@article{fdi:010053398,
  title = {{M}ethylmercury photodegradation influenced by sea-ice cover in {A}rctic marine ecosystems},
  author = {{P}oint, {D}avid and {S}onke, {J}. {E}. and {D}ay, {R}. {D}. and {R}oseneau, {D}. {G}. and {H}obson, {K}. {A}. and {V}ander {P}ol, {S}. {S}. and {M}oors, {A}. {J}. and {P}ugh, {R}. {S}. and {D}onard, {O}. {F}. {X}. and {B}ecker, {P}. {R}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{A}tmospheric deposition of mercury to remote areas has increased threefold since pre-industrial times. {M}ercury deposition is particularly pronounced in the {A}rctic. {F}ollowing deposition to surface oceans and sea ice, mercury can be converted into methylmercury, a biologically accessible form of the toxin, which biomagnifies along the marine food chain. {M}ass-independent fractionation of mercury isotopes accompanies the photochemical breakdown of methylmercury to less bioavailable forms in surface waters. {H}ere we examine the isotopic composition of mercury in seabird eggs collected from colonies in the {N}orth {P}acific {O}cean, the {B}ering {S}ea and the western {A}rctic {O}cean, to determine geographical variations in methylmercury breakdown at northern latitudes. {W}e find evidence for mass-independent fractionation of mercury isotopes. {T}he degree of mass-independent fractionation declines with latitude. {F}oraging behaviour and geographic variations in mercury sources and solar radiation fluxes were unable to explain the latitudinal gradient. {H}owever, mass-independent fractionation was negatively correlated with sea-ice cover. {W}e conclude that sea-ice cover impedes the photochemical breakdown of methylmercury in surface waters, and suggest that further loss of {A}rctic sea ice this century will accelerate sunlight-induced breakdown of methylmercury in northern surface waters.},
  keywords = {},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{N}ature {G}eoscience},
  volume = {4},
  numero = {3},
  pages = {188--194},
  ISSN = {1752-0894},
  year = {2011},
  DOI = {10.1038/ngeo1049},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010053398},
}