A Critical Time for Mercury Science to Inform Global Policy

Abstract

Mercury is a global pollutant released into the biosphere by varied human activities including coal combustion, mining, artisanal gold mining, cement production, and chemical production. Once released to air, land and water, the addition of carbon atoms to mercury by bacteria results in the production of methylmercury, the toxic form that bioaccumulates in aquatic and terrestrial food chains resulting in elevated exposure to humans and wildlife. Global recognition of the mercury contamination problem has resulted in the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which came into force in 2017. The treaty aims to protect human health and the environment from human-generated releases of mercury curtailing its movement and transformations in the biosphere. Coincident with the treaty's coming into force, the 13th International Conference of Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP-13) was held in Providence, Rhode Island USA. At ICMGP-13, cutting edge research was summarized and presented to address questions relating to global and regional sources and cycling of mercury, how that mercury is methylated, the effects of mercury exposure on humans and wildlife, and the science needed for successful implementation of the Minamata Convention. Human activities have the potential to enhance mercury methylation by remobilizing previously released mercury, and increasing methylation efficiency. This synthesis concluded that many of the most important factors influencing the fate and effects of mercury and its more toxic form, methylmercury, stem from environmental changes that are much broader in scope than mercury releases alone. Alterations of mercury cycling, methylmercury bioavailability and trophic transfer due to climate and land use changes remain critical uncertainties in effective implementation of the Minamata Convention. In the face of these uncertainties, important policy and management actions are needed over the short-term to support the control of mercury releases to land, water and air. These include adequate monitoring and communication on risk from exposure to various forms of inorganic mercury as well as methylmercury from fish and rice consumption. Successful management of global and local mercury pollution will require integration of mercury research and policy in a changing world.

How closely do mercury trends in fish and other aquatic wildlife track those in the atmosphere? – Implications for evaluating the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention

“…For instance, temperature increases could lead to changes in bioenergetics of primary consumers and fish that leads to higher ingestion but has less effect on elimination processes, resulting in an increase in biota Hg concentrations. The impact of climate change on biotic Hg is perhaps most profoundly felt in the Arctic, where rapid climate warming has resulted in dramatic changes in many biogeochemical and ecological processes that drive Hg cycling (Chen et al, 2018;Stern et al, 2012;. For instance, the rapid decline in the aerial coverage and thickness of Arctic sea ice and the replacement of multi-year sea ice by first-year sea ice have been shown to influence Hg distribution and transport across the ocean-sea ice-atmosphere interface, as ice prevents elemental Hg evasion and leads to a buildup of Hg 0 under the ice (Dimento et al, 2018;Andersson et al, 2008), and can alter Hg methylation and demethylation rates, promote changes in primary productivity, and shift food web structures (bottom-up processes) (Beattie et al, 2014;Chaulk et al, 2011;Heimbürger et al, 2015;Wang et al, 2017).…”

“…Reports of biotic Hg trends not following the atmospheric Hg trends in recent decades should not be regarded as discouraging news when considering the efficacy of regulations to reduce atmospheric and other releases of Hg. The fact that effective Hg emission control is expected to be followed by long delays, in some cases, before an ensuing reduction is seen in food web Hg concentrations makes it all the more pressing to control and reduce Hg emissions as early as possible (Chen et al, 2018;Wang et al, 2010).…”

Mercury exposure and its effects on fertility and pregnancy outcome

“…Worldwide, global recognition of the great concern caused by Hg pollution led to the adoption of the Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2017 . In July 2017, the 13th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant, which was held in the United States, was devoted to integrating Hg science and politics in the modern world . Key issues for researchers and healthcare professionals were (a) environmental risk assessment; (b) biomonitoring, focusing on the effects of Hg on the health of children; (c) effects on the dental workers and general population; (d) interactions with nutrients; (e) the risk of EtHg in medical therapeutics; (f) genetic effects of Hg; and (g) effectiveness of measures to reduce the adverse effects of exposure with Hg .…”

“…11 In July 2017, the 13th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant, which was held in the United States, was devoted to integrating Hg science and politics in the modern world. 12 Key issues for researchers and healthcare professionals were (a) environmental risk assessment; (b) biomonitoring, focusing on the effects of Hg on the health of children; (c) effects on the dental workers and general population; (d) interactions with nutrients; (e) the risk of EtHg in medical therapeutics; (f) genetic effects of Hg; and (g) effectiveness of measures to reduce the adverse effects of exposure with Hg. [12][13][14][15] It follows that additional efforts are needed to integrate the results of scientific research with political strategies to obtain the development of appropriate management tools.…”

Improved Low‐Temperature Activity and H2O Resistance of Fe‐Doped Mn−Eu Catalysts for NO Removal by NH3−SCR

“…However, such catalysts cannot be used in practical applications owing to the drawbacks of H 2 O and SO 2 poisoning at low temperatures, which is the bottleneck of SCR technology at low temperatures. [11][12][13] Another serious problem for SCR application is alkali poisoning. [14,15] Therefore, it is urgent to develop novel catalysts with outstanding low-temperature resistance.…”