Optimization and application of a low cost, colorimetric screening method for mercury in marine sediment

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment Vol. 190; no. 4; p. 236
• Main Authors: Cavoura, Olga, Davidson, Christine M., Katsiris, Nicholas, Keenan, Helen E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.04.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Absorption spectroscopy; Aquariums; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; atomic absorption spectrometry; Atomic absorption spectroscopy; Brackishwater environment; Colorimetry; Copper; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Management; Estuaries; Estuarine sediments; Greece; guidelines; Marine sediments; Mercury; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Organic matter; Quantitative analysis; Salinity; Salinity effects; Screening; Sediment; Sediment samplers; Sediment samples; Sediments; Sensors; Spectral analysis; Spectrometry; United Kingdom > UK; Brazil; Greece; Screening; Marine; Sediment; Mercury; Colorimetric; Elefsina
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-018-6612-8

A rapid, inexpensive, colorimetric screening method for mercury (Hg) has been optimized to provide a semi-quantitative measurement of Hg concentration in marine sediment within the range 0.038 to 1.5 mg kg −1 encompassing the interim sediment quality guideline (ISQG) value of 0.13 mg kg −1 (CCME 1999 ) and the probable effects level (PEL) of 0.7 mg kg −1 for Hg in marine sediment (CCME 1999 ). Neither salinity (up to 41 practical salinity units (psu)) nor sediment organic matter (ΟΜ) content (up to 10%) affected the performance of the method. Accurate results were obtained for spike recovery experiments and analysis of certified reference material (CRM) BCR 580 Estuarine Sediment. The method was applied to sediment samples from Elefsina Bay, Greece. Screening results indicated Hg contamination in the bay, with concentrations exceeding the PEL value. Findings were confirmed by quantitative analysis of the samples by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS), where results in the range 1.4–2.96 mg kg −1 were determined.