Mercury in the Surficial Sediments of Lake Erie

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Abstract
In 259 samples of the topmost 3 cm of sediment taken from Lake Erie in 1971, total Hg values ranged from 8-2929 ppb (.hivin.x 582 .+-. 555 ppb SD). The highest levels were in the Western basin adjacent to the Detroit River, the rest of the lake showing increasing concentration from the coarser sediments of the Inshore Zone and cross-lake moraine sills out into the basin muds. A quartz correction was applied to compensate for texture and dilution by an inert constituent. The distribution of quartz-corrected Hg confirmed that the Detroit River is the predominant source of industrial Hg to the Western basin with subsequent transport across the Central basin to final sink in the Eastern basin. Further possible inputs were indicated from Erie, Pennsylvania and Buffalo, New York [USA]. Analysis of suspended sediment in the Detroit River showed no change in concentration between 1970-1974 with a mean 1974 level of 1060 ppb. Hg loading was estimated at 7.2 million tons/yr to the sediments of the Western basin. A relationship was observed between total Hg and organic C, showing 2 distinct regressions: ''A'' with lower organic-bound Hg, represents the levels related to industrial and natural loadings existing prior to the introduction of Hg cell chlor-alkali plants; ''B'' applicable to highly contaminated sediments, is probably indicative of loadings derived from the chlor-alkali industry.

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