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Mercury speciation in the Persian Gulf sediments
Agah, H.; Elskens, M.; Reza Fatemi, S. Mohammad; Owfi, F.; Baeyens, W.; Leermakers, M. (2009). Mercury speciation in the Persian Gulf sediments. Environ. Monit. Assess. 157(1-4): 363-373. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0541-x
In: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. Kluwer: Dordrecht. ISSN 0167-6369; e-ISSN 1573-2959
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 
    Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: Non-open access 317807 [ request ]

Author keywords
    Total mercury; Methyl mercury; Organic carbon; Sediment; The Persian Gulf; Headspace GC-AFS; Cold vapor AAS

Authors  Top 
  • Agah, H.
  • Elskens, M.
  • Reza Fatemi, S. Mohammad
  • Owfi, F.
  • Baeyens, W.
  • Leermakers, M.

Abstract
    The concentrations of total mercury (Hg) and methyl mercury (MMHg) were determined in 78 marine sediments in the Iranian coastal waters of the Persian Gulf along nine transects perpendicular to the coastline. Total Hg ranged from 10 to 56 ng g?-?1d.w. and MMHg from 0.1 to 0.4 ng g?-?1 d.w. The fraction of methyl mercury accounted from 0.3% to 1.1% of the total mercury amount. The organic carbon (OC) content ranged from 0.4% to 1.8%. The present study indicates that the levels of Hg in the sediments of the Iranian coast of the Persian Gulf were all in the concentration range of unpolluted areas regarding Hg (<100 ng g?-?1). The concentrations of total Hg, methyl mercury and organic carbon were generally higher in the deeper stations. Total Hg and MMHg were significantly correlated, but no significant correlations could be found between the Hg and OC levels.

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