing and post-war disarmament. We collected water and sediment samples around Kiel Bay to assess regional levels and quantify any Hg contamination. The munition dump site Kolberger Heide (KH) and a former anti-aircraft training center Dänisch-Nienhof are situated in Kiel Bay, and were targeted for sampling. Sediment Hg concentrations around KH were notably elevated. Average Hg concentrations in KH sediments were 125 ± 76 ng/g, compared to 14 ± 18 ng/g at background (control) sites. In contrast, dissolved Hg in the water column exhibited no site variations, all ranging between 0.8 and 2.1 pM. Methylmercury in sediments and waters did not have enhanced concentrations amongst sites (<30 pg/g and <50 fM, respectively). Sediment-water exchange experiments showed elevated Hg and MeHg fluxes (i.e. >400 pmol m d MeHg) at one KH location, however remaining cores had low to no Hg and MeHg output (<0-27 pmol m d MeHg). Thus, sediments in Kiel Bay proximate to WW munitions could harbor and form a source of Hg, however water column mixing and removal processes attenuate any discharge from the seafloor to overlying waters.
汞（Hg）雷酸盐曾被用作第一次世界大战（WW）弹药的主要引信，因此可能是受影响环境中汞的来源。汞是一种明显且持久的污染物，其中甲基汞（MeHg）是一种臭名昭著的神经毒素。第一次和第二次世界大战后，大量弹药被故意倾倒在北海和波罗的海。在海底 70 多年后，许多弹药已经腐蚀，可能会释放出包括 Hg 雷酸盐在内的爆炸化合物。德国沿海城市基尔是潜艇的制造中心，因此是轰炸和战后裁军的主要目标。我们在基尔湾周围采集了水和沉积物样本，以评估区域水平并量化任何汞污染。弹药倾倒场科尔贝格海德（KH）和一个前高射炮训练中心丹尼施-尼恩霍夫位于基尔湾，是采样的目标。KH 周围的沉积物汞浓度明显升高。KH 沉积物中的平均汞浓度为 125±76ng/g，而背景（对照）点为 14±18ng/g。相比之下，水柱中的溶解汞没有显示出任何地点的变化，都在 0.8 到 2.1 pM 之间。沉积物和水中的甲基汞浓度在各地点均未升高（分别为 <30pg/g 和 <50fM）。沉积物-水交换实验表明，一个 KH 地点的 Hg 和 MeHg 通量升高（即>400pmol m d MeHg），但其余岩芯的 Hg 和 MeHg 输出量低或无（<0-27pmol m d MeHg）。因此，基尔湾附近的 WW 弹药沉积物可能含有并形成汞的来源，但水柱混合和去除过程会削弱从海底到上覆水的任何排放。
