贵州洪家渡水库水体不同形态汞的分布特征

通过分析贵州省乌江流域新建的洪家渡水库水体不同形态汞的浓度,探讨了水库水体各形态汞的分布特征,旨在进一步弄清新修建的水库水体汞的甲基化过程.结果表明,洪家渡水库总汞(THg)浓度变化范围在0.32～6.75 ng·L-1;溶解态汞(DHg)浓度变化范围在0.23～2.27 ng·L-1;颗粒态(PHg)汞浓度变化范围在0.03～4.51 ng·L-1;总甲基汞(TMeHg)浓度变化范围在0.04～0.18 ng·L-1;溶解态甲基汞(DMeHg)浓度变化范围在0.02～0.08 ng·L-1;颗粒态甲基汞(PMeHg)浓度变化范围在0.01～0.13 ng·L-1.洪家渡水库水体不同形态汞存在着季节性变化,水体THg、DHg和PHg的季节变化表现为夏、秋季大于春、冬季;水体TMeHg、DMeHg和PMeHg的季节变化表现为春、夏季大于秋、冬季.在空间上,水体甲基汞含量从表层到底层表现无规律性的增加趋势,从上游到下游的浓度也无明显的变化,与北美欧洲新建水库水体甲基汞浓度(0.01～6.6 ng·L-1)进行比较,发现洪家渡水库水体甲基汞浓度明显偏低,以上结果说明洪家渡水库水体没有显著的汞甲基化作用,这与乌江流域淹没土壤的贫瘠、有机质含量偏低有关.     

乌江渡水库养殖鱼类汞及脂肪酸的组成特征

为了评估网箱鱼营养价值,了解乌江渡水库养殖鱼的汞含量及脂肪酸的组成,随机采集优势鱼10种共计120个样品,测定了总汞、甲基汞以及包括长链不饱和脂肪酸(n6/n3 PUFA)和EPA、DHA等形态的脂肪酸。结果显示:乌江渡水库养殖鱼的总汞含量在3.50~185.05 ng·g-1,平均含量为23.90 ng·g-1;甲基汞含量在0.16~49.09 ng·g-1,平均含量为7.78 ng·g-1。乌江渡水库养殖鱼汞含量总体较低,均未超过我国水产品食用安全标准。同时,样品中的人体必需脂肪酸n3 PUFA中的EPA+DHA含量以鲫鱼最高,肉食性的鲶鱼最低。通过对n6/n3 PUFA比值分析发现,乌江养殖鱼除了富含EPA和DHA同时也富含较高的n6PUFA。对于乌江渡水库养殖鱼来说,武昌鱼、白鲢、草鱼、青鱼以及丁桂鱼是含有较高EPA+DHA和较低甲基汞的鱼种,具有较高的营养价值。     

贵州草海水生植物汞分布及其对沉积物汞的响应

以国家自然保护区草海湿地为研究对象,采集草海湖中深水区和湖边浅水区生长的主要优势植物,测定其汞和甲基汞,探讨水生植物汞和甲基汞分布特征及其对沉积物汞的响应,并评估其面临的汞污染风险。结果表明:水生植物总汞含量为5.18~40.06 ng·g-1(均值12.78 ng·g-1),与其他自然保护区报道的植物汞含量相当,其中茎叶汞含量平均值较高的有空心莲子草、小茨藻、水蓼等。水生植物甲基汞含量为0.04~2.47 ng·g-1(均值0.34 ng·g-1),其中茎叶甲基汞含量与总汞呈显著正相关性(r=0.38,n=46,P0.01)。湖边浅水区沉水植物中总汞和甲基汞平均含量均明显高于湖中深水区相同种类的植物,与沉积物中甲基汞浓度的空间分布特征一致,但与沉积物总汞空间分布特征相反,表明湖边浅水区沉积物汞的甲基化程度、生物可利用性都明显高于湖中深水区。不同采样点沉积物有机质的含量差异以及浅水区沉积物存在的干湿交替可能导致了湖中湖边植物汞和甲基汞含量的明显差异,其具体影响机制还需进一步深入研究。     

长白山森林地区河流中汞的时空分布特征

采集并测定了枯水期和丰水期长白山北坡几条河流的水样,研究了长白山地区河流中总汞和甲基汞的时空变化规律.长白山北坡地区河流总汞的变化范围为2.0～20 ng·L-1,受北方燃煤等人为活动影响,枯水期总汞含量高于丰水期;甲基汞的变化范围为0.12～0.55 ng·L-1,不同季节的甲基汞变化不大.水体汞含量随海拔的升高而降低,汇入松花江的几条河流对松花江水体的影响较为明显,随着河流的汇入溶解态汞含量下降,颗粒态汞含量升高.与世界上其他一些森林水体对比发现,长白山水体甲基汞含量较低,但总汞含量较高.估计研究地区河流一年将向下游地区输出33 kg的总汞以及200 g甲基汞,这将进一步加剧下游水体汞的负担.     

