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Lim SH, Kim Y, Motta LC, Yang EJ, Rhee TS, Hong JK, Han S, Kwon SY. Near surface oxidation of elemental mercury leads to mercury exposure in the Arctic Ocean biota. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7598. [PMID: 39217169 PMCID: PMC11365953 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51852-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Atmospheric mercury (Hg(0), Hg(II)) and riverine exported Hg (Hg(II)) are proposed as important Hg sources to the Arctic Ocean. As plankton cannot passively uptake Hg(0), gaseous Hg(0) has to be oxidized to be bioavailable. Here, we measured Hg isotope ratios in zooplankton, Arctic cod, total gaseous Hg, sediment, seawater, and snowpack from the Bering Strait, the Chukchi Sea, and the Beaufort Sea. The Δ200Hg, used to differentiate between Hg(0) and Hg(II), shows, on average, 70% of Hg(0) in all biota and differs with seawater Δ200Hg (Hg(II)). Since Δ200Hg anomalies occur via tropospheric Hg(0) oxidation, we propose that near-surface Hg(0) oxidation via terrestrial vegetation, coastally evaded halogens, and sea salt aerosols, which preserve Δ200Hg of Hg(0) upon oxidation, supply bioavailable Hg(II) pools in seawater. Our study highlights sources and pathways in which Hg(0) poses potential ecological risks to the Arctic Ocean biota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Hyeon Lim
- Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Younggwang Kim
- Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Laura C Motta
- Marine Chemistry & Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA
| | - Eun Jin Yang
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, 21990, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Siek Rhee
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, 21990, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Kuk Hong
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, 21990, Republic of Korea
| | - Seunghee Han
- School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Sae Yun Kwon
- Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea.
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2
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Chételat J, Jung TS, Awan M, Baryluk S, Harrower W, Kukka PM, McClelland C, Mowat G, Pelletier N, Rodford C, Stimmelmayr R. Tissue Distribution and Toxicological Risk Assessment of Mercury and Other Elements in Northern Populations of Wolverine (Gulo gulo). ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2024; 87:114-126. [PMID: 39097543 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-024-01081-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
Wolverines are facultative scavengers that feed near the top of terrestrial food chains. We characterized concentrations of mercury and other trace elements in tissues of wolverine from a broad geographic area, representing much of their contemporary distribution in northwestern North America. We obtained tissues from 504 wolverines, from which mercury was measured on muscle (n = 448), kidney (n = 222), liver (n = 148), hair (n = 130), and brain (n = 52). In addition, methylmercury, seven trace elements (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, nickel, selenium), and arsenic compounds were measured on a subset of samples. Concentrations of mercury and other trace elements varied between tissues and were generally highest in kidney compared to brain, liver and muscle. Mercury was predominately as methylmercury in brain and muscle, but largely as inorganic mercury in liver and kidney. Mercury concentrations of hair were moderately correlated with those of internal tissues (Pearson r = 0.51-0.75, p ≤ 0.004), making hair a good non-lethal indicator of broad spatial or temporal differences in mercury exposure to wolverine. Arsenobetaine was the dominant arsenic compound identified in tissues, and arsenite, arsenocholine and dimethylarsinic acid were also detected. A preliminary risk assessment suggested the cadmium, lead, mercury, and selenium concentrations in our sample of wolverines were not likely to pose a risk of overt toxicological effects. This study generated a comprehensive dataset on mercury and other trace elements in wolverine, which will support future contaminants study of this northern terrestrial carnivore.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Chételat
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Thomas S Jung
- Department of Environment, Government of Yukon, Whitehorse, YT, Canada
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Malik Awan
- Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, Arviat, NU, Canada
| | - Steven Baryluk
- Environment and Climate Change, Government of the Northwest Territories, Inuvik, NT, Canada
| | - William Harrower
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Piia M Kukka
- Department of Environment, Government of Yukon, Whitehorse, YT, Canada
| | - Christine McClelland
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Garth Mowat
- Ministry of Forests, Government of British Columbia, Nelson, BC, Canada
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Nicolas Pelletier
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Christine Rodford
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Raphaela Stimmelmayr
- Department of Wildlife Management, North Slope Borough, Utqiagvik, AK, USA
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA
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3
