Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2016WI516S

Analytical Services for Use of Mercury Isotopes to Inform Human Health and Ecosystem Health Decisions

Institute: Wisconsin
USGS Grant Number: G16AP00135
Year Established: 2016 Start Date: 2016-05-01 End Date: 2017-04-30
Total Federal Funds: $94,896 Total Non-Federal Funds: Not available

Principal Investigators: Jim Hurley

Project Summary: The Water Resources Institute will conduct research to provide quantitative estimates of human dietary health exposure of mercury sources through the consumption of fish in the Great Lakes. Research on Mercury distribution in ecosystem environments will seek a direct link with current epidemiological studies of human exposure to Mercury through consumption of fish. The link will be explored by a method utilizing stable Hg isotopes as a fingerprinting tool. This study provides a unique opportunity to demonstrate at a large scale and for the first time a direct linkage of specific fish contaminant biomarkers and human epidemiological studies. This work will help develop quantitative estimates of Mercury and aid resource managers and restoration decision makers in the most effective means to reduce fish mercury levels in ecosystems throughout the U.S.