乌江洪家渡水库鱼体汞含量

测定了贵州省乌江流域新建的洪家渡水库中的8种124尾鱼类的总汞和甲基汞含量,探讨其变化趋势及可能产生的生态风险。总汞采用混合酸消解用冷原子荧光(CVAFS)测定,甲基汞的测定采用碱消解-水相乙基化结合气相色谱(GC)冷原子荧光(CVAFS)测定。结果表明,总汞和甲基汞含量均为肉食性鱼类杂食性鱼类,鱼体汞含量与它们的生态学特性(食物来源和生活习性)有关,与体重和体长无显著相关关系;鱼体总汞和甲基汞含量均值分别为0.063±0.046和0.028±0.019mg.kg-1,均远低于大部分研究报道的新建水库中鱼体汞含量(0.50mg.kg-1)。洪家渡水库鱼类由于在低汞环境中,导致甲基汞不易富集,其鱼体甲基汞和总汞含量并未急剧增加,显著不同于北美和欧洲等地区新建水库中鱼体汞含量升高的现象,但随着水库演化导致水库有机质增加可能使鱼体汞逐步上升。     

阿哈水库沉积物总汞及甲基汞分布特征

为弄清阿哈水库沉积物是否受到历史矿山废水输入对沉积物总汞及甲基汞垂直分布的影响,对沉积物总汞及甲基汞的含量和其垂直分布特征进行了研究.结果表明,阿哈水库沉积物总汞含量变化范围为160～252 ng·g-1,平均为210 ng·g-1,明显高于其他未受到污染的水库沉积物.沉积物中总汞含量随沉积物深度增加呈增加趋势,与其沉积环境有关.沉积物中甲基汞含量变化范围为0.2～7.2 ng·g-1,平均为1.8 ng·g-1,丰水期甲基汞含量随深度增加逐渐下降,且沉积物表层甲基汞含量显著高于枯水期,与丰水期表层有机物的增加和厌氧环境有关.     

万山汞矿区大米汞污染及人体甲基汞暴露风险

采集贵州省万山汞矿区2个流域7个地点的168个大米样品,测定其总汞及甲基汞含量,并对当地居民食用大米甲基汞暴露的健康风险进行评估。结果表明:万山汞矿区大米总汞含量变化范围为2.4~401.0 ng·g-1,平均含量为42.4 ng·g-1,51%的样品总汞含量超过我国食品汞限量标准(20 ng·g-1);甲基汞含量变化范围为1.1~45.1 ng·g-1,平均含量为11.7 ng·g-1,甲基汞占总汞的平均比例为44.8%;大米总汞与甲基汞含量呈显著正相关(r=0.44,P0.01),大米总汞含量与甲基汞占总汞的比例呈负相关(r=-0.59,P0.01)。位于河流上游离汞矿较近的地点汞污染较严重,随流域往下离汞矿较远地点汞含量相对降低。大米甲基汞暴露的风险评估显示,万山大水溪、梅子溪、白果树等污染地区存在一定的人群甲基汞暴露,而其他地区的人群也存在一定的潜在风险。     

贵州百花湖鱼体汞污染现状

以西南汞污染严重的贵州百花湖为对象,选取湖中优势鱼、贝类,通过测定其总汞和甲基汞含量,并结合水体、沉积物汞含量和相关水质参数,探讨了百花湖鱼类汞污染的现状及其影响因素.百花湖鱼体总汞平均含量为28.0ng·g-1,变化范围为4.2～143ng·g-1;甲基汞的平均含量为10.9ng·g-1,变化范围为3.0～39.3ng·g-1.虽然百花湖遭受上游贵州有机化工厂含汞废水的严重污染,但鱼体汞含量并没有超过国家食品卫生标准.其主要原因可能是:百花湖的鱼主要是人工养殖的草食性或杂食性鱼类,鱼龄较小,且其摄取的食物汞含量低、食物链简单,不利于汞的富集;其次,其较快的生长速度对鱼体汞具有生物稀释的作用.     

