Geochemical controls on the production and distribution of methylmercury in near-shore marine sediments

We examined temporal differences in sedimentary production of monomethylmercury (MMHg) at three sites in Long Island Sound (LIS). Sediment-phase concentrations of Hg species decreased from west to east in LIS surface sediments, following the trend of organic matter. However, Hg methylation potentials, measured by incubation with an isotopic tracer (Hg-200), increased from west to east. Hg-200 methylation potentials were enhanced in August relative to March and June, attributable to differences in activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria. Organic matter and acid-volatile sulfide influenced the distribution coefficient (K-D) of inorganic Hg (Hg(II) = total Hg - MMHg) and inhibited Hg-200 methylation in surface sediments. Hg-200 methylation varied inversely with the K-D of Hg(II) and positively with the concentration of Hg(II), mostly as HgS0, in LIS pore waters. Accordingly, we posit that a principal control on MMHg production in low-sulfide, coastal marine sediments is partitioning of Hg(II) between particle and dissolved phases, which regulates availability of Hg substrate to methylating bacteria. Most of the partitioning in LIS sediments is due to Hg-organic associations. This suggests that reductions in the organic content of coastal sediment, a potential result of nutrient abatement programs intended to inhibit eutrophication of near-shore waters, could enhance MMHg production by increasing the bioavailability of the large reservoir of "legacy Hg" buried within the sediment.