US EPA

2306446 

Journal Article 

MERCURY CONTAMINATION OF GOLF-COURSES DUE TO PESTICIDE USE 

Matthews, SL; Mccracken, IR; Lonergan, G 

1995 

Yes 

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
ISSN: 0007-4861
EISSN: 1432-0800 

United States 

55 

3 

390-397 

English 

8520145 

WOS:A1995RH07500010 

Management practices at golf courses require frequent pesticide applications to maintain turf quality under extremely stressful conditions produced by heavy traffic. Golf course turf usually consists of only one or two grass species, allowing disease to thrive and intensifying the need for pesticide treatments. Despite the persistence and toxicity of mercury and the availability of alternatives, mercurial fungicides are used regularly to combat snow molds, Typhula spp. and Fusarium nivale.



The persistence of mercury presents the potential for accumulation in soil as fungicide applications occur over several years. Disturbance of soils may allow remobilization to occur many years after fungicidal applications have ceased. The strong tendency of mercury to adsorb to soil complexes increases the probability of off-site contamination because pesticides bound to soil particles may be transported to aquatic systems in surface water runoff and between waterbodies in suspended solids (Environment Canada 1985). This is a particular concern at golf courses because many are located in watersheds important to recreation or groundwater supplies. The proximity of golf courses to aquatic ecosystems and ramifications for future land use decisions warrant further examination of the long-term environmental impacts of mercurial pesticide use at these sites. A study of mercury contamination at golf courses in Atlantic Canada was initiated to determine the extent of the problem, the potential for movement of mercury from application areas, and the possibility of contamination of nearby aquatic ecosystems. 

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