贵州省典型铅锌矿区和贵阳市居民汞暴露以及健康风险评估

选择贵州省赫章县铅锌矿区和贵阳市居民区,采集了居民日用食物(大米、土豆、鸡蛋、蔬菜、鱼肉、猪肉)、饮用水和农作物根际土壤,共计503个,测定了总汞和甲基汞的含量,并结合蒙特卡洛模拟评估了居民无机汞和甲基汞暴露风险。结果如下：(1)铅锌矿区的样品总汞和甲基汞的范围分别为0.11～39和0.028～1.7 ng·g^-1,城市居民区的样品总汞和甲基汞的范围分别为0.07～18和0.01～7.7 ng·g^-1,除蔬菜外的样品总汞含量低于我国食品限量标准,蔬菜总汞含量分别有14.7%(铅锌矿区)和17.7%(城市居民区)的样品超过我国《食品安全国家标准》(GB 2672—2017)规定的10 ng·g^-1。(2)两个地区无机汞日暴露量无差异(城市居民区：0.031μg·kg^-1·d^-1,铅锌矿区：0.032μg·kg^-1·d^-1),但城市居民区的甲基汞日暴露量(0.006μg·kg^-1·d^-1)高出铅...     

夜郎湖水库水体不同形态汞的时空分布

于2006年7月(夏季)、2007年1月(冬季)和3月(春季)采集了贵州省夜郎湖水库水样,研究了不同形态汞(总汞、溶解态汞、颗粒态汞)的时空分布特征及其影响因素.结果表明,夏季水体总汞、溶解态汞、颗粒态汞平均含量分别为4.48±2.59、2.37±1.40、2.11±1.86 ng·L-1,均显著高于冬季和春季(P＜0.001),而冬春2季不同形态汞含量无明显差异.水质参数悬浮颗粒物(SPM)和硝酸盐(NO-3)与不同形态汞之间均存在显著的正相关关系,表明这些参数对于不同形态汞的季节分布起着重要作用.夏季农业耕作活动相对活跃,表层土壤的扰动增加,雨水冲刷农田土壤,带进大量的外源颗粒物,致使夜郎湖水体夏季总汞水平较高.空间分布表明,夜郎湖水库夏季总汞平均浓度从水库入库河流至大坝方向、出库河流呈现总体下降的分布趋势,但水体各采样剖面没有明显的分布规律.     

Effect of urban sewage treatment on total and methyl mercury concentrations in effluents

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of sewage treatment on total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in domestic effluents and the contribution of urban sewage treatment facilities to THg and MeHg in rivers. We determined the concentrations of THg and MeHg in unfiltered samples of untreated and treated domestic sewage from the three treatment facilities and receiving river water within the City of Winnipeg. The concentrations of THg in the Red and Assiniboine rivers ranged from 3–31 ng/L. THg was related positively to suspended sediment concentrations in the rivers. The concentrations of MeHg in these rivers were usually 0.2–0.3 ng/L. THg concentrations in raw sewage varied widely, from 2–150 ng/L. Treatment removed an average of 88% of this mercury. MeHg concentrations in raw sewage were 0.5–4.3 ng/L, however, after treatment at two treatment facilities, MeHg was greatly reduced, usually to 0.1–0.4 ng/L. Most treated sewage, therefore, had MeHg concentrations that were similar to levels in the receiving rivers and the effect of discharged effluent was usually a change of about 2% or less on concentrations in the rivers. However, one of the facilities (the West End plant) was discharging higher concentrations of MeHg, up to 2 ng/L, causing calculated increases of up to 11% in the concentration of MeHg in the Assiniboine River.     