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Chen X, Wang M, Xie T, Jiang R, Chen W. Space-specific flux estimation of atmospheric chemicals from point sources to soil. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 348:123831. [PMID: 38513940 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Predicting chemical flux to soil from industrial point sources accurately at a regional scale has been a significant challenge due to high uncertainty in spatial heterogeneity and quantification. To address this challenge, we developed an innovative approach by combining California Air Resources Board Puff (CALPUFF) and mass balance models, leveraging their complementary strengths in quantitative accuracy and spatial precision. Specifically, CALPUFF was used to predict the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) flux to soil due to industrial sources. Additionally, the spatial distribution coefficient of PAHs flux (e.g., si for spatial unit i) was calculated by neural network and combined with the mass balance model to obtain the results of total PAHs fluxes, which were then combined with the results predicted by CALPUFF to effectively estimate the contribution of industrial sources to soil PAHs flux. Taking a petrochemical industry region located in Zhejiang province, China as a case study, results showed the input Phenanthrene (Phe) and Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) fluxes predicted by CALPUFF were generally lower than those by the mass balance model, with slightly different distribution patterns. CALPUFF results, based on 36 industrial sources, partially represent those of the mass balance model, which includes all sources and pathways. It was suggested that industrial sources contributed 49%-89% and 65%-100% of soil Phe and BaP, respectively across the study area. The average Phe flux from point sources by deposition averaged 2.68 mg m-2∙a-1 in 2021, accounting for approximately 60% of the total Phe flux to soil. The average BaP flux from point sources by deposition averaged 0.0755 mg m-2∙a-1, accounting for only 0.1%-3.65% of the total BaP flux to soil. Thereby, our approach fills up a gap between the relevance to point sources and the accuracy of deposition quantification in estimating chemical flux from specific point sources to soil at a regional scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Meie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China.
| | - Tian Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Rong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Weiping Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
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Cheng X, Luo T, Chu F, Feng B, Zhong S, Chen F, Dong J, Zeng W. Simultaneous detection and removal of mercury (II) using multifunctional fluorescent materials. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167070. [PMID: 37714350 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Environmental problems caused by mercury ions are increasing due to growing industrialization, poor enforcement, and inefficient pollutant treatment. Therefore, detecting and removing mercury from the ecological chain is of utmost significance. Currently, a wide range of small molecules and nanomaterials have made remarkable progress in the detection, detoxification, adsorption, and removal of mercury. In this review, we summarized the recent advances in the design and construction of multifunctional materials, detailed their sensing and removing mechanisms, and discussed with emphasis the advantages and disadvantages of different types of sensors. Finally, we elucidated the problems and challenges of current multifunctional materials and further pointed out the direction for the future development of related materials. This review is expected to provide a guideline for researchers to establish a robust strategy for the detection and removal of mercury ionsin the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Cheng
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Drug Research for Chronic Diseases, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China; The Molecular Imaging Research Center, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Ting Luo
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Drug Research for Chronic Diseases, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China; The Molecular Imaging Research Center, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Feiyi Chu
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Drug Research for Chronic Diseases, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China; The Molecular Imaging Research Center, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Bin Feng
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Drug Research for Chronic Diseases, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China; The Molecular Imaging Research Center, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Shibo Zhong
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Drug Research for Chronic Diseases, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China; The Molecular Imaging Research Center, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Fei Chen
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Drug Research for Chronic Diseases, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China; The Molecular Imaging Research Center, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Jie Dong
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Drug Research for Chronic Diseases, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China; The Molecular Imaging Research Center, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Wenbin Zeng
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Drug Research for Chronic Diseases, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China; The Molecular Imaging Research Center, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
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5
