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Saltwater flotation for more efficient matrix separation of wetland macroinvertebrates does not affect total mercury or methylmercury concentrations
Author(s) -
Dhal Suman,
Mitchell Carl P.J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.2176
Subject(s) - methylmercury , mercury (programming language) , invertebrate , benthic zone , environmental chemistry , wetland , environmental science , contamination , chemistry , ecology , bioaccumulation , biology , computer science , programming language
Abstract The authors compared benthic wetland invertebrate matrix separation techniques (handpicking vs saltwater flotation) to test for effects on invertebrate mercury concentrations. Neither total mercury nor methylmercury concentrations differed significantly between techniques across 8 taxa. Matrix separation by the flotation technique took significantly less time and resulted in significantly greater abundance recovery in some taxa. The authors conclude that the saltwater‐based flotation technique does not lead to mercury contamination or analytical interference issues. Environ Toxicol Chem 2013;32:1233–1236. © 2013 SETAC