Chapter 3B: Mercury and Sulfur Environmental Assessment for the Everglades

Abstract

The analysis and summaries provide a synoptic view of Hg and sulfur in the EPA on a regional scale including the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge [Refuge, or Water Conservation Area 1 (WCA-1)], Water Conservation Areas 2 and 3 (WCA-2 and WCA-3, respectively), and Everglades National Park (ENP or Park). This chapter updates the status of mercury and sulfur monitoring in the Everglades region and provides a summary of biota mercury concentrations; mercury atmospheric deposition; and surface water sulfate (SO4 2- ) concentrations, loads, and atmospheric deposition to the EPA.  During WY2013, 339 largemouth bass (LMB; Micropterus salmoides) were collected from 13 locations within the EPA and 4 locations in the Everglades region outside the EPA. Non-EPA locations include Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West (STA-1W), Holey Land WMA, and Lake Tohopekaliga and East Lake Tohopekaliga in the Upper Kissimmee Basin. Across all sites, individual LMB total mercury (THg) ranged from 0.02 to 2.0 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), with a median concentration of 0.40 mg/kg.