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Song S, Chen B, Huang T, Ma S, Liu L, Luo J, Shen H, Wang J, Guo L, Wu M, Mao X, Zhao Y, Gao H, Ma J. Assessing the contribution of global wildfire biomass burning to BaP contamination in the Arctic. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 14:100232. [PMID: 36685748 PMCID: PMC9852607 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2022.100232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have become cause for growing concern in the Arctic ecosystems, partly due to their stable levels despite global emission reduction. Wildfire is considered one of the primary sources that influence PAH levels and trends in the Arctic, but quantitative investigations of this influence are still lacking. This study estimates the global emissions of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a congener of PAHs with high carcinogenicity, from forest and grassland fires from 2001 to 2020 and simulates the contributions of wildfire-induced BaP emissions from different source regions to BaP contamination in the Arctic. We find that global wildfires contributed 29.3% to annual averaging BaP concentrations in the Arctic from 2001 to 2020. Additionally, we show that wildfires contributed significantly to BaP concentrations in the Arctic after 2011, enhancing it from 10.1% in 2011 to 83.9% in 2020. Our results reveal that wildfires accounted for 94.2% and 50.8% of BaP levels in the Asian Arctic during boreal summer and autumn, respectively, and 74.2% and 14.5% in the North American Arctic for the same seasons. The source-tagging approach identified that local wildfire biomass emissions were the largest source of BaP in the Arctic, accounting for 65.7% of its concentration, followed by those of Northern Asia (17.8%) and Northern North America (13.7%). Our findings anticipate wildfires to play a larger role in Arctic PAH contaminations alongside continually decreasing anthropogenic emissions and climate warming in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shijie Song
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Boqi Chen
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Tao Huang
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Shuxin Ma
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Luqian Liu
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Jinmu Luo
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Huizhong Shen
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 5180551, PR China
| | - Jiaxin Wang
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Liang Guo
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Min Wu
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Xiaoxuan Mao
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Yuan Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Hong Gao
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Jianmin Ma
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, PR China
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6
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Arrifano GDP, Augusto-Oliveira M, Lopes-Araújo A, Santos-Sacramento L, Macchi BM, do Nascimento JLM, Crespo-Lopez ME. Global Human Threat: The Potential Synergism between Mercury Intoxication and COVID-19. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20054207. [PMID: 36901217 PMCID: PMC10001942 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20054207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic affected billions of people worldwide, and exposure to toxic metals has emerged as an important risk factor for COVID-19 severity. Mercury is currently ranked as the third toxic substance of global concern for human health, and its emissions to the atmosphere have increased globally. Both COVID-19 and mercury exposure present a high prevalence in similar regions: East and Southeast Asia, South America and Sub-Saharan Africa. Since both factors represent a multiorgan threat, a possible synergism could be exacerbating health injuries. Here, we discuss key aspects in mercury intoxication and SARS-CoV-2 infection, describing the similarities shared in clinical manifestations (especially neurological and cardiovascular outcomes), molecular mechanisms (with a hypothesis in the renin-angiotensin system) and genetic susceptibility (mainly by apolipoprotein E, paraoxonase 1 and glutathione family genes). Literature gaps on epidemiological data are also highlighted, considering the coincident prevalence. Furthermore, based on the most recent evidence, we justify and propose a case study of the vulnerable populations of the Brazilian Amazon. An understanding of the possible adverse synergism between these two factors is crucial and urgent for developing future strategies for reducing disparities between developed and underdeveloped/developing countries and the proper management of their vulnerable populations, particularly considering the long-term sequelae of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela de Paula Arrifano
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
- Correspondence: (G.d.P.A.); (M.E.C.-L.)
| | - Marcus Augusto-Oliveira
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | - Amanda Lopes-Araújo
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | - Letícia Santos-Sacramento
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | - Barbarella Matos Macchi
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Cellular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | - José Luiz Martins do Nascimento
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Cellular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | - Maria Elena Crespo-Lopez
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
- Correspondence: (G.d.P.A.); (M.E.C.-L.)
