Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Mercury impact and mitigation studies

Works Count: 56309

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Description

This cluster of papers focuses on the toxicology, environmental impacts, and global cycling of mercury and its compounds. It covers topics such as mercury exposure, health effects, bioaccumulation in aquatic food webs, emissions from anthropogenic sources, and the interactions between mercury and the environment.

Keywords

Mercury; Toxicology; Environmental; Exposure; Health Effects; Methylmercury; Bioaccumulation; Emissions; Global Cycling; Aquatic Systems

Heavy Metals In The Environment

2002-03-21

Bibudhendra Sarkar

Persistence versus perseverance heavy metals in food of animal origin trace elements in plant foodstuffs mechanisms of heavy metal inorganic toxicities metabolism and metabolic action of lead and other heavy … Persistence versus perseverance heavy metals in food of animal origin trace elements in plant foodstuffs mechanisms of heavy metal inorganic toxicities metabolism and metabolic action of lead and other heavy metals lead and the nervous system lead poisoning epidemiology of lead poisoning in animals outbreaks of plumbism in animals associated with industrial lead operations lead intoxification in urban dogs the use of animal models for comparative studies of lead poisoning pollution by Cadmium and the Itai-Itai disease in Japan methyl mercury poisoning due to environmental contamination (Minamata disease) toxicity of inorganic and organic mercury compounds in animals toxicity and residual aspects of alkymercury fungicides in livestock.

Arctic springtime depletion of mercury

1998-07-01

W. H. Schroeder , K. G. Anlauf , Leonard A. Barrie +4 more

Mass-Dependent and -Independent Fractionation of Hg Isotopes by Photoreduction in Aquatic Systems

2007-09-14

Bridget A. Bergquist , Joel D. Blum

Mercury (Hg) isotopes can be used as tracers of Hg biogeochemical pathways in the environment. The photochemical reduction of aqueous Hg species by natural sunlight leads to both mass-dependent fractionation … Mercury (Hg) isotopes can be used as tracers of Hg biogeochemical pathways in the environment. The photochemical reduction of aqueous Hg species by natural sunlight leads to both mass-dependent fractionation (MDF) of Hg isotopes and mass-independent fractionation (MIF) of the odd-mass isotopes, with the relation between the MIF for the two odd isotopes being distinct for different photoreduction pathways. Large variations in MDF and MIF are observed in fish and provide new insights into the sources and bioaccumulation of Hg in food webs. MIF in fish can also be used to estimate the loss of methylmercury via photoreduction in aquatic ecosystems.

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The Case for Atmospheric Mercury Contamination in Remote Areas

1998-01-01

William F. Fitzgerald , Daniel R. Engstrom , Robert P. Mason +1 more

Elevated levels of mercury in aquatic environments remote from industrial sources have been broadly attributed to long-range atmospheric transport and deposition of anthropogenic Hg. Evidence in support of this prevailing … Elevated levels of mercury in aquatic environments remote from industrial sources have been broadly attributed to long-range atmospheric transport and deposition of anthropogenic Hg. Evidence in support of this prevailing scientific viewglobal biogeochemical Hg models, sedimentary archives of historic Hg fluxes, and geographic trends in soil Hghave been challenged as being insuf ficiently rigorous to rule out the alternative explanation that natural geologic sources are the principal contributors of Hg in remote locations. In this review, we examine the weaknesses in interpretation and the choice of information that has been used to argue against atmospheric Hg contamination. Analytical advances in measuring trace levels of environmental Hg have greatly narrowed estimates of natural Hg fluxes, providing a clear measure of the relative magnitude of anthropogenic Hg emissions and deposition. Recent experimental results indicate that diagenetic processes cannot explain the mounting number of lake sediment and peat profiles showing substantial increases in Hg flux during the past century. Geologic sources of Hg may be important in specific localities but cannot explain corresponding geographic trends in soil Hg and industrial emission sources. Despite uncertainties in current understanding, there is a broad and geochemically consistent data base indicating that, over large regions of the globe, human-related Hg emissions have increased relative to natural sources since the onset of the industrial period.

Bioavailability, accumulation and effects of heavy metals in sediments with special reference to United Kingdom estuaries: a review

1992-01-01

G. W. Bryan , W.J. Langston

Status review of mercury control options for coal-fired power plants

2003-05-13

John H. Pavlish , E.A. Sondreal , Michael D. Mann +4 more

Cognitive Deficit in 7-Year-Old Children with Prenatal Exposure to Methylmercury

1997-11-01

Philippe Grandjean , Pál Weihe , Roberta F. White +7 more

A cohort of 1022 consecutive singleton births was generated during 1986–1987 in the Faroe Islands. Increased methylmercury exposure from maternal consumption of pilot whale meat was indicated by mercury concentrations … A cohort of 1022 consecutive singleton births was generated during 1986–1987 in the Faroe Islands. Increased methylmercury exposure from maternal consumption of pilot whale meat was indicated by mercury concentrations in cord blood and maternal hair. At approximately 7 years of age, 917 of the children underwent detailed neurobehavioral examination. Neuropsychological tests included Finger Tapping; Hand–Eye Coordination; reaction time on a Continuous Performance Test; Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised Digit Spans, Similarities, and Block Designs; Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test; Boston Naming Test; and California Verbal Learning Test (Children). Clinical examination and neurophysiological testing did not reveal any clear-cut mercury-related abnormalities. However, mercury-related neuropsychological dysfunctions were most pronounced in the domains of language, attention, and memory, and to a lesser extent in visuospatial and motor functions. These associations remained after adjustment for covariates and after exclusion of children with maternal hair mercury concentrations above 10 μg/g (50 nmol/g). The effects on brain function associated with prenatal methylmercury exposure therefore appear widespread, and early dysfunction is detectable at exposure levels currently considered safe.

Mercury in the Swedish environment ? Recent research on causes, consequences and corrective methods

1991-01-01

Oliver Lindqvist , Kjell Johansson , Lage Bringmark +7 more

Mercury Toxicity and Treatment: A Review of the Literature

2011-12-22

Robin A. Bernhoft

Mercury is a toxic heavy metal which is widely dispersed in nature. Most human exposure results from fish consumption or dental amalgam. Mercury occurs in several chemical forms, with complex … Mercury is a toxic heavy metal which is widely dispersed in nature. Most human exposure results from fish consumption or dental amalgam. Mercury occurs in several chemical forms, with complex pharmacokinetics. Mercury is capable of inducing a wide range of clinical presentations. Diagnosis of mercury toxicity can be challenging but can be obtained with reasonable reliability. Effective therapies for clinical toxicity have been described.

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The Genetic Basis for Bacterial Mercury Methylation

2013-02-08

Jerry M. Parks , Alexander Johs , Mircea Podar +7 more

Mercury Methylating Microbes Mercury (Hg) most commonly becomes bioavailable and enters the food web as the organic form methylmercury, where it induces acute toxicity effects that can be magnified up … Mercury Methylating Microbes Mercury (Hg) most commonly becomes bioavailable and enters the food web as the organic form methylmercury, where it induces acute toxicity effects that can be magnified up the food chain. But most natural and anthropogenic Hg exists as inorganic Hg 2+ and is only transformed into methylmercury by anaerobic microorganisms—typically sulfur-reducing bacteria. Using comparative genomics, Parks et al. (p. 1332 , published online 7 February; see the Perspective by Poulain and Barkay ) identified two genes that encode a corrinoid and iron-sulfur proteins in six known Hg-methylating bacteria but were absent in nonmethylating bacteria. In two distantly related model Hg-methylating bacteria, deletion of either gene—or both genes simultaneously—reduced the ability for the bacteria to produce methylmercury but did not impair cellular growth. The presence of this two-gene cluster in several other bacterial and lineages for which genome sequences are available suggests the ability to produce methylmercury may be more broadly distributed in the microbial world than previously recognized.

