Spatial and temporal variation of total mercury and methylmercury in lacustrine wetland in Korea

The spatial and temporal variations of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations (n = 120, respectively) in water and sediments of the Yangsuri lacustrine wetland in Korea were measured. The average concentrations of THg and MeHg in surface water were 2.04 ± 1.97 and 0.05 ± 0.05 ng L⁻¹, respectively. The concentrations of THg and MeHg in sediments ranged from 1.28 to 85.83 and ≤0.01 to 0.35 ng g⁻¹, respectively, and varied depending on the location. In the vegetated zone located near residential areas, the highest concentrations of THg and MeHg in both surface water and sediments were obtained near the residential areas, especially during the fall season. This result might be due to increased methylation rate of Hg by water turnover in the fall season. While THg and MeHg concentrations in water were not correlated, they were significantly correlated in sediment (r = 0.75; P