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Toward an Assessment of the Global Inventory of Present-Day Mercury Releases to Freshwater Environments

Author

Listed:
  • David Kocman

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia)

  • Simon J. Wilson

    (Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) Secretariat, Oslo N-0349, Norway)

  • Helen M. Amos

    (Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02215, USA
    Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA)

  • Kevin H. Telmer

    (Artisanal Gold Council, Victoria, BC V8W 1B9, Canada
    School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada)

  • Frits Steenhuisen

    (Arctic Centre, University of Groningen, Groningen 9718CW, The Netherlands)

  • Elsie M. Sunderland

    (Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02215, USA
    Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA)

  • Robert P. Mason

    (Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, CT 06340, USA)

  • Peter Outridge

    (Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0E8, Canada)

  • Milena Horvat

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia)

Abstract

Aquatic ecosystems are an essential component of the biogeochemical cycle of mercury (Hg), as inorganic Hg can be converted to toxic methylmercury (MeHg) in these environments and reemissions of elemental Hg rival anthropogenic Hg releases on a global scale. Quantification of effluent Hg releases to aquatic systems globally has focused on discharges to the global oceans, rather than contributions to freshwater systems that affect local exposures and risks associated with MeHg. Here we produce a first-estimate of sector-specific, spatially resolved global aquatic Hg discharges to freshwater systems. We compare our release estimates to atmospheric sources that have been quantified elsewhere. By analyzing available quantitative and qualitative information, we estimate that present-day global Hg releases to freshwater environments (rivers and lakes) associated with anthropogenic activities have a lower bound of ~1000 Mg· a−1. Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) represents the single largest source, followed by disposal of mercury-containing products and domestic waste water, metal production, and releases from industrial installations such as chlor-alkali plants and oil refineries. In addition to these direct anthropogenic inputs, diffuse inputs from land management activities and remobilization of Hg previously accumulated in terrestrial ecosystems are likely comparable in magnitude. Aquatic discharges of Hg are greatly understudied and further constraining associated data gaps is crucial for reducing the uncertainties in the global biogeochemical Hg budget.

Suggested Citation

  • David Kocman & Simon J. Wilson & Helen M. Amos & Kevin H. Telmer & Frits Steenhuisen & Elsie M. Sunderland & Robert P. Mason & Peter Outridge & Milena Horvat, 2017. "Toward an Assessment of the Global Inventory of Present-Day Mercury Releases to Freshwater Environments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:2:p:138-:d:89214
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sato, Toshio & Qadir, Manzoor & Yamamoto, Sadahiro & Endo, Tsuneyoshi & Zahoor, Ahmad, 2013. "Global, regional, and country level need for data on wastewater generation, treatment, and use," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 1-13.
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    1. Gabriel Caicedo-Rivas & Manuel Salas-Moreno & José Marrugo-Negrete, 2022. "Health Risk Assessment for Human Exposure to Heavy Metals via Food Consumption in Inhabitants of Middle Basin of the Atrato River in the Colombian Pacific," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-26, December.
    2. Federico Floreani & Alessandro Acquavita & Nicolò Barago & Katja Klun & Jadran Faganeli & Stefano Covelli, 2022. "Gaseous Mercury Exchange from Water–Air Interface in Differently Impacted Freshwater Environments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-19, July.
    3. Emanuela D. Tiodar & Cristina L. Văcar & Dorina Podar, 2021. "Phytoremediation and Microorganisms-Assisted Phytoremediation of Mercury-Contaminated Soils: Challenges and Perspectives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-37, March.
    4. Lauren Wyatt & Ernesto J. Ortiz & Beth Feingold & Axel Berky & Sarah Diringer & Ana Maria Morales & Elvis Rojas Jurado & Heileen Hsu-Kim & William Pan, 2017. "Spatial, Temporal, and Dietary Variables Associated with Elevated Mercury Exposure in Peruvian Riverine Communities Upstream and Downstream of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-23, December.

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