MERCURY AND METHYLMERCURY IN SEDIMENTS AND SUSPENDED PARTICLES FROM THE RIVER ELBE, NORTH GERMANY

Total Hg and MeHg concentrations have been determined in sediments and suspended particulate matter from one of the most Hg-polluted rivers of the world, the Elbe river in Northern Germany. Results of total Hg and MeHg are presented. Total Hg concentrations in suspended particulate matter (SPM) are 30 mg kg-1 in the average and up to 150 mg kg-1 as the maximum value. Total Hg-fluxes are calculated from measurements of an automatically operating station upstream Hamburg as about 17 t a-1 in suspended particles. A new MeHg determination by HPLC chromatography and photometric detection was developed and verified. Methylmercury concentrations were up to 10% of the total Hg, i.e. 2.7 mg kg-1 (dw).