Interactions between mercury and dissolved organic matter––a review

2003-12-10

Ravichandran Mahalingam

Environmental Contaminants in Biota

2011-02-23

W. Nelson Bey , James P. Meador

Residue Analyses: How They Were Used to Assess the Hazards of Contaminants to Wildlife, J.O. Keith DDT, DDD, and DDE in Birds, L.J. Blus Dieldrin and Other Cyclodiene Pesticides in … Residue Analyses: How They Were Used to Assess the Hazards of Contaminants to Wildlife, J.O. Keith DDT, DDD, and DDE in Birds, L.J. Blus Dieldrin and Other Cyclodiene Pesticides in Wildlife, D.B. Peakall Other Organochlorine Pesticides in Birds, S.N. Wiemeyer PCBs in Aquatic Organisms, A.J. Niimi Toxicological Implications of PCB Residues in Mammals, M.A. Kamrin and R.K. Ringer PCBs and Dioxins in Birds, D.J. Hoffman, C.P. Rice, and T.J. Kubiak Dioxins: An Environmental Risk for Fish? D. Sijm and A. Opperhuizen Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Marine Mammals, Finfish, and Molluscs, J. Hellou Lead in Waterfowl, D.J. Pain Interpretation of Tissue Lead Residues in Birds Other Than Waterfowl, J.C. Franson Lead in Mammals, W.-C. Ma Toxicological Significance of Mercury in Freshwater Fish, J.G. Wiener and D.J. Spry Mercury in Birds and Terrestrial Mammals, D.R. Thompson Metals in Marine Mammals, R.J. Law Cadmium in Small Mammals, J.A. Cooke and M.S. Johnson Cadmium in Birds, R.W. Furness Heavy Metals in Aquatic Invertebrates, P.S. Rainbow Selenium in Aquatic Organisms, A.D. Lemly Selenium in Birds, G.H. Heinz Fluoride in Birds, W.J. Fleming Fluoride in Small Mammals, J.A. Cooke, I.C. Boulton, and M.S. Johnson

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Mercury Levels along the Food Chain and Risk for Exposed Populations

1998-05-01

Aristeo Renzoni , Francis Zino , E. Franchi

The Chemical Form of Mercury in Fish

2003-08-28

Hugh H. Harris , Ingrid J. Pickering , Graham N. George

The primary dietary source of neurotoxic mercury compounds is via the ingestion of methylmercury species accumulated in fish. Methylmercury from fish has been linked to neurological damage (Minamata disease) ([ … The primary dietary source of neurotoxic mercury compounds is via the ingestion of methylmercury species accumulated in fish. Methylmercury from fish has been linked to neurological damage (Minamata disease) ([ 1 ][1]) and increased risk of myocardial infarction ([ 2 ][2]). Despite its importance,

The biogeochemical cycling of elemental mercury: Anthropogenic influences

1994-08-01

Robert P. Mason , William F. Fitzgerald , François M. M. Morel

The Toxicology of Mercury and Its Chemical Compounds

2006-01-01

Thomas W. Clarkson , L. Magós

This review covers the toxicology of mercury and its compounds. Special attention is paid to those forms of mercury of current public health concern. Human exposure to the vapor of … This review covers the toxicology of mercury and its compounds. Special attention is paid to those forms of mercury of current public health concern. Human exposure to the vapor of metallic mercury dates back to antiquity but continues today in occupational settings and from dental amalgam. Health risks from methylmercury in edible tissues of fish have been the subject of several large epidemiological investigations and continue to be the subject of intense debate. Ethylmercury in the form of a preservative, thimerosal, added to certain vaccines, is the most recent form of mercury that has become a public health concern. The review leads to general discussion of evolutionary aspects of mercury, protective and toxic mechanisms, and ends on a note that mercury is still an “element of mystery.”

Ecological effects, transport, and fate of mercury: a general review

2000-06-01

Dean W. Boening

Review: Environmental exposure to mercury and its toxicopathologic implications for public health

2003-01-01

Paul B. Tchounwou , Wellington K. Ayensu , Nanuli Ninashvili +1 more

Abstract Mercury is a toxic and hazardous metal that occurs naturally in the earth's crust. Natural phenomena such as erosion and volcanic eruptions, and anthropogenic activities like metal smelting and … Abstract Mercury is a toxic and hazardous metal that occurs naturally in the earth's crust. Natural phenomena such as erosion and volcanic eruptions, and anthropogenic activities like metal smelting and industrial production and use may lead to substantial contamination of the environment with mercury. Through consumption of mercury in food, the populations of many areas, particularly in the developing world, have been confronted with catastrophic outbreaks of mercury‐induced diseases and mortality. Countries such as Japan, Iraq, Ghana, the Seychelles, and the Faroe Islands have faced such epidemics, which have unraveled the insidious and debilitating nature of mercury poisoning. Its creeping neurotoxicity is highly devastating, particularly in the central and peripheral nervous systems of children. Central nervous system defects and erethism as well as arrythmias, cardiomyopathies, and kidney damage have been associated with mercury exposure. Necrotizing bronchitis and pneumonitis arising from inhalation of mercury vapor can result in respiratory failure. Mercury is also considered a potent immunostimulant and ‐suppressant, depending on exposure dose and individual susceptibility, producing a number of pathologic sequelae including lymphoproliferation, hypergammaglobulinemia, and total systemic hyper‐ and hyporeactivities. In this review we discuss the sources of mercury and the potential for human exposure; its biogeochemical cycling in the environment; its systemic, immunotoxic, genotoxic/carcinogenic, and teratogenic health effects; and the dietary influences on its toxicity; as well as the important considerations in risk assessment and management of mercury poisoning. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 18: 149–175, 2003.

Sources and remediation for mercury contamination in aquatic systems—a literature review

2004-07-02

Qianrui Wang , Daekeun Kim , Dionysios D. Dionysiou +2 more

The three modern faces of mercury.

2002-02-01

Thomas W. Clarkson

The three modern "faces" of mercury are our perceptions of risk from the exposure of billions of people to methyl mercury in fish, mercury vapor from amalgam tooth fillings, and … The three modern "faces" of mercury are our perceptions of risk from the exposure of billions of people to methyl mercury in fish, mercury vapor from amalgam tooth fillings, and ethyl mercury in the form of thimerosal added as an antiseptic to widely used vaccines. In this article I review human exposure to and the toxicology of each of these three species of mercury. Mechanisms of action are discussed where possible. Key gaps in our current knowledge are identified from the points of view both of risk assessment and of mechanisms of action.

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Sulfide Controls on Mercury Speciation and Bioavailability to Methylating Bacteria in Sediment Pore Waters

1999-02-03

Janina M. Benoit , Cynthia C. Gilmour , Robert P. Mason +1 more

A chemical equilibrium model for Hg complexation in sediments with sulfidic pore waters is presented. The purpose of the model was to explain observed relationships between pore water sulfide, dissolved … A chemical equilibrium model for Hg complexation in sediments with sulfidic pore waters is presented. The purpose of the model was to explain observed relationships between pore water sulfide, dissolved inorganic Hg (HgD), and bulk methylmercury (MeHg) in surficial sediments of two biogeochemically different ecosystems, the Florida Everglades and Patuxent River, MD. The model was constructed to test the hypothesis that the availability of Hg for methylation in sediments is a function of the concentration of neutral dissolved Hg complexes rather than Hg2+ or total HgD. The model included interaction of mercury with solids containing one or two sulfide groups, and it was able to reproduce observed HgD and bulk MeHg trends in the two ecosystems. The model is consistent with HgS0 as the dominant neutral Hg complex and the form of Hg accumulated by methylating bacteria in sulfidic pore waters. The model-estimated decline in HgS0 with increasing sulfide was consistent with the observed decline in bulk sediments MeHg. Since bacterial Hg uptake rate is one of the factors affecting methylation rate, Hg complexation models such as the one presented are helpful in understanding the factors that control MeHg production and accumulation in aquatic ecosystems.

On the Chemical Form of Mercury in Edible Fish and Marine Invertebrate Tissue

1992-05-01

Nicolas S. Bloom

Total mercury, monomethylmercury (CH 3 Hg), and dimethylmercury ((CH 3 ) 2 Hg) in edible muscle were examined in 229 samples, representing seven freshwater and eight saltwater fish species and … Total mercury, monomethylmercury (CH 3 Hg), and dimethylmercury ((CH 3 ) 2 Hg) in edible muscle were examined in 229 samples, representing seven freshwater and eight saltwater fish species and several species of marine invertebrates using ultraclean techniques. Total mercury was determined by hot HNO 3 /H 2 SO 4 /BrClldigestion, SnCl 2 reduction, purging onto gold, and analysis by cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CVAFS). Methylmercury was determined by KOH/methanol digestion using aqueous phase ethylation, cryogenic gas chromatography, and CVAFS detection. Total mercury and CH 3 Hg concentrations varied from 0.011 to 2.78 μg∙g −1 (wet weight basis, as Hg) for all samples, while no sample contained detectable (CH 3 ) 2 Hg (<0.001 μg∙g −1 as Hg). The observed proportion of total mercury (as CH 3 Hg) ranged from 69 to 132%, with a relative standard deviation for quintuplicate analysis of about 10%; nearly all of this variability can be explained by the analytical variability of total mercury and CH 3 Hg. Poorly homogenized samples showed greater variability, primarily because total mercury and CH 3 Hg were measured on separate aliquots, which vary in mercury concentration, not speciation. I conclude that for all species studied, virtually ail (>95%) of the mercury present is as CH 3 Hg and that past reports of substantially lower CH 3 Hg fractions may have been biased by analytical and homogeneity variability.