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Dastoor A, Wilson SJ, Travnikov O, Ryjkov A, Angot H, Christensen JH, Steenhuisen F, Muntean M. Arctic atmospheric mercury: Sources and changes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 839:156213. [PMID: 35623517 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Global anthropogenic and legacy mercury (Hg) emissions are the main sources of Arctic Hg contamination, primarily transported there via the atmosphere. This review summarizes the state of knowledge of the global anthropogenic sources of Hg emissions, and examines recent changes and source attribution of Hg transport and deposition to the Arctic using models. Estimated global anthropogenic Hg emissions to the atmosphere for 2015 were ~2220 Mg, ~20% higher than 2010. Global anthropogenic, legacy and geogenic Hg emissions were, respectively, responsible for 32%, 64% (wildfires: 6-10%) and 4% of the annual Arctic Hg deposition. Relative contributions to Arctic deposition of anthropogenic origin was dominated by sources in East Asia (32%), Commonwealth of Independent States (12%), and Africa (12%). Model results exhibit significant spatiotemporal variations in Arctic anthropogenic Hg deposition fluxes, driven by regional differences in Hg air transport routes, surface and precipitation uptake rates, and inter-seasonal differences in atmospheric circulation and deposition pathways. Model simulations reveal that changes in meteorology are having a profound impact on contemporary atmospheric Hg in the Arctic. Reversal of North Atlantic Oscillation phase from strongly negative in 2010 to positive in 2015, associated with lower temperature and more sea ice in the Canadian Arctic, Greenland and surrounding ocean, resulted in enhanced production of bromine species and Hg(0) oxidation and lower evasion of Hg(0) from ocean waters in 2015. This led to increased Hg(II) (and its deposition) and reduced Hg(0) air concentrations in these regions in line with High Arctic observations. However, combined changes in meteorology and anthropogenic emissions led to overall elevated modeled Arctic air Hg(0) levels in 2015 compared to 2010 contrary to observed declines at most monitoring sites, likely due to uncertainties in anthropogenic emission speciation, wildfire emissions and model representations of air-surface Hg fluxes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashu Dastoor
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2121 Trans-Canada Highway, Dorval, Québec H9P 1J3, Canada.
| | - Simon J Wilson
- Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP). The Fram Centre, Box 6606 Stakkevollan, 9296 Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Oleg Travnikov
- Meteorological Synthesizing Centre-East, EMEP, 2nd Roshchinsky proezd, 8/5, 115419 Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrei Ryjkov
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2121 Trans-Canada Highway, Dorval, Québec H9P 1J3, Canada
| | - Hélène Angot
- Extreme Environments Research Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Valais Wallis, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Jesper H Christensen
- Department of Environmental Science, iClimate, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Frits Steenhuisen
- Arctic Centre, University of Groningen, Aweg 30, 9718CW Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marilena Muntean
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Via E. Fermi 2749 (T.P. 123), I-21027 Ispra, VA, Italy
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8
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Vieira AMD, Vaňková M, Campos I, Trubač J, Baieta R, Mihaljevič M. Estimation of mercury emissions from the forest floor of a pine plantation during a wildfire in central Portugal. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 194:755. [PMID: 36083387 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10436-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) concentrations in soils and Hg releases from soils during wildfires are not well characterised in Portugal, even though wildfire activity continues to increase around the Mediterranean. This study focused on the low to moderate severity wildfire in Pombal (Portugal) in 2019, which consumed 12.5 ha of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.). We evaluated Hg concentrations in soil profiles and Hg pools in organic horizons to assess the fire-induced Hg emissions. Moreover, impacts of the fire on forest floor properties were estimated. Four soil profiles were sampled, two at the burned area and two at a nearby unburned area. The soil profiles displayed a typical Hg distribution, with higher Hg concentrations (156 µg kg-1) in the organic horizons with a sharp decrease in the mineral layers. The bond between organic matter and Hg was evident along the profiles, with a strong correlation between TOC and Hg. Ratios of Hg/TOC in the surface layers of the soil were similar in all profiles. The mean organic Hg pool at the studied site was calculated at 10.6 g ha-1. The fire did not seem to affect the topsoil properties based on visual indicators and the lack of statistical differences (p > 0.05) among measured fire-sensitive chemical soil properties (pH, CEC, TOC, TS) between the topsoils of the burned and unburned areas. If we consider a hypothetical complete combustion of the organic layer (743 Mg) and unaffected topsoil, we estimated a release of 133 g of Hg from the burned area. The study emphasised the importance of the forest floor for Hg retention and its crucial role in Hg emissions during wildfires in a country increasingly affected by climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alda Maria Domingues Vieira
