MERCURY TRANSPORT, TRANSFORMATION, AND BIOACCUMULATION IN THE ECOSYSTEM OF MERCURY - STIBIUM GEOCHEMICAL PROVINCE

A simple analytic technique - isotope dilution - was used for determination of the contents of total and methilated Hg in water, sediments, soils and biological objects collected in the basin of the river Katun. The inspected region is located on a territory of two mercury-stibium geochemical provinces. Evaluation of the Hg transport, transformation and bioaccumulation in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems of the region showed that the main Hg transport occurs on suspended solids after Hg has been washed out from soil and bedrock by water of the river Katun and its tributaries and also by underground waters. Bottom sediments of some rivers of the basin content increased Hg concentrations. This effect is also noted in the sediments of a small reservoir formed on one of the tributaries. The investigations showed that Hg originating from natural sources differs considerably in its biochemical characteristics from Hg compounds coming from anthropogenic sources. So, natural Hg compounds have lower bioavailability for the water and terrestrial organisms of the region.