Mercury, Fish Oils, and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction

2002-11-28

Eliseo Güallar , M.I. Sanz-Gallardo , Pieter van’t Veer +7 more

It has been suggested that mercury, a highly reactive heavy metal with no known physiologic activity, increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Because fish intake is a major source of … It has been suggested that mercury, a highly reactive heavy metal with no known physiologic activity, increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Because fish intake is a major source of exposure to mercury, the mercury content of fish may counteract the beneficial effects of its n–3 fatty acids.

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Biological Methylation of Mercury in Aquatic Organisms

1969-08-01

Søren Krogh Jensen , Arne Jernelöv

Biomagnification of Mercury in Aquatic Food Webs: A Worldwide Meta-Analysis

2013-10-23

Raphaël A. Lavoie , Timothy D. Jardine , Matthew M. Chumchal +2 more

The slope of the simple linear regression between log10 transformed mercury (Hg) concentration and stable nitrogen isotope values (δ(15)N), hereafter called trophic magnification slope (TMS), from several trophic levels in … The slope of the simple linear regression between log10 transformed mercury (Hg) concentration and stable nitrogen isotope values (δ(15)N), hereafter called trophic magnification slope (TMS), from several trophic levels in a food web can represent the overall degree of Hg biomagnification. We compiled data from 69 studies that determined total Hg (THg) or methyl Hg (MeHg) TMS values in 205 aquatic food webs worldwide. Hg TMS values were compared against physicochemical and biological factors hypothesized to affect Hg biomagnification in aquatic systems. Food webs ranged across 1.7 ± 0.7 (mean ± SD) and 1.8 ± 0.8 trophic levels (calculated using δ(15)N from baseline to top predator) for THg and MeHg, respectively. The average trophic level (based on δ(15)N) of the upper-trophic-level organisms in the food web was 3.7 ± 0.8 and 3.8 ± 0.8 for THg and MeHg food webs, respectively. For MeHg, the mean TMS value was 0.24 ± 0.08 but varied from 0.08 to 0.53 and was, on average, 1.5 times higher than that for THg with a mean of 0.16 ± 0.11 (range: -0.19 to 0.48). Both THg and MeHg TMS values were significantly and positively correlated with latitude. TMS values in freshwater sites increased with dissolved organic carbon and decreased with total phosphorus and atmospheric Hg deposition. Results suggest that Hg biomagnification through food webs is highest in cold and low productivity systems; however, much of the among-system variability in TMS values remains unexplained. We identify critical data gaps and provide recommendations for future studies that would improve our understanding of global Hg biomagnification.

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Effects of mercury on wildlife: A comprehensive review

1998-02-01

Marti F. Wolfe , Steven E. Schwarzbach , Rini A. Sulaiman

Abstract Wildlife may be exposed to mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) from a variety of environmental sources, including mine tailings, industrial effluent, agricultural drainwater, impoundments, and atmospheric deposition from electric … Abstract Wildlife may be exposed to mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) from a variety of environmental sources, including mine tailings, industrial effluent, agricultural drainwater, impoundments, and atmospheric deposition from electric power generation. Terrestrial and aquatic wildlife may be at risk from exposure to waterborne Hg and MeHg. The transformation of inorganic Hg by anaerobic sediment microorganisms in the water column produces MeHg, which bioaccumulates at successive trophic levels in the food chain. If high trophic level feeders, such as piscivorous birds and mammals, ingest sufficient MeHg in prey and drinking water, Hg toxicoses, including damage to nervous, excretory and reproductive systems, result. Currently accepted no observed adverse effect levels (NOAELs) for waterborne Hg in wildlife have been developed from the piscivorous model in which most dietary Hg is in the methyl form. Such model are not applicable to omnivores, insectivores, and other potentially affected groups, and have not incorpotated data from other important matrices, such as eggs and muscle. The purpose of this paper is to present a comprehensive review of the Hg literature as it relates to effects on wildlife, including previously understudied groups. We present a critique of the current state of knowledge about effects of Hg on wildlife as an aid to identifying missing information and to planning research needed for conducting a complete assessment of Hg risks to wildlife. This review summarizes the toxicity of Hg to birds and mammals, the mechanisms of Hg toxicity, the measurement of Hg in biota, and interpretation of residue data.

Mercury in the Aquatic Environment: A Review of Factors Affecting Methylation

2001-07-01

Susanne M. Ullrich , T.W. Tanton , S.A. Abdrashitova

Mercury is one of the most hazardous contaminants that may be present in the aquatic environment, but its ecological and toxicological effects are strongly dependent on the chemical species present. … Mercury is one of the most hazardous contaminants that may be present in the aquatic environment, but its ecological and toxicological effects are strongly dependent on the chemical species present. Species distribution and transformation processes in natural aquatic systems are controlled by various physical, chemical, and biological factors. Depending on the prevailing environmental conditions, inorganic mercury species may be converted to many times more toxic methylated forms such as methylmercury, a potent neurotoxin that is readily accumulated by aquatic biota. Despite a considerable amount of literature on the subject, the behavior of mercury and many of the transformation and distribution mechanisms operating in the natural aquatic environment are still poorly understood. This review examines the current state of knowledge on the physicochemical behavior of mercury in the aquatic environment, and in particular the environmental factors influencing its transformation into highly toxic methylated forms.

Atmospheric mercury—An overview

1998-03-01

W. H. Schroeder , John Munthe

Oceanographic distributions of cadmium, zinc, nickel, and copper in the North Pacific

1980-04-01

Kenneth W. Bruland

Sulfate stimulation of mercury methylation in freshwater sediments

1992-11-01

Cynthia C. Gilmour , E. A. Henry , Ralph Mitchell

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTSulfate stimulation of mercury methylation in freshwater sedimentsCynthia C. Gilmour, Elizabeth A. Henry, and Ralph MitchellCite this: Environ. Sci. Technol. 1992, 26, 11, 2281–2287Publication Date (Print):November 1, … ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTSulfate stimulation of mercury methylation in freshwater sedimentsCynthia C. Gilmour, Elizabeth A. Henry, and Ralph MitchellCite this: Environ. Sci. Technol. 1992, 26, 11, 2281–2287Publication Date (Print):November 1, 1992Publication History Published online1 May 2002Published inissue 1 November 1992https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/es00035a029https://doi.org/10.1021/es00035a029research-articleACS PublicationsRequest reuse permissionsArticle Views2527Altmetric-Citations832LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InRedditEmail Other access optionsGet e-Alertsclose Get e-Alerts

Minamata Disease: Methylmercury Poisoning in Japan Caused by Environmental Pollution

1995-01-01

Masazumi Harada

Minamata disease (M. d.) is methylmercury (MeHg) poisoning that occurred in humans who ingested fish and shellfish contaminated by MeHg discharged in waste water from a chemical plant (Chisso Co. … Minamata disease (M. d.) is methylmercury (MeHg) poisoning that occurred in humans who ingested fish and shellfish contaminated by MeHg discharged in waste water from a chemical plant (Chisso Co. Ltd.). It was in May 1956, that M. d. was first officially "discovered" in Minamata City, south-west region of Japan's Kyushu Island. The marine products in Minamata Bay displayed high levels of Hg contamination (5.61 to 35.7 ppm). The Hg content in hair of patients, their family and inhabitants of the Shiranui Sea coastline were also detected at high levels of Hg (max. 705 ppm).Typical symptoms of M. d. are as follows: sensory disturbances (glove and stocking type), ataxia, dysarthria, constriction of the visual field, auditory disturbances and tremor were also seen.Further, the fetus was poisoned by MeHg when their mothers ingested contaminated marine life (named congenital M. d.). The symptom of patients were serious, and extensive lesions of the brain were observed.While the number of grave cases with acute M. d. in the initial stage was decreasing, the numbers of chronic M. d. patients who manifested symptoms gradually over an extended period of time was on the increase.For the past 36 years, of the 2252 patients who have been officially recognized as having M. d., 1043 have died.This paper also discusses the recent remaining problems.

