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. 2013 May 21;47(10):4967-83.
doi: 10.1021/es305071v. Epub 2013 May 3.

Mercury as a global pollutant: sources, pathways, and effects

Charles T Driscoll  1 , Robert P Mason, Hing Man Chan, Daniel J Jacob, Nicola Pirrone
Affiliations

Mercury as a global pollutant: sources, pathways, and effects

Charles T Driscoll et al. Environ Sci Technol. .

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant that affects human and ecosystem health. We synthesize understanding of sources, atmosphere-land-ocean Hg dynamics and health effects, and consider the implications of Hg-control policies. Primary anthropogenic Hg emissions greatly exceed natural geogenic sources, resulting in increases in Hg reservoirs and subsequent secondary Hg emissions that facilitate its global distribution. The ultimate fate of emitted Hg is primarily recalcitrant soil pools and deep ocean waters and sediments. Transfers of Hg emissions to largely unavailable reservoirs occur over the time scale of centuries, and are primarily mediated through atmospheric exchanges of wet/dry deposition and evasion from vegetation, soil organic matter and ocean surfaces. A key link between inorganic Hg inputs and exposure of humans and wildlife is the net production of methylmercury, which occurs mainly in reducing zones in freshwater, terrestrial, and coastal environments, and the subsurface ocean. Elevated human exposure to methylmercury primarily results from consumption of estuarine and marine fish. Developing fetuses are most at risk from this neurotoxin but health effects of highly exposed populations and wildlife are also a concern. Integration of Hg science with national and international policy efforts is needed to target efforts and evaluate efficacy.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Current estimates of the fluxes and pools of mercury at the Earth’s surface derived on this work, and building on previous studies.,,,,, Hg(II) includes both gaseous and particulate forms, plus a negligible contribution (1Mg) from inert particulate mercury. The percentages in brackets are estimated increases in pools and fluxes due to anthropogenic activities over the past 150 years. Fluxes are in Mg yr–1 and reservoirs are given in Gg.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Trends in global emissions of mercury; note emissions in Asia are increasing while Europe and North America are decreasing.,.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Overall budget for the sources and losses of total and methylated (in bold) mercury to the mixed layer and the subsurface ocean (defined as waters above the permanent thermocline) using data and information discussed throughout the paper. Fluxes are in Mg yr–1 and reservoirs are given in Mg.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Long-term trends in total Hg concentrations in the surface waters of the oceans and Mediterranean Sea..
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Pirrone N.; Mason R.. Mercury Fate and Transport in the Global Atmosphere: Emissions, Measurements and Models; Springer: New York; p 637.
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