Spatial and temporal variation in mercury methylation in sediment and water of Farmington Bay of the Great Salt Lake, Utah

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Title Spatial and temporal variation in mercury methylation in sediment and water of Farmington Bay of the Great Salt Lake, Utah
Publication Type thesis
School or College College of Mines & Earth Sciences
Department Geology & Geophysics
Author Rudd, Abigail
Date 2010-08
Description The bioavailable form of mercury, methyl mercury (MHg), has been shown by previous studies to be relatively high in the main body of the Great Salt Lake (GSL). A consumption advisory for several species of waterfowl from the GSL and surrounding wetlands was recently released due to findings of toxic mercury levels in those species. The GSL is a system of vertically and spatially connected "compartments," including shallow and deep brine layers in the main bays, as well as bays on the eastern side where fresh water is delivered from corresponding rivers. It is presently unknown which compartments and locations are predominant in transforming mercury to methyl mercury. One method used to investigate Hg methylation in sediment and water is to spike the sample with inorganic mercury enriched in a minor isotope and observe the evolution of methyl mercury concentrations in response, which was implemented in this study. Sediment and water samples were collected from sites along two east-west trending transects at the north and south ends of Farmington Bay in summer and fall. Water temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, sulfide and sulfate concentrations, and ambient total Hg and MHg concentrations were measured at each site. Total solids content and organic matter were evaluated for the sediment. Subsamples of the sediment and water from each site were spiked with 204Hg2+ and were incubated for 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours.
Type Text
Publisher University of Utah
Subject Great Salt Lake; Mercury; Methylation; Farmington Bay
Subject LCSH Mercury -- Methylation; Mercury -- Environmental aspects -- Utah -- Farmington; Mercury -- Environmental aspects -- Utah -- Great Salt Lake
Dissertation Institution University of Utah
Dissertation Name MS
Language eng
Rights Management ©Abigail Rudd.
Format application/pdf
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 1,228,721 bytes
Source Original in Marriott Library Special Collections, TD7.5 2010 .R83
ARK ark:/87278/s6zc8hhz
Setname ir_etd
ID 193577
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6zc8hhz
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