河流汞污染对青鳉鱼早期发育的毒性影响

清镇市化工厂是贵州省东门桥河汞污染的重要来源。为了评估这条河流的汞污染程度,本研究调查了东门桥河环境样品中的汞含量和分布情况。河流水体总汞(THg)和甲基汞(MeHg)的平均含量分别为(135.79±47.40)和(0.64±0.58)ng·L-1;生物膜中THg和MeHg的平均含量分别为(3.38±1.91)mg·kg-1和(10.47±0.40)μg·kg^-1;沉积物中THg和MeHg的平均含量分别为(23.21±20.22)mg·kg-1和(32.74±10.96)μg·kg^-1。为了进一步了解这条河流中汞对水生生物的风险,将青鳉鱼胚胎和仔鱼分别暴露于从河中收集的被汞污染的河水、生物膜和沉积物中。青鳉鱼胚胎经15 d暴露后,孵化时间延长、孵化率显著降低,死亡率显著升高,实验暴露还导致胚胎无法破膜、卵黄囊水肿等畸形效应,以及初孵仔鱼不同程度的畸形。青鳉鱼仔鱼经24、48、96 h和21 d暴露后,各暴露组的死亡率和畸形率随着暴露时间的延长而显著升高,且表现出一系列以脊柱弯曲为主的畸形效应。研究表明,东门桥河的汞污染会严重影响青鳉鱼的早期生长发育。     

Impacts of Reservoir Creation on the Biogeochemical Cycling of Methyl Mercury and Total Mercury in Boreal Upland Forests

The FLooded Upland Dynamics Experiment (FLUDEX) at the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) in northwest Ontario was designed to test the hypothesis that methylmercury (MeHg) production in reservoirs is related to the amount, and subsequent decomposition, of flooded organic matter. Three upland forest sites that varied in the amounts of organic carbon stored in vegetation and soils (Low C, 30,870 kg C ha⁻¹; Medium C, 34,930 kg C ha⁻¹; and High C, 45,860 kg C ha⁻¹) were flooded annually from May to September with low-organic carbon, low-MeHg water pumped from a nearby lake. Within five weeks of flooding, MeHg concentrations in the reservoir outflows exceeded those in reservoir inflows and remained elevated for the duration of the experiment, peaking at 1.60 ng L⁻¹ in the Medium C reservoir. We estimated the net production of MeHg in each reservoir by calculating annual changes in pools of MeHg stored in flooded soils, periphyton, zooplankton, and fish. Overall, there was an initial pulse of MeHg production (range = 120–1590 ng m⁻² day⁻¹) in all FLUDEX reservoirs that lasted for 2 years, after which time net demethylation (range = 360–1230 ng MeHg degraded m⁻² day⁻¹) began to reduce the pools of MeHg in the reservoirs, but not back to levels found prior to flooding. Rates of MeHg production were generally related to the total amount of organic carbon flooded to create the reservoirs. Large increases in MeHg stores in soils compared to those in water and biota indicate that flooded soils were the main sites of MeHg production. This study should assist hydroelectric utilities and government agencies in making informed decisions about selecting sites for future reservoir development to reduce MeHg contamination of the reservoir fisheries.     

Bioaccumulation and Trophic Transfer of Mercury and Selenium in African Sub-Tropical Fluvial Reservoirs Food Webs (Burkina Faso)

The bioaccumulation and biomagnification of mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) were investigated in sub-tropical freshwater food webs from Burkina Faso, West Africa, a region where very few ecosystem studies on contaminants have been performed. During the 2010 rainy season, samples of water, sediment, fish, zooplankton, and mollusks were collected from three water reservoirs and analysed for total Hg (THg), methylmercury (MeHg), and total Se (TSe). Ratios of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N were measured to determine food web structures and patterns of contaminant accumulation and transfer to fish. Food chain lengths (FCLs) were calculated using mean δ¹⁵N of all primary consumer taxa collected as the site-specific baseline. We report relatively low concentrations of THg and TSe in most fish. We also found in all studied reservoirs short food chain lengths, ranging from 3.3 to 3.7, with most fish relying on a mixture of pelagic and littoral sources for their diet. Mercury was biomagnified in fish food webs with an enrichment factor ranging from 2.9 to 6.5 for THg and from 2.9 to 6.6 for MeHg. However, there was no evidence of selenium biomagnification in these food webs. An inverse relationship was observed between adjusted δ¹⁵N and log-transformed Se:Hg ratios, indicating that Se has a lesser protective effect in top predators, which are also the most contaminated animals with respect to MeHg. Trophic position, carbon source, and fish total length were the factors best explaining Hg concentration in fish. In a broader comparison of our study sites with literature data for other African lakes, the THg biomagnification rate was positively correlated with FCL. We conclude that these reservoir systems from tropical Western Africa have low Hg biomagnification associated with short food chains. This finding may partly explain low concentrations of Hg commonly reported in fish from this area.     