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 128 00, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Maria Vaňková
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 128 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Isabel Campos
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Environment and Planning, CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Jakub Trubač
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 128 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Rafael Baieta
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 128 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Mihaljevič
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 128 00, Prague, Czech Republic
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9
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Schartup AT, Soerensen AL, Angot H, Bowman K, Selin NE. What are the likely changes in mercury concentration in the Arctic atmosphere and ocean under future emissions scenarios? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 836:155477. [PMID: 35472347 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Arctic mercury (Hg) concentrations respond to changes in anthropogenic Hg emissions and environmental change. This manuscript, prepared for the 2021 Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme Mercury Assessment, explores the response of Arctic Ocean Hg concentrations to changing primary Hg emissions and to changing sea-ice cover, river inputs, and net primary production. To do this, we conduct a model analysis using a 2015 Hg inventory and future anthropogenic Hg emission scenarios. We model future atmospheric Hg deposition to the surface ocean as a flux to the surface water or sea ice using three scenarios: No Action, New Policy (NP), and Maximum Feasible Reduction (MFR). We then force a five-compartment box model of Hg cycling in the Arctic Ocean with these scenarios and literature-derived climate variables to simulate environmental change. No Action results in a 51% higher Hg deposition rate by 2050 while increasing Hg concentrations in the surface water by 22% and <9% at depth. Both "action" scenarios (NP and MFR), implemented in 2020 or 2035, result in lower Hg deposition ranging from 7% (NP delayed to 2035) to 30% (MFR implemented in 2020) by 2050. Under this last scenario, ocean Hg concentrations decline by 14% in the surface and 4% at depth. We find that the sea-ice cover decline exerts the strongest Hg reducing forcing on the Arctic Ocean while increasing river discharge increases Hg concentrations. When modified together the climate scenarios result in a ≤5% Hg decline by 2050 in the Arctic Ocean. Thus, we show that the magnitude of emissions-induced future changes in the Arctic Ocean is likely to be substantial compared to climate-induced effects. Furthermore, this study underscores the need for prompt and ambitious action for changing Hg concentrations in the Arctic, since delaying less ambitious reduction measures-like NP-until 2035 may become offset by Hg accumulated from pre-2035 emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amina T Schartup
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| | - Anne L Soerensen
- Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hélène Angot
- Extreme Environments Research Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Valais Wallis, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Katlin Bowman
- University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Sciences Department, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Noelle E Selin
- Institute for Data, Systems, and Society, and Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue [E17-381], Cambridge. MA 02139, USA
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Atmospheric Modelling of Mercury in the Southern Hemisphere and Future Research Needs: A Review. ATMOSPHERE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos13081226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a toxic pollutant that can negatively impact the population’s health and the environment. The research on atmospheric mercury is of critical concern because of the diverse process that this pollutant suffers in the atmosphere as well as its deposition capacity, which can provoke diverse health issues. The Minamata Convention encourages the protection of the adverse effects of mercury, where research is a part of the strategies and atmospheric modelling plays a critical role in achieving the proposed aim. This paper reviews the study of modelling atmospheric mercury based on the southern hemisphere (SH). The article discusses diverse aspects focused on the SH such as the spatial distribution of mercury, its emissions projections, interhemispheric transport, and deposition. There has been a discrepancy between the observed and the simulated values, especially concerning the seasonality of gaseous elemental mercury and total gaseous mercury. Further, there is a lack of research about the emissions projections in the SH and mercury deposition, which generates uncertainty regarding future global scenarios. More studies on atmospheric mercury behaviour are imperative to better understand the SH’s mercury cycle.
