Title:

Investigating Relationships between Mercury Concentrations and Water Quality Parameters in Rehoboth Bay, Delaware

Mercury is a highly toxic chemical that can accumulate in water-saturated sediments. Mercury bioaccumulates and is highly toxic to the nervous system, posing a threat to the environment and to human health. Delaware Inland bays are an important recreational fishing ground as well as a commercial aquaculture site for oyster farming. These bays have low tidal movement with low flushing rates making them sensitive to environmental changes, and increased development in the area increases the risk of pollution. Previous research has led to possible relationships between mercury concentration and water quality parameters such as pH and dissolved oxygen. In this study, sediment and water samples were collected from 12 sites in Rehoboth Bay, Delaware, to examine the mercury concentration, dissolved oxygen, and pH values. The objectives of the study are to compare mercury concentration across the sites, examine the relationship between mercury concentration and pH, and establish a relationship between dissolved oxygen and mercury concentration. Preliminary findings show that there is a significant difference in mercury concentration across sites. The mercury concentration ranged from 2.3 ppb to 87.1 ppb, with a p value of 0.00923. These results are within guidelines but should continue to be monitored due to the high variation seen in the preliminary results.

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