Mercury-selenium relationships in liver of Guiana dolphin: the possible role of kupffer cells in the detoxification process by tiemannite formation

Top marine predators present high mercury concentrations in their tissues as consequence of biomagnification of the most toxic form of this metal, methylmercury (MeHg). The present study concerns mercury accumulation by Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis), highlighting the selenium-mediated methylmercury detoxification process. Liver samples from 19 dolphins incidentally captured within Guanabara Bay (Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil) from 1994 to 2006 were analyzed for total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg), total organic mercury (TOrgHg) and selenium (Se). X-ray microanalyses were also performed. The specimens, including from fetuses to 30-year-old dolphins, comprising 8 females and 11 males, presented high THg (0.53-132 μg/g wet wt.) and Se concentrations (0.17-74.8 μg/g wet wt.). Correlations between THg, MeHg, TOrgHg and Se were verified with age (p<0.05), as well as a high and positive correlation was observed between molar concentrations of Hg and Se (p<0.05). Negative correlations were observed between THg and the percentage of MeHg contribution to THg (p<0.05), which represents a consequence of the selenium-mediated methylmercury detoxification process. Accumulation of Se-Hg amorphous crystals in Kupffer Cells was demonstrated through ultra-structural analysis, which shows that Guiana dolphin is capable of carrying out the demethylation process via mercury selenide formation.     

Forestry Influence by Stump Harvest and Site Preparation on Methylmercury, Total Mercury and Other Stream Water Chemistry Parameters Across a Boreal Landscape

Forestry has been reported to cause elevated mercury (Hg) concentrations in runoff water. However, the degree to which forestry operations influence Hg in runoff varies among sites. A synoptic study, covering 54 catchments distributed all over Sweden, subjected to either stump harvest (SH), site preparation (SP) or no treatment (Ref), was undertaken to reveal the degree of forestry impact and causes of eventual variation. All streams were sampled twice, in autumn 2009 and summer 2010. There were no significant differences in total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations between the three treatments in either 2009 or 2010. However, when pooling the treated catchments (that is, SH and SP) and taking catchment properties such as latitude into account, the treatment had a significant influence on the THg and MeHg concentrations. Although the treatment effect on THg and MeHg did not differ between SH and SP, the study did reveal significant forestry effects on potassium (K) and total nitrogen (TN) that were greater in the SH catchments and lower in the SP catchments. Partial least square (PLS) regressions indicated that organic matter was the most important variable influencing both the THg and MeHg concentrations. There were no significant differences between the treatment groups when comparing the ratios of THg/total organic carbon (TOC) and MeHg/TOC, suggesting that the high concentrations of THg and MeHg observed at some of the treated catchments are associated with increased concentrations of TOC rather than new methylation or increased mobilization caused by factors other than TOC.     

中亚热带常绿阔叶林凋落物分解过程中汞的动态变化及迁移机理

森林凋落物对于汞在林地土壤的生物地球化学循环中起到重要作用,为研究森林凋落物分解过程中汞的迁移转化特征,以重庆四面山风景名胜区典型林分(常绿阔叶林)作为研究对象。于2014年3月—2015年3月连续监测典型林分凋落物中各形态汞浓度和有机质变化量,同时监测周围土壤中汞浓度变化。结果表明:四面山典型林分凋落物分解过程中汞浓度整体上升,总汞浓度(初始浓度:78 ng/g)的增幅最高达53%,甲基汞浓度(初始浓度:0.32 ng/g)最高增幅达138%;在春季和夏季,水溶态和酸溶态两种活性态汞含量分别增加了851%和96%,在分解前期和末期,凋落物汞的中惰性汞比例最高,占比达75%。土壤腐殖质层中总汞和甲基汞浓度比较稳定。凋落物中活性态汞通过雨水淋洗进入土壤与有机质络合并发生甲基化/去甲基化过程,通过地表径流、地下径流进入水体。凋落物中C含量减少了22%,N含量增加了15%,总汞浓度与C/N比呈负相关,与N含量呈正相关。凋落物中微生物C、N含量整体增加,与汞浓度峰值同步,且夏季含量显著高于冬季含量(P0.05),说明微生物与凋落物固定汞和汞的甲基化过程密切相关。     

Methylmercury and Total Mercury in Eels, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anguilla anguilla</Emphasis>, from Lakes in Northeastern Poland: Health Risk Assessment

