Mercury concentrations and isotopic compositions in biota and sediments from the Hannibal Pool of the Ohio River

The Hannibal Pool of the Ohio River is heavily industrialized and receives direct effluent discharges from coal power plants, chlor-alkali plants, and sewage treatment facilities. Mercury (Hg) is a contaminant of concern due to the risk of bioaccumulation at wildlife refuges also located within this region. Mercury concentrations and isotopes compositions were measured to assess the levels and source of Hg contamination, respectively within the system. Sediments and waters were measured to define isotopic end members within Hannibal Pool. Heelsplitter mussels, zebra mussels, and prey fish were also analyzed to determine if Hg source signatures were conserved within the food web. These data are a part of a larger study and an associated journal article documented in Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management (https://doi/10.1002/ieam.4308).

俄亥俄河汉尼拔河段（Hannibal Pool）工业化程度极高，承接燃煤电厂、氯碱厂及污水处理设施的直接排污。汞（Hg）是该区域重点关注的污染物，因其可在本区域内的野生动物保护区中发生生物富集，带来生态风险。研究人员测定了汞的浓度与同位素组成，分别用以评估该系统内汞污染的水平与来源。同时对沉积物与水体开展测定，以明确该河段内的同位素端元（isotopic end members）。此外，研究人员还对片蚌（Heelsplitter mussels）、斑马贻贝（zebra mussels）及饵料鱼类进行了分析，以判断汞的来源特征是否在食物网中得以保留。本数据集隶属于一项更大规模的研究，相关研究论文已发表于《整合环境评估与管理》（Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management）期刊，链接为https://doi/10.1002/ieam.4308。