Mercury as a Global Pollutant: Sources, Pathways, and Effects

2013-04-16

Charles T. Driscoll , Robert P. Mason , Hing Man Chan +2 more

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. … 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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Marine Biogeochemical Cycling of Mercury

2007-02-01

William F. Fitzgerald , Carl H. Lamborg , Chad R. Hammerschmidt

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTMarine Biogeochemical Cycling of MercuryWilliam F. Fitzgerald, Carl H. Lamborg, and Chad R. HammerschmidtView Author Information Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, 1080 Shenecosett Road, Groton, … ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTMarine Biogeochemical Cycling of MercuryWilliam F. Fitzgerald, Carl H. Lamborg, and Chad R. HammerschmidtView Author Information Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, 1080 Shenecosett Road, Groton, Connecticut 06340, and Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543 Cite this: Chem. Rev. 2007, 107, 2, 641–662Publication Date (Web):February 14, 2007Publication History Received31 August 2006Published online14 February 2007Published inissue 1 February 2007https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/cr050353mhttps://doi.org/10.1021/cr050353mresearch-articleACS PublicationsCopyright © 2007 American Chemical SocietyRequest reuse permissionsArticle Views6304Altmetric-Citations854LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InRedditEmail Other access optionsGet e-Alertsclose SUBJECTS:Fluxes,Geological materials,Mercury,Organic reactions,Sulfides Get e-Alerts

The Toxicology of Mercury

1997-01-01

Thomas W. Clarkson

AbstractThe major physical forms of mercury to which humans are exposed are mercury vapor, Hg0, and methylmercury compounds, CH3HgX. Mercury vapor emitted from both natural and anthropogenic sources is globally … AbstractThe major physical forms of mercury to which humans are exposed are mercury vapor, Hg0, and methylmercury compounds, CH3HgX. Mercury vapor emitted from both natural and anthropogenic sources is globally distributed in the atmosphere. It is returned as a water-soluble form in precipitation and finds its way into bodies of fresh and ocean water. Land run-off also accounts for further input into lakes and oceans. Inorganic mercury, present in water sediments, is subject to bacterial conversion to methylmercury compounds that are bioaccumulated in the aquatic food chain to reach the highest concentration in predatory fish. Human exposure to mercury vapor is from dental amalgam and industries using mercury. Methylmercury compounds are found exclusively in seafood and freshwater fish. The health effects of mercury vapor have been known since ancient times. Severe exposure results in a triad of symptoms, erethism, tremor, and gingivitis. Today, we are concerned with more subtle effects such as preclinical changes in kidney function and behavioral and cognitive changes associated with effects on the central nervous system. Methylmercury is a neurological poison affecting primarily brain tissue. In adults, brain damage is focal affecting the function of such areas as the cerebellum (ataxia) and the visual cortex (constricted visual fields). Methylmercury also at high doses can cause severe damage to the developing brain. Today the chief concern is with the more subtle effects arising from prenatal exposure such as delayed development and cognitive changes in children.Key Words:: mercurymethylmercurymercury vaporinorganic mercury.

Global mercury emissions to the atmosphere from anthropogenic and natural sources

2010-07-02

Nicola Pirrone , Sergio Cinnirella , Xinbin Feng +7 more

Abstract. This paper provides an up-to-date assessment of global mercury emissions from anthropogenic and natural sources. On an annual basis, natural sources account for 5207 Mg of mercury released to … Abstract. This paper provides an up-to-date assessment of global mercury emissions from anthropogenic and natural sources. On an annual basis, natural sources account for 5207 Mg of mercury released to the global atmosphere, including the contribution from re-emission processes, which are emissions of previously deposited mercury originating from anthropogenic and natural sources, and primary emissions from natural reservoirs. Anthropogenic sources, which include a large number of industrial point sources, are estimated to account for 2320 Mg of mercury emitted annually. The major contributions are from fossil-fuel fired power plants (810 Mg yr−1), artisanal small scale gold mining (400 Mg yr−1), non-ferrous metals manufacturing (310 Mg yr−1), cement production (236 Mg yr−1), waste disposal (187 Mg yr−1) and caustic soda production (163 Mg yr−1). Therefore, our current estimate of global mercury emissions suggests that the overall contribution from natural sources (primary emissions + re-emissions) and anthropogenic sources is nearly 7527 Mg per year, the uncertainty associated with these estimates are related to the typology of emission sources and source regions.

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Global anthropogenic mercury emission inventory for 2000

2006-05-20

Elisabeth G. Pacyna , Józef M. Pacyna , Frits Steenhuisen +1 more

Low dose mercury toxicity and human health

2005-05-18

Farhana Zahir , Shamim J. Rizwi , Soghra Khatun Haq +1 more

Global Biogeochemical Cycling of Mercury: A Review

2009-10-15

Noelle E. Selin

Mercury pollution poses global human health and environmental risks. Although mercury is naturally present in the environment, human activities, such as coal burning, have increased the amount of mercury cycling … Mercury pollution poses global human health and environmental risks. Although mercury is naturally present in the environment, human activities, such as coal burning, have increased the amount of mercury cycling among the land, atmosphere, and ocean by a factor of three to five. Emitted to the atmosphere in its elemental form, mercury travels worldwide before oxidizing to a form that deposits to ecosystems. In aquatic systems, mercury can convert into methylmercury, a potent neurotoxin. People and wildlife are exposed to methylmercury as it bioaccumulates up the food chain. Mercury continues to circulate in the atmosphere, oceans, and terrestrial system for centuries to millennia before it returns to deep-ocean sediments. Areas of uncertainty in the global biogeochemical cycle of mercury include oxidation processes in the atmosphere, land-atmosphere and ocean-atmosphere cycling, and methylation processes in the ocean. National and international policies have addressed direct mercury emissions, but further efforts to reduce risks face numerous political and technical challenges.

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Effects of Environmental Methylmercury on the Health of Wild Birds, Mammals, and Fish

2007-02-01

Anton M. Scheuhammer , Michael W. Meyer , Mark B. Sandheinrich +1 more

The ferrozine method revisited: Fe(II)/Fe(III) determination in natural waters

2000-07-01

Éric Viollier , Patrick W. Inglett , Kimberley S. Hunter +2 more

Global emission of mercury to the atmosphere from anthropogenic sources in 2005 and projections to 2020

2009-06-17

Elisabeth G. Pacyna , Józef M. Pacyna , Kyrre Sundseth +5 more

Bacterial mercury resistance from atoms to ecosystems

2003-05-13

Tamar Barkay , Susan M. Miller , Anne O. Summers

Bacterial resistance to inorganic and organic mercury compounds (HgR) is one of the most widely observed phenotypes in eubacteria. Loci conferring HgR in Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria typically have at … Bacterial resistance to inorganic and organic mercury compounds (HgR) is one of the most widely observed phenotypes in eubacteria. Loci conferring HgR in Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria typically have at minimum a mercuric reductase enzyme (MerA) that reduces reactive ionic Hg(II) to volatile, relatively inert, monoatomic Hg(0) vapor and a membrane-bound protein (MerT) for uptake of Hg(II) arranged in an operon under control of MerR, a novel metal-responsive regulator. Many HgR loci encode an additional enzyme, MerB, that degrades organomercurials by protonolysis, and one or more additional proteins apparently involved in transport. Genes conferring HgR occur on chromosomes, plasmids, and transposons and their operon arrangements can be quite diverse, frequently involving duplications of the above noted structural genes, several of which are modular themselves. How this very mobile and plastic suite of proteins protects host cells from this pervasive toxic metal, what roles it has in the biogeochemical cycling of Hg, and how it has been employed in ameliorating environmental contamination are the subjects of this review.

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Methylmercury Exposure and Health Effects in Humans: A Worldwide Concern

2007-02-01

Donna Mergler , Henry A. Anderson , Hing Man Chan +4 more

THE CHEMICAL CYCLE AND BIOACCUMULATION OF MERCURY

1998-11-01

François M. M. Morel , Anne M. L. Kraepiel , Marc Amyot

▪ Abstract Because it is very toxic and accumulates in organisms, particularly in fish, mercury is an important pollutant and one of the most studied. Nonetheless we still have an … ▪ Abstract Because it is very toxic and accumulates in organisms, particularly in fish, mercury is an important pollutant and one of the most studied. Nonetheless we still have an incomplete understanding of the factors that control the bioconcentration of mercury. Elemental mercury is efficiently transported as a gas around the globe, and even remote areas show evidence of mercury pollution originating from industrial sources such as power plants. Besides elemental mercury, the major forms of mercury in water are ionic mercury (which is bound to chloride, sulfide, or organic acids) and organic mercury, particularly methylmercury. Methylmercury rather than inorganic mercury is bioconcentrated because it is better retained by organisms at various levels in the food chain. The key factor determining the concentration of mercury in the biota is the methylmercury concentration in water, which is controlled by the relative efficiency of the methylation and demethylation processes. Anoxic waters and sediments are an important source of methylmercury, apparently as the result of the methylating activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria. In surface waters, methylmercury may originate from anoxic layers or be formed through poorly known biological or chemical processes. Demethylation is effected both photochemically and biologically.