In the aquatic environment, mercury is readily methylated into its most toxic form of methylmercury. In this form, it enters the aquatic food chain and its concentrations increase in subsequent links, which decreases the quality of fish meat and poses risks to consumer health. Concentrations of methylmercury (MeHg) and total mercury (THg) were determined in the muscle tissues of 64 eel specimens measuring from 59 to 95 cm in length as functions of specimen size and weight. Risks posed to consumers by eel from different length classes were also assessed. The mean concentration of THg in all of the eel examined was 0.179 mg kg^?1, but the range was from 0.028 to 0.487 mg kg^?1. The mean concentration of MeHg was 0.147 mg kg^?1, and the range was also wide from 0.023 to 0.454 mg kg^?1. Accumulated MeHg and THg increased with eel body length. The percentage share of MeHg in THg also changed with specimen length, and there was a positive correlation between the concentrations of MeHg and THg. Risk assessment was performed based on the doses of THg and MeHg ingested with fish for several specimen length classes. Consuming the meat of eel measuring 80 cm in length increased the estimated weekly intake (EWI) of THg and MeHg twofold in comparison to that from specimens 60 cm in length and fourfold in specimens exceeding 90 cm in length. The percentage shares of the EWI in the tolerable weekly intake and the target hazard quotient coefficient also increased proportionally. Generally, concentrations of MeHg and THg in eel are below current limits and pose no risk to consumer health as long as the consumption of larger specimens is avoided.     

Xylem sap as a pathway for total mercury and methylmercury transport from soils to tree canopy in the boreal forest

Conifer needles are an important link in the cycling of Total Mercury (THg) and Methylmercury (MeHg) in the boreal ecosystem due to the high THg and MeHg concentrations in litterfall. Translocation within the tree of Hg from soils to the crown canopy has been assumed to be a minor source of the Hg in litterfall. This paper, however, is the first to present direct observations of THg/MeHg transport from the soil via xylem sap. Xylem sap concentrations of THg and MeHg were measured in sap drained from different levels along the boles of freshly cut 100 year old Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). The trees came from a mixed stand growing on podzolized till soils at the Svartberget Forest Research Station in N. Sweden. Soil solution concentrations of THg and MeHg at different levels in the soil profile were measured for comparison.Concentrations of THg in xylem sap ranged from 10–15 ng L^-1 in both the Scots pine and Norway spruce. Concentrations of MeHg varied from 0.03 ng L^-1to 0.16 ng L^-1, with higher values in Scots pine than Norway spruce. If these concentrations are representative of the transport from soils to needles in xylem sap at this site, then only 3% of the MeHg in litterfall (0.12 mg ha^-1 yr^-1) and 11% of the THg (26 mg ha^-1 yr^-1) can originate via this pathway. The upward transport via xylem sap is larger relative to the open field inputs (84% of THg and 17% of MeHg). Comparison of soil solution and xylem sap THg/MeHg suggested some degree of THg exclusion during water uptake in Scots pine and Norway spruce, but MeHg exclusion only in Norway spruce.     

Tidal exchange of total mercury and methylmercury between a salt marsh and a Chesapeake Bay sub-estuary

We examined the net exchange of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) between a tidal marsh and its adjacent estuary over a 1-year period from August 2007 to July 2008. Our objectives were to estimate the importance of tidal salt marshes as sources and sinks of mercury within the Chesapeake Bay system, and to examine the hydrologic and biogeochemical controls on mercury fate and transport in tidal marshes. Tidal flows and water chemistry were measured at an established tidal flume at the mouth of the principal tidal creek of a 3-ha marsh section at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Fluxes were estimated by combining continuous tidal flow measurement for the entire study year, with discrete, hourly, flow-weighted measurements of filterable and particulate THg and MeHg, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and suspended particulate matter (SPM) made over 20 tidal cycles during the year. We found that the marsh was a relatively small net tidal source of MeHg, mainly during the warmer growing season. We also confirmed that the marsh was a substantial source of DOC to the adjacent estuary. DOC was a significant predictor of both filterable THg and MeHg fluxes. However, although the marsh was a source of filterable THg, it was overall a net sink for THg because of particulate trapping. The net per-area annual flux of MeHg from tidal marshes is greater than other MeHg pathways within Chesapeake Bay. The annual load of MeHg from tidal marshes into Chesapeake Bay, however, is likely small relative to fluvial fluxes and efflux from bottom sediment. This study suggests that MeHg production within the tidal marsh has greater consequences for biota inhabiting the marsh than for the efflux of MeHg from the marsh.