Tracing Sources and Bioaccumulation of Mercury in Fish of Lake Baikal− Angara River Using Hg Isotopic Composition

Mercury isotopic analysis reveals distinct anthropogenic signatures in fish from the contaminated Bratsk Water Reservoir, linked to Hg deposits from a chlor-alkali factory. The study demonstrates that mass-independent fractionation (MIF) patterns in fish muscle align with sediment isotopic compositions, confirming bioaccumulation of industrial Hg. In contrast, less contaminated fish exhibit lower Hg levels without this anthropogenic signature. Mass-dependent fractionation (MDF) and stable isotope ratios (δ(15)N, δ(13)C) further indicate biomagnification through food webs in both Bratsk and pristine Lake Baikal. This approach provides a novel method to trace human impacts on aquatic ecosystems using isotopic fingerprints.

Perrot, V., Epov, V. N., Pastukhov, M. V., Grebenshchikova, V. I., Zouiten, C., Sonke, J. E., Husted, S., Donard, O. F. X., & Amouroux, D. (2010). Tracing Sources and Bioaccumulation of Mercury in Fish of Lake Baikal− Angara River Using Hg Isotopic Composition. Environmental Science & Technology, 44(21), 8030–8037. https://doi.org/10.1021/es101898e