The Toxicology of Mercury — Current Exposures and Clinical Manifestations

2003-10-30

Thomas W. Clarkson , L. Magós , Gary J. Myers

Mercury poisoning still occurs as a result of accidental and occupational exposure. For the general population, however, the main concern is the possible adverse effect of exposure to mercury through … Mercury poisoning still occurs as a result of accidental and occupational exposure. For the general population, however, the main concern is the possible adverse effect of exposure to mercury through fish consumption and the receipt of dental amalgams and thimerosal, a preservative used in vaccines. This review summarizes both the facts and the controversies surrounding exposure to methyl mercury, mercury vapor, and the ethyl mercury in thimerosal.

A Synthesis of Progress and Uncertainties in Attributing the Sources of Mercury in Deposition

2007-02-01

S. E. Lindberg , O. Russell Bullock , Ralf Ebinghaus +6 more

Trace Elements in Sea-water

1983-01-01

Kenneth W. Bruland

Toxicological Effects of Methylmercury

2000-09-27

National Research Council

Mercury pollution : integration and synthesis

1994-01-01

Carl J. Watras , John W. Huckabee

Foreword Freshwater and Marine Ecosystems in the Environment: Biogeochemistry, D.B. Porcella. Levels of in the Tucurui Reservoir and its Surrounding Area in Para, Brazil, I. Aula, H. Braunschweiler, T. Leino, … Foreword Freshwater and Marine Ecosystems in the Environment: Biogeochemistry, D.B. Porcella. Levels of in the Tucurui Reservoir and its Surrounding Area in Para, Brazil, I. Aula, H. Braunschweiler, T. Leino, I. Malin, P. Porvari, T. Hatanaka, M. Lodenius, and A. Juras. The Distribution of in a Mediterranean Area, C. Barghigiani and T. Ristori. Distribution and Speciation of in the Water and Fish of Nan Hu (South Lake), Guangxi Province, People's Republic of China, N.S. Bloom, L. Liang, Z.Q. Xie, and S.S. Wang. Chemical Speciation of in a Meromictic Lake, D. Cossa, R.P. Mason, and W.F. Fitzgerald. Distribution and Flux of Particulate in Four Stratified Seepage Lakes, J.P. Hurley, C.J. Watras, and N.S. Bloom. Elemental Cycling within the Mixed Layer of the Equatorial Pacific Ocean, R.P. Mason, J. O'Donnell, and W.F. Fitzgerald. Aqueous and Biotic Concentrations in Boreal Lakes: Model Predictions and Observations, M. Meili. Methylmercury in a Permanently Stratified Fiord, H. Parkman, P. Ostland, M.-O. Samuelsson, and A. Iverfeldt. Methylmercury Sources in Boreal Lake Ecosystems, M. Verta, T. Matilainen, P. Porvari, M. Niemi, A. Uusi-Rauva, and N.S. Bloom. The Vertical Distribution of Species in Wisconsin Lakes: Accumulation in Plankton Layers, C.J. Watras and N.S. Bloom. Sources and Fates of and Methylmercury in Wisconsin Lakes, C.J. Watras, N.S. Bloom, R.J.M. Hudson, S. Gherini, R. Munson, S. Claas, K.A. Morrison, J. Hurley, J.G. Wiener, W.F. Fitzgerald, R. Mason, G. Vandal, D. Powell, R. Rada, L. Rislov, M. Winfrey, J. Elder, D. Krabbenhoft, A. Andren, C. Babiarz, D.B. Porcella, and J.W. Huckabee. Atmospheric Cycling, Transport, and Deposition Atmospheric Cycling of Mercury: An Overview, O. Lindqvist. Historical Atmospheric Deposition in the Mid-Continental United States as Recorded in an Ombrotrophic Peat Bog, J.M. Benoit, W.F. Fitzgerald, and A.W.H. Damman. Air-Water Cycling of in Lakes, W.F. Fitzgerald, R.P. Mason, G.M. Vandal, and F. Dulac. Atmospheric Bulk Deposition of to the Southern Baltic Sea Area, A. Jensen and A. Iverfeldt. Measurements of Atmospheric in the Great Lakes Basin, G.J. Keeler, M.E. Hoyer, and C.H. Lamborg. Diurnal Variations in Concentrations in the Ground Layer Atmosphere, K. Kvietkus and J. Sakalys. Particulate-Phase in the Atmosphere: Collection/Analysis Method Development and Applications, C.H. Lamborg, M.E. Hoyer, G.J. Keeler, I. Olmez, and X. Huang. Application of Throughfall Methods to Estimate Dry Deposition of Mercury, S.E. Lindberg, J.G. Owens, and W. Stratton. The Atmospheric Chemistry of Mercury: Kinetic Studies of Redox Reactions, J. Munthe. Atmospheric Measurements at a Rural Site in Southern Ontario, Canada, W.H. Schroeder. Terrestrial and Watershed Processes in Forest Ecosystems: Risk and Research Needs, D.L. Godbold. Spatial Distribution Patterns of in an East-Central Minnesota Landscape, D.F. Grigal, E.A. Nater, and P.S. Homann. Methylmercury Input/Output and Accumulation in Forested Catchments and Critical Loads for Lakes in Southwestern Sweden, H. Hultberg, A. Iverfeldt, and Y.-H. Lee. The Relation Between in Soil and the Transport of from Small Catchments in Sweden, K. Johansson and A. Iverfeldt. Fluxes and Turnover of Methylmercury: Pools in Forest Soils, Y.-H. Lee, G.Ch. Borg, A. Iverfeldt, and H. Hultberg. in Terrestrial Ecosystems: A Review, M. Lodenius. Release and Transformation from Flooded Vegetation and Soils: Experimental Evaluation and Simulation Modeling, K. Morrison. Bioaccumulation Amplification of Concentrations in Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) Downstream from the La Grande 2 Reservoir, James Bay, Quebec, D. Brouard, J.-F. Doyon, and R. Schetagne. Earthworm Bioaccumulation of from Contaminated Flood Plain Soils, D. Cocking, M.L. King, L. Ritchie, and R. Hayes. Concentration in Perch (Perca fluviatilis) as Influenced by Lacustrine Physical and Chemical Factors in Two Regions of Russia, T.A. Haines, V.T. Komov, and C.H. Jagoe. in the Food Chains of a Small Polyhumic Forest Lake in Southern Finland, M. Rask, T.-R. Metsala, and K. Salonen. in Vegetation of the Precambrian Shield, P. E. Rasmussen. You Are What You Eat and Little Bit More: Bioenergetics-Based Models of Methylmercury Accumulation in Fish Revisted, D.W. Rodgers. Methylmercury Levels in Fish Tissue from Three Reservoir Systems in Insular Newfoundland, Canada, D.A. Scruton, E.L. Petticrew, L.J. LeDrew, M.R. Anderson, U.P. Williams, B.A. Bennett, and E.L. Hill. in Yellow Perch from Adirondack Drainage Lakes (New York, U.S.), H.A. Simonin, S.P. Gloss, C.T. Driscoll, C.L. Schofield, W.A. Kretser, R.W. Karcher, and J. Symula. Modeling of Aquatic Ecosystems Modeling the Biogeochemical Cycle of in Lakes: The Cycling Model (MCM) and its Application to the MTL Study Lakes, R.J.M. Hudson, S.A. Gherini, C.J. Watras, and D.B. Porcella. Analytical Methodology and Chemistry Importance of New Specific Analytical Procedures in Determining Organic Species Produced by Microorganism Cultures, F. Baldi and M. Filippelli. Influence of Analytical Conditions on the Observed Reactive Mercury Concentrations in Natural Freshwaters, N.S. Bloom. A Passive Sampler for the Monitoring of Gaseous Amounts in the Atmosphere, K. Kvietkus and J. Sakalys. Experiences on Different Pretreatment Procedures in the Analysis of Low Methylmercury Levels in Environmental Samples by a GC-CVAFS Technique, Y.-H. Lee, A. Iverfeldt, and E. Lord. Determination of Low-Level Methylmercury Concentrations in Water and Complex Matrixes by Different Analytical Methods: A Methodological Intercomparison, S. Padberg, A. Iverfeldt, Y.-H. Lee, F. Baldi, M. Filippelli, K. May, and M. Stoeppler. Photochemical Behavior of Inorganic Compounds in Aqueous Solution, A.F. Xiao, J. Munthe, D. Stromberg, and O. Lindqvist. Pollution and Remediation Natural Gas Industry Sites Contaminated with Elemental Mercury: An Interdisciplinary Research Approach, D.S. Charlton, J.A. Harju, D.J. Stepan, V. Kuhnel, C.R. Schmit, R.D. Butler, K.R. Henke, and F.W. Beaver. Could the Geothermal Power Plant at Mt. Amiata (Italy) be a Source of Contamination? R. Ferrara, B.E. Maserti, A. DeLiso, H. Edner, P. Ragnarson, S. Svanberg, and E. Wallinder. in Soils and Plants in the Florida Everglades Sugarcane Area, W.H. Patrick, Jr., R.P. Gambrell, P. Parkpian, and F. Tan. Pollution: The Impact of U.S. Government Stockpile Releases, M. Rieber and D.P. Harris. The Retention of Gaseous on Flyashes, P. Schager, B. Hall, and O. Lindqvist. Human Health and Public Policy The Toxicology of and its Compounds, T.W. Clarkson. Policy Implications of Communicating Health Risks from Fish Consumption, B.A. Knuth. Imbalances in Patients with Neurodegenerative Diseases, W.D. Ehmann, E.J. Kasarskis, and W.R. Markesbery. Trends in Concentrations in the Hair of Women of Nome, Alaska: Evidence of Seafood Consumption or Abiotic Absorption? B. Lasorsa. Inhibition of Progression through the S Phase of the Cell Cycle: A Mechanism of Cytoxicity of Methylmercury, E.J. Massaro. Levels in Fisherman Groups of the North Adriatic Sea, G. Moretti, A. Bortoli, V. Marin, and E. Ravazzolo. Average Intake in an Italian Diet, T. Ristori and C. Barghigiani. Changes in Human Dietary Intake of in Polluted Areas in Finland Between 1967 and 1990, M. Verta, A.B. Mukherjee, and K. Louekari. Index