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Chételat J, McKinney MA, Amyot M, Dastoor A, Douglas TA, Heimbürger-Boavida LE, Kirk J, Kahilainen KK, Outridge PM, Pelletier N, Skov H, St Pierre K, Vuorenmaa J, Wang F. Climate change and mercury in the Arctic: Abiotic interactions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 824:153715. [PMID: 35149079 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Dramatic environmental shifts are occuring throughout the Arctic from climate change, with consequences for the cycling of mercury (Hg). This review summarizes the latest science on how climate change is influencing Hg transport and biogeochemical cycling in Arctic terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. As environmental changes in the Arctic continue to accelerate, a clearer picture is emerging of the profound shifts in the climate and cryosphere, and their connections to Hg cycling. Modeling results suggest climate influences seasonal and interannual variability of atmospheric Hg deposition. The clearest evidence of current climate change effects is for Hg transport from terrestrial catchments, where widespread permafrost thaw, glacier melt and coastal erosion are increasing the export of Hg to downstream environments. Recent estimates suggest Arctic permafrost is a large global reservoir of Hg, which is vulnerable to degradation with climate warming, although the fate of permafrost soil Hg is unclear. The increasing development of thermokarst features, the formation and expansion of thaw lakes, and increased soil erosion in terrestrial landscapes are increasing river transport of particulate-bound Hg and altering conditions for aquatic Hg transformations. Greater organic matter transport may also be influencing the downstream transport and fate of Hg. More severe and frequent wildfires within the Arctic and across boreal regions may be contributing to the atmospheric pool of Hg. Climate change influences on Hg biogeochemical cycling remain poorly understood. Seasonal evasion and retention of inorganic Hg may be altered by reduced sea-ice cover and higher chloride content in snow. Experimental evidence indicates warmer temperatures enhance methylmercury production in ocean and lake sediments as well as in tundra soils. Improved geographic coverage of measurements and modeling approaches are needed to better evaluate net effects of climate change and long-term implications for Hg contamination in the Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Chételat
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada.
| | - Melissa A McKinney
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Marc Amyot
- Groupe de recherche interuniversitaire en limnologie (GRIL), Département de sciences biologiques, Complexe des Sciences, Montréal, QC H2V 0B3, Canada
| | - Ashu Dastoor
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Air Quality Research Division, Dorval, QC H9P 1J3, Canada
| | - Thomas A Douglas
- U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Fort Wainwright, AK 99709, USA
| | - Lars-Eric Heimbürger-Boavida
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS/INSU, Université de Toulon, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) UM 110, Marseille, France
| | - Jane Kirk
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Burlington, ON L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Kimmo K Kahilainen
- Lammi Biological Station, University of Helsinki, Pääjärventie 320, FI-16900 Lammi, Finland
| | - Peter M Outridge
- Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0E8, Canada
| | - Nicolas Pelletier
- Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Henrik Skov
- Department of Environmental Science, iClimate, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Kyra St Pierre
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Jussi Vuorenmaa
- Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Feiyue Wang
- Centre for Earth Observation Sciences (CEOS), Dept. of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
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Wan X, Li C, Parikh SJ. Chemical composition of soil-associated ash from the southern California Thomas Fire and its potential inhalation risks to farmworkers. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 278:111570. [PMID: 33129023 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The increasing frequency and severity of wildfires poses human health risks, especially for those within burnt regions. The potential health effects of fire ash on farmworkers in orchards via inhalation exposure after fire is rarely studied. After the 2017 Thomas Fire, in Ventura County (California, USA), fire ash and corresponding soil samples were collected from several impacted orchards and analyzed for eight trace elements (TEs) and 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Results indicate that except for mercury (Hg), the concentrations of TEs and PAHs were higher in ash samples compared with the corresponding soil samples. In general, ash samples showed greater potential to expose farmworkers to health risks than the corresponding soil samples. One site had particularly high concentrations of As (778 mg kg-1), Cr (629 mg kg-1), and Cu (499 mg kg-1) in the ash. This location corresponds to a house which was burned during the Thomas Fire, which might have contained chromated copper arsenate as a wood preservative. Therefore, the existence of construction materials in orchards could add hazardous materials to ash deposited on soil. Furthermore, a monitored dust generation experiment was designed to obtain the particle emission factors (PEF) of soil and ash, which is an essential parameter for the calculation of inhalation health risks. A two-fold difference in the PEFs was found between ash and the corresponding soil sample. Hence, health risks through inhalation exposure from fire ash may be underestimated if the default PEF suggested by the US Environmental Protection Agency is used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Wan
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - Chongyang Li
- Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Sanjai J Parikh
- Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
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