Mercury Export from Mainland China to Adjacent Seas and Its Influence on the Marine Mercury Balance

Liu, Maodian; Chen, Long; Wang, Xuejun; Wei, Zhang; Tong, Yindong; Ou, Langbo; Xie, Han; Shen, Huizhong; Ye, Xuejie; Deng, Chunyan; Wang, Huanhuan

doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b04999

Cited by 67 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…For example, according to Milliman and Farnsworth [86], the estimated reduction in sediment load due to reservoir construction in the Mediterranean region is ~80%, and to a similar extent in Asia (~70% reduction for China’s major rivers), and as Hg is mostly transported as particulate these changes will have markedly impacted Hg dynamics in coastal and shelf regions [87]. Due to substantial Hg transport by Asian rivers [10,16], the majority of Hg retention by impoundments is expected to occur in basins draining to northern Indian and western Pacific seas.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This estimate is a factor of two or larger than previously estimated values by Cossa et al [8] (~1000 Mg·a −1 ) and Sunderland and Mason [9] (2040, range 1320 to 2760 Mg·a −1 ), due to the incorporation of recently published data from major Asian rivers. However, recent estimate by Liu et al [16] suggests lower inputs from rivers in China. On the other hand, terrestrial systems receive Hg through wet and dry deposition that are estimated to be approximately 3000 Mg·a −1 [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Kocman

Wilson

Amos

et al. 2017

IJERPH

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

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Kocman

Wilson

Amos

et al. 2017

IJERPH

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“…34 The THg fluxes in the mass balance model were expressed by an input–output equation, as follows: 15,31 …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Water-Induced Soil Erosion on the Terrestrial Transport and Atmospheric Emission of Mercury in China

Liu

Zhang

Luo

et al. 2018

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Terrestrial mercury (Hg) transport, induced by water erosion and exacerbated by human activities, constitutes a major disturbance of the natural Hg cycle, but the processes are still not well understood. In this study, we modeled these processes using detailed information on erosion and Hg in soils and found that vast quantities of total Hg (THg) are being removed from land surfaces in China as a result of water erosion, which were estimated at 420 Mg/yr around 2010. This was significantly higher than the 240 Mg/yr mobilized around 1990. The erosion mechanism excavated substantial soil THg, which contributed to enhanced Hg(0) emissions to the atmosphere (4.9 Mg/yr around 2010) and its transport horizontally into streams (310 Mg/yr). Erosion-induced THg transport was driven by the extent of precipitation but was further enhanced or reduced by vegetation cover and land use changes in some regions. Surface air temperature may exacerbate the horizontal THg release into water. Our analyses quantified the processes of erosion-induced THg transport in terrestrial ecosystems, demonstrated its importance, and discussed how this transport is impacted by anthropogenic inputs and legacy THg in soils. We suggest that policy makers should pay more attention to legacy anthropogenic THg sources buried in soil.

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“…The relative anthropogenic:natural balance in riverine fluxes in Figs. 2 and 3 was revised considering the estimates of Zhang et al 5 , Liu et al 48 , and Kocman et al…”

Section: Revised Global and Oceanic Total Hg Budgetsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Updated Global and Oceanic Mercury Budgets for the United Nations Global Mercury Assessment 2018

Outridge

Mason

Wang

et al. 2018

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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In support of international efforts to reduce mercury (Hg) exposure in humans and wildlife, this paper reviews the literature concerning global Hg emissions, cycling and fate, and presents revised global and oceanic Hg budgets for the 2018 United Nations Global Mercury Assessment. We assessed two competing scenarios about the impacts of 16th - late 19th century New World silver (Ag) mining, which may be the largest human source of atmospheric Hg in history. Consideration of Ag ore geochemistry, historical documents on Hg use, and comparison of the scenarios against atmospheric Hg patterns in environmental archives, strongly support a "low mining emission" scenario. Building upon this scenario and other published work, the revised global budget estimates human activities including recycled legacy emissions have increased current atmospheric Hg concentrations by about 450% above natural levels (prevailing before 1450 AD). Current anthropogenic emissions to air are 2.5 ± 0.5 kt/y. The increase in atmospheric Hg concentrations has driven a ∼ 300% average increase in deposition, and a 230% increase in surface marine waters. Deeper marine waters show increases of only 12-25%. The overall increase in Hg in surface organic soils (∼15%) is small due to the large mass of natural Hg already present from rock weathering, but this figure varies regionally. Specific research recommendations are made to reduce uncertainties, particularly through improved understanding of fundamental processes of the Hg cycle, and continued improvements in emissions inventories from large natural and anthropogenic sources.

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Mercury Export from Mainland China to Adjacent Seas and Its Influence on the Marine Mercury Balance

Cited by 67 publications

References 68 publications

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

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

Impact of Water-Induced Soil Erosion on the Terrestrial Transport and Atmospheric Emission of Mercury in China

Updated Global and Oceanic Mercury Budgets for the United Nations Global Mercury Assessment 2018

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