Enamel Erosion and Discoloration Potential of the Liquid Phase in Dual-Form Multivitamins

2025-06-26

Ye-Jin Kim , Hee‐Jung Lim , Moon‐Jin Jeong +1 more | Journal of dental hygiene science

A survey of Bacterial and Fungal Community Structure and Functions in Two Long-term Metalliferous Soil Habitats

2025-06-25

Ashvini Chauhan , Christian Chukwujindu , Ashish K. Pathak +1 more | Research Square (Research Square)

<title>Abstract</title> This study investigated the bacterial and fungal communities, along with their functional gene profiles, in two long-term heavy metal-contaminated sites in the United States: the Savannah River Site (SRS) … <title>Abstract</title> This study investigated the bacterial and fungal communities, along with their functional gene profiles, in two long-term heavy metal-contaminated sites in the United States: the Savannah River Site (SRS) and the Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR). Soil samples were categorized based on total mercury (THg), methyl mercury (MeHg), and bioavailable mercury (BioaHg) into high, medium, and low contamination levels. Using qPCR, amplicon sequencing, and shotgun metagenomics, we examined the long-term impacts of mercury contamination on microbial taxonomic composition and gene functions. Taxonomic analysis revealed the dominance of bacterial genera <italic>Bradyrhizobium</italic>, <italic>Geobacter</italic>, and <italic>Burkholderia</italic>, previously identified in our studies at the SRS and ORR sites. Among fungi, <italic>Fusarium</italic>, <italic>Pseudogymnoascus</italic>, and <italic>Aspergillus</italic> were the most abundant. Bacterial alpha diversity declined with increasing contamination, whereas fungal alpha diversity remained stable, with the highest diversity observed at the low-contamination site. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) linked <italic>Burkholderia</italic> and <italic>Pseudomonas</italic> with THg and MeHg, while <italic>Pedosphaera</italic> and Candidatus Solibacter were associated with BioaHg. Fungal phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota correlated with THg and MeHg, whereas Blastocladiomycota was associated with BioaHg. Functional analysis via shotgun metagenomics and PICRUSt2 identified an enrichment of stress response genes, membrane transporters, and metabolic pathways essential for microbial survival in contaminated environments. Genes encoding carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid processing, and protein metabolism were consistently dominant across contamination levels and sampling seasons. These findings highlight the adaptive strategies of soil microbiomes in mercury-contaminated environments, emphasizing their potential role in bioremediation and ecosystem restoration, thus paving the way for improved environmental management and remediation strategies of former nuclear legacy contaminated ecosystems.

Meta-analytical evidence for the endocrine-disrupting properties of mercury exposure in wild birds

2025-06-23

M. Hernández-González , Marcel Eens , Olivier Chastel +2 more | The Science of The Total Environment

Surfactants modification of kaolin for enhanced mercury adsorption

2025-06-23

Imen Rim , Naouel Hezil , Mamoun Fellah +5 more | Journal of Water Process Engineering

Functionalized MnOx/Montmorillonite for High-efficiency Hg0 Removal in Simulated Flue Gas: Synergistic Hydrophobic and Polar Modifications

2025-06-23

Xuhui Wei , Rulong Du , Rusong Zhao +5 more | Catalysis Letters

Childhood mercury exposure and early death in Grassy Narrows First Nation, Canada: a retrospective study

2025-06-22

Donna Mergler , Aline Philibert , Myriam Fillion +1 more | Environmental Health

Transformative Microbes to Reduce the Presence of Toxic Mercury in Wastewater and Dental Applications

2025-06-21

Michael Radicone | Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences Research

Modelling mercury dynamics in the food web of the Augusta Bay

2025-06-20

Giovanni Denaro , Luciano Curcio , Bartolomeo Cosenza +4 more | Chaos Solitons & Fractals

Biochar as a sustainable amendment for mitigating mercury and methylmercury mobility in contaminated lagoon sediments: insights from incubation experiments

2025-06-19

Elena Pavoni , Federico Floreani , Elisa Petranich +6 more | The Science of The Total Environment

Mercury (Hg) contaminated sediments may represent a secondary source of contamination, especially under anoxia which promotes the release of Hg, including its most toxic form methylmercury (MeHg), into the water … Mercury (Hg) contaminated sediments may represent a secondary source of contamination, especially under anoxia which promotes the release of Hg, including its most toxic form methylmercury (MeHg), into the water column, posing a risk to marine life and human health. As such, sorbent amendments added to the sediment could be a sustainable approach to mitigate Hg methylation and mobility. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of biochar in reducing Hg and MeHg effluxes at the sediment-water interface (SWI) in a Hg-contaminated fish farm. Incubation experiments compared biochar-amended and untreated sediment using two benthic chambers, monitoring temporal changes in physico-chemical parameters (dissolved oxygen - DO, ORP), DHg, DMeHg, Fe, Mn, H2S and nutrients (NO3-, NO2-, NH4+, and PO43-) during oxic-anoxic transition and re‑oxygenation. In the early stage, a faster DO consumption was observed, especially in the untreated system, alongside increases of NH4+, PO43-, Fe and Mn, due to the intense remineralisation of organic matter and reductive dissolution of oxy-hydroxides. In the untreated mesocosm, the highest DHg (64.3 ng L-1) and DMeHg (53.1 ng L-1) levels were observed under anoxia. Conversely, the biochar-amended chamber maintained lower DHg (12.7 ± 3.8 ng L-1) and DMeHg (4.26 ± 1.26 ng L-1) concentrations, with an average reduction of 75 and 90 %, respectively. Following re‑oxygenation, oxic conditions were rapidly restored in the biochar-amended system whereas anoxia lasted for 6 days in the untreated chamber. Results suggest that biochar effectively mitigated Hg and MeHg fluxes at the SWI, reducing methylation potential, limiting the development of anoxia and promoting re-oxygenation.

Urban green infrastructure fails to mitigate exposure to mercury with increasing pollution levels: evidence from corvids

2025-06-18

Michał Ciach , Łukasz J. Binkowski , Arkadiusz Fröhlich +1 more | bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

Abstract The urban landscape acts as a novel habitat providing opportunities for certain species. However, populations of these so-called urban winners are constantly exposed to environmental contaminants, among which mercury … Abstract The urban landscape acts as a novel habitat providing opportunities for certain species. However, populations of these so-called urban winners are constantly exposed to environmental contaminants, among which mercury (Hg) is perceived as a significant health concern for both wildlife and humans. While absorption of Hg is primarily related to its environmental level, it could be theoretically mitigated by near-natural habitats that have persisted within the urban landscape. Here, we investigated this hypothesis using three sympatric corvids as a model – Magpie Pica pica , Jackdaw Corvus monedula and Rook Corvus frugilegus . Total Hg concentrations were identified in the feathers (in the shafts and barbs separately) of each species collected in their breeding territories located along the urbanization gradient of Kraków (Poland). These concentrations were then correlated with particulate matter emissions (PM 10 ) and habitat features (green and grey infrastructure) measured in the territories where the feathers had been collected. We expected that Hg concentrations in feathers would increase with increasing local pollutant emissions but decrease with increasing areas of green infrastructure, i.e. natural or semi-natural vegetation. Mean Hg concentrations in both feather shafts and barbs differed between the species. Magpie showed the highest concentrations (0.621 ±0.442 SD µg/g in barbs), followed by Jackdaw (0.441 ±0.272 µg/g) and Rook (0.296 ±0.134 µg/g). A generalized linear model yielded a correlation between habitat composition and Hg concentration only for Jackdaw feather shafts. A generalized additive model, however, revealed a non-linear relationship between PM 10 emissions and Hg concentrations in feather barbs and/or shafts of Jackdaw and Magpie (but not Rook). Hg concentrations initially increased, but then fell with increasing PM 10 emissions; these relationships were not influenced by habitat features. In conclusion, we found no evidence that Hg contamination was mitigated by urban green infrastructure. Highlights Urban birds are exposed to environmental contaminants, including mercury (Hg) Hg concentrations in feather shafts and barbs differed between the species Hg concentrations non-linearly correlated with particulate matter emissions Hg contaminations not mitigated by urban green infrastructure

