Effects of a decade of selenium emission reductions on mercury accumulation in aquatic biota in the Sudbury region of Ontario

Abstract

Control of smelting emissions in the Sudbury (Ontario, Canada) area has dramatically decreased the amount of selenium (Se) deposited onto the surrounding landscape. Historically, Se emissions in Sudbury correlated with lower total mercury (Hg) and methylmercury levels (MeHg) in tissues of zooplankton, amphipods (Hyalella azteca), mayflies (Stenonema femoratum), and young-of-the-year perch (Perca flavescens). In 2017, ten years following emission reductions, we evaluated whether changes in Se deposition affected total Hg and MeHg burden in lake biota. We show that total Se concentrations in the water of the majority of lakes have increased despite decreases in Se depositions, most likely due to the long residence time of Se in the watershed and the water column. As a result, Se in water continues to correlate with lower total Hg and MeHg accumulation in tissues of zooplankton, amphipods, mayflies, and perch. These results suggest that Se continues to exhibit a protective effect on Hg accumulation in biota, even years after emissions have greatly decreased. We expect this work to inform efforts aiming at long-term recovery of aquatic environments affected by smelter emissions and aid in designing remediation strategies involving Se additions.