Project Title: Mercury Speciation Monitoring to Aid the Investigation of Sources and Transport of Mercury Impacting Lake Michigan and Lake Superior

Chemicals Studied:Mercury: elemental, oxidized, and particulate-bound

Geographic Areas: Lake Michigan and Lake Superior

Project Start Date: August 2009

Project Status: Completed

Synoposis: As part of this project the states of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have modified and upgraded the analytical and the support systems on their Mobile Mercury Monitoring Trailer. The trailer was originally purchased and developed in 1999; the original analyzers measured only elemental mercury. With the upgrade, one analyzer in the trailer laboratory can now measure two additional forms of mercury: gaseous oxidized mercury and particulate bound mercury. The capacity to measure additional forms of mercury improves the ability to identify local source signatures (e.g., coal fueled power plants) or study mercury transport, thus extending the range of projects for which the trailer can be used.

Project Contact:
Mark Allen, M.S.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Phone: (608) 266-8049
Email: mark.allen@wisconsin.gov