Tissue Element Levels and Heavy Metal Burdens in Bottlenose Dolphins That Stranded in the Mississippi Sound Surrounding the 2019 Unusual Mortality Event

2025-06-18

Nelmarie Landrau‐Giovannetti , Ryanne Murray , Stephen R. Reichley +7 more | Toxics

In 2019, an unusual mortality event (UME) affected bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Mississippi Sound (MSS) following an extended dual opening of the Bonnet Carré Spillway (BCS), which prevents … In 2019, an unusual mortality event (UME) affected bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Mississippi Sound (MSS) following an extended dual opening of the Bonnet Carré Spillway (BCS), which prevents flooding in New Orleans. This resulted in low salinity, skin lesions, and electrolyte imbalances in dolphins. Additionally, the influx likely altered the MSS's environmental chemical composition, including levels of heavy metals and metalloids; thus, we quantified heavy metals, metalloids, and essential elements in the tissues of dolphins that stranded in the MSS before and after the 2019 UME. We hypothesized that levels of heavy metals and metalloids (such as mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd)) would not show significant changes post-UME. Indeed, we found no major changes associated with the UME in most metals; sodium (Na) and magnesium (Mg) levels were lower in several tissues after 2019, which correlated with the average yearly salinity measured from the MSS. Toxic metals and metalloids were detectable with some changes over time; however, the selenium (Se):Hg molar ratio increased in some tissues post-2019. Additionally, we confirmed that Hg can bioaccumulate, with positive correlations between Hg levels and dolphin size as assessed by straight length. Overall, our findings indicate that freshwater incursions into the MSS can alter dolphin exposure to essential and toxic elements.

Mercury contamination in gull chicks raised in natural vs. urban habitats

2025-06-18

Ivo dos Santos , Paco Bustamante , Maud Brault‐Favrou +7 more | Marine Pollution Bulletin

Anthropogenic activities have increased pressure on marine ecosystems through the continuous overflow of pollutants like mercury (Hg). Seabirds, particularly chicks, serve as effective local bioindicators of marine ecosystem health. This … Anthropogenic activities have increased pressure on marine ecosystems through the continuous overflow of pollutants like mercury (Hg). Seabirds, particularly chicks, serve as effective local bioindicators of marine ecosystem health. This study assessed the influence of trophic ecology (inferred from δ13C and δ15N values) and colony location on Hg concentrations in the blood of yellow-legged (YLG, Larus michahellis) and Audouin's (AG, Ichthyaetus audouinii) gull chicks raised in natural (YLG, AG) vs. urban habitats (YLG). We report the highest blood Hg concentrations ever documented in chicks of these species raised in natural habitats (range: AG, 0.59-4.19 μg g-1 dw; YLG, 0.74-2.82 μg g-1 dw), while urban-raised YLG chicks exhibited up to 2-fold lower Hg concentrations (range: YLG, 0.22-1.23 μg g-1 dw). Interestingly, a positive association between trophic position (reflected by δ15N) and Hg concentrations was observed in urban YLG chicks but not in chicks raised in natural habitats. On the other hand, body mass was negatively associated to blood Hg concentrations in gull chicks raised in natural colonies. Overall, these results highlight the roles of the ecological context, trophic position, and body mass increase along the nestling period on driving Hg exposure in seabird chicks. We stress for further baseline contaminant studies and for more research on how these Hg concentrations could impact the physiology and development of chicks, despite the current Hg concentrations pose an apparent low risk.

<i>Tridax procumbens</i>: Applicable Weed in Phytoremediation and Bioindication of Soil Contamination by Mercury

2025-06-17

Evandro Oliveira , Larissa Cavalheiro , Leandro Dênis Battirola +1 more | ACS Omega

Soil Mercury Accumulation Delays Fish Recovery from Atmospheric Deposition Declines

2025-06-17

Connor I. Olson , Stephen F. Jane , Benjamin M. Geyman +7 more | Environmental Science & Technology

Marked decreases in U.S. mercury emissions over the last 30 years reflect successful air quality management, but data documenting the responses of ecosystems and biota over this same period are … Marked decreases in U.S. mercury emissions over the last 30 years reflect successful air quality management, but data documenting the responses of ecosystems and biota over this same period are limited. We synthesized long-term data on mercury cycling at Arbutus Lake in the Adirondack Park, NY, and evaluated whether brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) from five regional lakes responded to changing watershed inputs. We find that the rate of watershed mercury inputs from dry deposition, wet deposition, and litterfall significantly decreased over the monitoring record (2003-2021), but the watershed continued to accumulate mercury by 25.2 ± 2.8 μg m-2 yr-1 (mean ± interannual SD). Annual fluxes of total mercury from the major tributary inflow to Arbutus Lake declined early in the record (-3.3% yr-1, 2005-2010) but have increased more recently (1.8% yr-1, 2015-2019), possibly in response to changing climate and soil chemistry. No significant trends were observed in the net total or methylmercury loading to Arbutus Lake, nor in fish mercury concentrations in nearby lakes. These findings suggest that legacy mercury in soils from historical deposition may delay the response of lake biota to declining mercury deposition and highlight the potential impacts of climate change on future mercury cycling within forested ecosystems.

The Legacy of Mercury Contamination from Colonial Nonferrous Mining in the Southern Hemisphere

2025-06-17

Larissa Schneider , Saúl Guerrero , Gavin M. Mudd +7 more | Environmental Science & Technology

The Mount Lyell copper (Cu) mine in Tasmania, Australia, underwent historical operational changes that influenced mercury (Hg) emissions from ore processing and smelting. This study presents the first record of … The Mount Lyell copper (Cu) mine in Tasmania, Australia, underwent historical operational changes that influenced mercury (Hg) emissions from ore processing and smelting. This study presents the first record of Hg concentrations (HgC) and accumulation rates (HgAR) using sediment cores from four lakes around Mount Lyell. HgC and HgAR increased from the 1890s (onset of smelting), peaked from the 1920s (introduction of the flotation processing method), and declined after 1969 (smelter closure). Mercury isotopic signatures confirmed its anthropogenic source. Modeling of Hg deposition vs distance over the period 1922-1969 showed that it followed a power-law function. The Mount Lyell emissions may have affected an area up to ∼270,000 km2, beyond which deposition was indistinguishable from the natural background. Estimated total Hg loadings ranged from 23 to 43 t, compared to an estimated ∼150 t Hg contained in the ore floated. Isotopic data showed Δ199Hg trending toward zero near the smelter, indicating that the smelter was the main source of Hg. Our findings highlight that pyrometallurgical smelting methods contributed more significantly to Hg emissions than production volume. Studying legacy mines in the Southern Hemisphere, responsible for 29.1% of global Cu production during the preregulatory era (1880-1950), is critical to understanding historical Hg dispersion in this understudied region.

Mercury in piscivorous and detritivorous fish from the Teles Pires river basin, Southern Amazon

2025-06-16

Liliane Stédile de Matos , Daniele Kasper , João Otávio Santos Silva +1 more | Revista Brasileira de Ciências Ambientais

Mercury accumulation in fish can differ among species living in the same water body, and these differences can be related to their life cycle, feeding habits, and position in the … Mercury accumulation in fish can differ among species living in the same water body, and these differences can be related to their life cycle, feeding habits, and position in the trophic chain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of total mercury (THg) in the muscle, liver, kidneys, and gills of the detritivorous fish Prochilodus nigricans, and the piscivorous fish Cichla mirianae, Hydrolycus armatus, and Hydrolycus tatauaia from the Teles Pires river basin. Collections were conducted in September 2015 (dry season) and May 2017 (ebb season). The THg concentrations in the liver of P. nigricans from the Teles Pires basin (1.05 standard deviation±1.24 mg.kg-1) and C. mirianae from the Peixoto river (0.46±0.26 mg.kg-1) were significantly higher than in the other tissues analyzed; for the other species, the concentrations in the liver and kidneys were similar. THg concentrations in the muscle were significantly higher (p=0.0002) in piscivorous fish (H. armatus 0.30 mg.kg-1; H. tatauaia 0.18 mg.kg-1; C. mirianae from the Teles Pires river 0.17 mg.kg-1 and from the Peixoto river 0.21 mg.kg-1) than in the detritivorous fish (P. nigricans from the Teles Pires basin 0.05 mg.kg-1), which was expected due to the biomagnification of mercury. The vast majority of specimens had THg concentrations in the muscle below that permitted for human consumption by the World Health Organization but, considering that the region has a high consumption of fish, the daily mercury intake exceeds the limit. The detritivorous fish P. nigricans presented the lowest THg concentrations in the muscle; therefore, it can be preferentially consumed by the general population, especially by sensitive groups (lactating women, infants, and children), and frequent consumers such as indigenous and riverine populations.

