A Model to Predict Concentrations and Uncertainty for Mercury Species in Lakes

A Model to Predict Concentrations and Uncertainty for Mercury Species in Lakes PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Abstract : To increase understanding of mercury cycling, a seasonal mass balance model was developed to predict mercury concentrations in lakes and fish. Results indicate that seasonality in mercury cycling is significant and is important for a northern latitude lake. Models, when validated, have the potential to be used as an alternative to measurements; models are relatively inexpensive and are not as time intensive. Previously published mercury models have neglected to perform a thorough validation. Model validation allows for regulators to be able to make more informed, confident decisions when using models in water quality management. It is critical to quantify uncertainty; models are often over-parameterized and constrained by few measurements. As an approach, the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) Bayesian method was used for uncertainty analysis. The uncertainty analysis provided a better means for calibration, helpful insight on the distribution of model parameter values, and the uncertainty in model predictions.

A Model to Predict Concentrations and Uncertainty for Mercury Species in Lakes

A Model to Predict Concentrations and Uncertainty for Mercury Species in Lakes PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Abstract : To increase understanding of mercury cycling, a seasonal mass balance model was developed to predict mercury concentrations in lakes and fish. Results indicate that seasonality in mercury cycling is significant and is important for a northern latitude lake. Models, when validated, have the potential to be used as an alternative to measurements; models are relatively inexpensive and are not as time intensive. Previously published mercury models have neglected to perform a thorough validation. Model validation allows for regulators to be able to make more informed, confident decisions when using models in water quality management. It is critical to quantify uncertainty; models are often over-parameterized and constrained by few measurements. As an approach, the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) Bayesian method was used for uncertainty analysis. The uncertainty analysis provided a better means for calibration, helpful insight on the distribution of model parameter values, and the uncertainty in model predictions.

Developing Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Mercury

Developing Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Mercury PDF Author: D. R. J. Moore
Publisher: IWA Publishing
ISBN: 1843396378
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 184

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Book Description
This project examined the development of ambient water quality criteria (AWQC) for the protection of wildlife for mercury. Mercury is considered a serious risk to wildlife in many areas. As a result, the Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative and others have developed AWQC. These AWQC have been controversial, however, because (1) the AWQC were single values that did not account for site-specific conditions; (2) derivation of the AWQC relied on a single NOAEL, and (3) the AWQC had an unknown level of conservatism because of reliance on both average and conservative assumptions and uncertainty factors. Rather than develop a single value AWQC for total mercury, we derive an AWQC model that explicitly incorporates factors controlling bioavailability, methylation rates and bioaccumulation in the aquatic environment (e.g., pH, DOC, sulfate). To derive our AWQC model, field data was collected including numerous water quality parameters and total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in whole body fish tissue from 31 lakes in Ontario and an additional 10 lakes in Nova Scotia. An independent dataset consisting of 51 water bodies in the United States was then used to confirm the validity and robustness of the AWQC model. Next we combined the results of chronic-feeding studies with similar protocols and endpoints, in a meta-analysis to derive a dose-response curve for mink exposed to mercury in the diet. Using this approach, one can derive an LD5 or other similar endpoint that can then be used as the basis for deriving -wildlife AWQC. In the final step, we used a probabilistic risk model to estimate the concentrations of methylmercury in water that would lead to levels in fish sufficient for there to be a 10% probability of exceeding the mink LD5. This analysis was repeated for various combinations of pH and DOC. The result is an AWQC model for mercury for the protection of wildlife that can be used for a variety of site-specific conditions. This publication can also be purchased and downloaded via Pay Per View on Water Intelligence Online - click on the Pay Per View icon below

Hermes

Hermes PDF Author: Adrienne Ethier
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Lakes
Languages : en
Pages : 388

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Mercury study report to Congress

Mercury study report to Congress PDF Author:
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
ISBN: 1428903720
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 1811

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Book Description


Mass Balance Model of Mercury for the St. Lawrence River, Cornwall, Ontario

Mass Balance Model of Mercury for the St. Lawrence River, Cornwall, Ontario PDF Author: Charlotte Lessard
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Mercury
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
We have developed a regional mass balance model for the St. Lawrence River near Cornwall, Ontario that describes the fate and transport of mercury in three forms, elemental mercury (Hg0), divalent mercury (Hg2+), and methyl mercury (MeHg), in a five compartment environment (air, water, sediments, periphyton, and benthos). Our first objective was to construct a steady-state mass balance model to determine the dominant sources and sinks of mercury in this environment. Our second objective was to construct a dynamic mass balance model to predict and hindcast mercury concentrations in this environment. We compiled mercury concentrations, fluxes, and transformation rates from previous studies completed in this section of the river to develop the model in STELLA®. The inflow of mercury was the major source to this system, accounting for 0.42 mol month-1, or 95.5% of all mercury inputs, whereas outflow was 0.28 mol month-1, or 63.6% of all losses, and sediment deposition was 0.12 mol month-1, or 27.3% of all losses. The dynamic mass balance model provides estimated results that are consistent with measured data and predicts historical local industrial emissions to be approximately 400 kg year-1. Uncertainty estimates were greatest for advective fluxes in surface water, porewater, periphyton, and benthic invertebrates. This model is useful for predicting and hindcasting mercury concentrations in other aquatic environments because it contains the three main environmental compartments, all forms of mercury, and compartments (e.g. periphyton) not included in previous mercury multi-media models.

Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology of Mercury

Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology of Mercury PDF Author: Guangliang Liu
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118146638
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 435

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Book Description
This book provides the fundamentals, recent developments, and future research needs for critical mercury transformation and transport processes, as well as the experimental methods that have been employed in recent studies. The coverage discusses the environmental behavior and toxicological effects of mercury on organisms, including humans, and provides case studies at the end of each chapter. Bringing together information normally spread across several books, this text is unique in covering the entire mercury cycle and providing a baseline for what is known and what uncertainties remain in respect to mercury cycling.

Atmospheric Mercury in the Great Lakes Region

Atmospheric Mercury in the Great Lakes Region PDF Author: Caitlin M. Littlefield
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 200

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Mercury Study Report to Congress: Executive summary

Mercury Study Report to Congress: Executive summary PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Factory and trade waste
Languages : en
Pages : 190

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Mercury study report to Congress Vol. 6

Mercury study report to Congress Vol. 6 PDF Author:
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
ISBN: 1428953841
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 158

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A Dynamical Systems Approach to Modeling Mercury Contamination in Aquatic Food Webs

A Dynamical Systems Approach to Modeling Mercury Contamination in Aquatic Food Webs PDF Author: Catherine McFadyen
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 214

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