Pollutant Distribution in Vertebrates Across Scales: Organs, Cells, and Organelles

2025-06-16

Bo Ren , Yufei Zhao , Xiangrui Wang +4 more | Environmental Pollution

Comparative Measurement of Mercury Release Values from Amalgam Restorations with Different Surface Numbers: An In Vitro Study

2025-06-13

Oktay Yazıcıoğlu , Musa Kazım Üçüncü , Serdar Aydın | Applied Sciences

Purpose: This research examines the release of mercury from dental amalgam restorations over time, analyzing the relationship between the number of restored surfaces and mercury levels in artificial saliva. Materials … Purpose: This research examines the release of mercury from dental amalgam restorations over time, analyzing the relationship between the number of restored surfaces and mercury levels in artificial saliva. Materials and Methods: An in vitro study was performed utilizing 224 plastic model teeth restored with dental amalgam. The teeth were categorized based on the number of surfaces restored, which ranged from Group 1 (1 surface) to Group 6 (48 surfaces). These were then immersed in artificial saliva, and the mercury levels were measured at intervals up to 30 days using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results: The release of mercury increased in correlation with both the number of restored surfaces and the passage of time. Significant differences were noted among the groups, with the highest release occurring in the group with the greatest number of surfaces. Mercury levels exhibited a consistent rise from baseline to day 30. Conclusions: The amount of mercury released from amalgam restorations increases in relation to both the number of restored surfaces and the duration of exposure.

Formal E-waste facilities as a source of mercury to air and soil in Türkiye

2025-06-13

Perihan Binnur Kurt-Karakuş , Merve Özkaleli Akcetin , Aşkın Birgül +7 more | Waste Management

A portable front-face fluorescence-sensing platform based on thiourea-Schiff-base for rapid, on-site detection of hazardous mercury contamination in whitening cosmetics

2025-06-12

Yuanchao Lv , Dejiang Gao , Di Zhang +5 more | Journal of Hazardous Materials

Unraveling the inhibition mechanism of SO2 on mercury oxidation over OMS-2: A DFT study

2025-06-12

Bo Zhao , Ruitao Wang , Linbo Qin +2 more | Computational and Theoretical Chemistry

Stable isotopes unveil ocean transport of legacy mercury into Arctic food webs

2025-06-12

Jens Søndergaard , Bo Elberling , Christian Sonne +2 more | Nature Communications

Marine Trace Element Biogeochemistry

2025-06-12

James W. Murray | Oxford University Press eBooks

Abstract In this chapter the aquatic and biogeochemistry of trace elements in seawater is discussed. All elements with concentrations less than 1 mg kg−1 are considered trace elements (not all … Abstract In this chapter the aquatic and biogeochemistry of trace elements in seawater is discussed. All elements with concentrations less than 1 mg kg−1 are considered trace elements (not all are metals!). Particulate size distributions are defined. The chemical speciation, which includes, hydrolysis reactions, inorganic complex formation, organic complex formation and colloidal forms is presented. Solubility reactions are defined. Scavenging from seawater, which includes surface complexation reactions, coagulation and Brownian pumping, is discussed. Redfield-like biological uptake is reviewed. Finally, there is an analysis about how to make simple predictions about the speciation of elements based on their class A, class B or transition element electronic structure. An extensive Appendix gives detailed examples for Fe and Cu speciation calculations.

Sargassum spp. (Phylum: Ochrophyta, Class: Phaeophyceae): Elemental analysis and spatial distribution approximation

2025-06-12

María Teresa de Jesús Rodríguez Salazar , Joel Chávez , Caterín Gutiérrez Sánchez +5 more | Cymbella revista de investigación y difusión sobre algas.

This review for the 1984-2023 period, includes a sampling sites information employing the Google Earth platform: https://earth.google.com/earth/d/1Qd72z9YXRpNVqmv5jqqJQftJlfS4JLgS?usp=sharing. The seaweed species mainly analyzed were: Sargassum polycistum, S. wightii, S. fluitans, S. … This review for the 1984-2023 period, includes a sampling sites information employing the Google Earth platform: https://earth.google.com/earth/d/1Qd72z9YXRpNVqmv5jqqJQftJlfS4JLgS?usp=sharing. The seaweed species mainly analyzed were: Sargassum polycistum, S. wightii, S. fluitans, S. natans, and S. muticum. The most common chemical analytes determined were: Cu, Mn, Zn (micromineral), Ca, K, Fe, Mg, Na, P (macromineral), As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb (PTE), C, H, N, S, O (organic elemental analysis). There were a few isotopic data for 210Po and 210Pb (radioactive) and 13C and 15N (light stable). The contamination risk evaluation was preliminary estimated through the indexes CF, Cd, PLI, Eri, and PERI using As, Pb, Cd, and Zn global reported concentration data for Mexico´s sampling sites and guideline limits available. In Europe there is regulation for macroalgae but not yet in Mexico. The preliminary indexes values obtained are higher considering the European Regulation is more severe than the Mexican Standards not specific to the use of biomass (NOM 187, NOM 242, and NOM 247). Thus, the analyzed Sargassum spp. seaweed could be classified as “high” risk for As and Cd content, and “moderate” for Pb and Zn.

Assessing mercury and lead pollution in the Ankobra estuary due to artisanal mining activities: Implications for water quality and aquatic life

2025-06-10

Mary Opeyemi Odubote , Joseph Aggrey‐Fynn , Paul Kojo Mensah | PLoS ONE

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining, “Galamsey” as it is called in Ghana, within the Ankobra estuary has impacted the water quality, fish health and other aquatic organisms. This paper presents … Artisanal and small-scale gold mining, “Galamsey” as it is called in Ghana, within the Ankobra estuary has impacted the water quality, fish health and other aquatic organisms. This paper presents a study investigating the concentrations of mercury and lead in water, sediments, gills and liver of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus of the Ankobra estuary. Bimonthly sampling between December 2020 and June 2021 was conducted at nine locations along the estuary. Physicochemical parameters such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and turbidity were determined in situ using the EUTECH Multi-Parameter probe. A total of 36 water samples, 36 sediment samples and 120 fish samples were collected. Mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) concentrations in the samples were measured using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS), employing appropriate techniques for each metal. Results showed that the physicochemical parameters of water, except for turbidity, were within the acceptable limits for aquatic life, based on the United States Environmental Protection Agency water quality criteria. Mercury and lead concentrations in water and fish samples exceeded United States Environmental Protection Agency guideline thresholds. In sediments, mercury levels surpassed both average shale values and ecological risk thresholds (ERM = 0.71 mg/kg), indicating high ecological risk, while lead remained below the ERL (46.7 mg/kg), suggesting low risk. Mercury and lead concentration in fish, water and sediments differ significantly (P < 0.05) across locations and between matrices (water, sediment, and fish organs). High bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) were recorded for both metals in fish. The BAF of mercury in fish-to-water samples was greater than in fish-to-sediment samples. In contrast, the bioaccumulation factor of lead was greater than in sediments compared to water. The study revealed that Ankobra estuary is polluted with mercury and lead and all necessary regulations should be enforced on the activities of artisanal miners to curb this menace.

Application of Mercury Stable Isotopes to Examine Sources and Hydrologic Factors Impacting Mercury Bioaccumulation and Cycling in Invertebrates of a Model Saline Lake

2025-06-04

Samuel F. Lopez , Sarah E. Janssen , Michael T. Tate +5 more | Water Research

The Assessment of Total Hg Concentrations in Tissues of Tench (Tinca tinca L. 1758) Caught in the Oxbow Lakes of the Wisła River as a Risk for Consumers Health

2025-06-04

Michał Skibniewski , Bartosz Skibniewski , H. Żarska +1 more | Exposure and Health