Potential impacts of mercury released from thawing permafrost

Schaefer, Kevin; Elshorbany, Yasin; Jafarov, Elchin; Schuster, Paul F.; Striegl, Robert G.; Wickland, Kimberly P.; Sunderland, Elsie M.

doi:10.1038/s41467-020-18398-5

Cited by 103 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 34 publications

(73 reference statements)

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“…As riverine output intensifies, these waters carry higher concentrations of elements towards the coastal environment. (Perryman et al 2020;Polyakov et al 2010;Tovar-Sánchez et al 2010;Schaefer et al 2020). Rember and Trefry (2004) found that trace metal (Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn) concentrations in Alaskan rivers were highest during deluges from snowmelt and erosion of upper soil layers.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal Baseline of Essesntial and Non-essential Elements Recorded in Baleen of Western Arctic Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus)

Shore

Giarikos

Duffy

et al. 2021

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol

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This study established the first baseline of changing elemental concentrations in bowhead whale baleen over time (1958–1999). From previously published stable isotope data, year, season (summer or winter), and location (Beaufort or Bering/Chukchi seas) were attributed to each sample. Thirteen elements (Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, V, Zn) in baleen from nine subsistence-harvested bowhead whales (n = 138) were detected. Al, Cu, and Fe were the highest concentrations while Cd and V were among the lowest. Our data supports absorption as the main route of exposure to environmental elements rather than biomagnification due to bowhead whales’ low trophic position. A linear mixed-effects model confirmed most elements’ concentrations increased with time, while location and sex were insignificant explanatory factors. These temporal fluctuations were most likely a product of environmental changes due to a warming climate and human activities.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal Baseline of Essesntial and Non-essential Elements Recorded in Baleen of Western Arctic Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus)

Shore

Giarikos

Duffy

et al. 2021

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol

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“…This is because population distribution in the Arctic does not always correspond with fixed asset allocations, such as buildings and structures. The authors compiled a database on more than thirteen thousand enterprises operating in the Arctic regions and estimated the market value of buildings and structures based on the average share values of those Permafrost regions are known for having large quantities of materials that may have health implications, such as mercury, as well as byproducts of mining, petroleum development, and solid waste (Grebenets et al 2021a;Schaefer et al 2020). Puchkov et al (2021 present a compelling review focused on yet another potential hazard associated with permafrost degradation -release of radon that may have detrimental impacts on the health and wellbeing of communities and industrial centers on permafrost.…”

Section: Permafrost Impacts On Economy and Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Permafrost Regions In Transition: Introduction

Streletskiy

Маслаков

Streletskaya

et al. 2021

GES

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Russian permafrost regions are unparalleled in extent, history of development, population presence, and the scale of economic activities. This special issue, «Permafrost Regions in Transition», provides a timely opportunity to (a) examine major issues associated with changing permafrost conditions in natural environments and areas of economic development; (b) present insights into new methods of permafrost investigations; and (c) describe new opportunities and risks threatening sustainable development of Arctic populations and industrial centers in Russia. The issue begins with papers focused on methods of permafrost research, followed by papers focused on examining changes in permafrost under natural conditions, and in Arctic settlements. The last two papers examine potential impacts of permafrost degradation on the Russian economy and potential health implications.

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“…The area of near-surface permafrost in the Northern Hemisphere is projected to decline by 20% relative to today's area by 2040 and could be reduced by as much as two-thirds by 2080 under a scenario of high greenhouse gas emissions [26]. Impacts will vary widely at regional and local scales, but local effects are difficult to project given the lack of fine-scale detail in models and will involve a range of other environmental risks such as mercury contamination [27][28][29].…”

Section: Permafrostmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scientific Cooperation: Supporting Circumpolar Permafrost Monitoring and Data Sharing

Bouffard

Uryupova²,

Dodds

et al. 2021

Land

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While the world continues to work toward an understanding and projections of climate change impacts, the Arctic increasingly becomes a critical component as a bellwether region. Scientific cooperation is a well-supported narrative and theme in general, but in reality, presents many challenges and counter-productive difficulties. Moreover, data sharing specifically represents one of the more critical cooperation requirements, as part of the “scientific method [which] allows for verification of results and extending research from prior results”. One of the important pieces of the climate change puzzle is permafrost. In general, observational data on permafrost characteristics are limited. Currently, most permafrost data remain fragmented and restricted to national authorities, including scientific institutes. The preponderance of permafrost data is not available openly—important datasets reside in various government or university labs, where they remain largely unknown or where access restrictions prevent effective use. Although highly authoritative, separate data efforts involving creation and management result in a very incomplete picture of the state of permafrost as well as what to possibly anticipate. While nations maintain excellent individual permafrost research programs, a lack of shared research—especially data—significantly reduces effectiveness of understanding permafrost overall. Different nations resource and employ various approaches to studying permafrost, including the growing complexity of scientific modeling. Some are more effective than others and some achieve different purposes than others. Whereas it is not possible for a nation to effectively conduct the variety of modeling and research needed to comprehensively understand impacts to permafrost, a global community can. In some ways, separate scientific communities are not necessarily concerned about sharing data—their work is secured. However, decision and policy makers, especially on the international stage, struggle to understand how best to anticipate and prepare for changes, and thus support for scientific recommendations during policy development. To date, there is a lack of research exploring the need to share circumpolar permafrost data. This article will explore the global data systems on permafrost, which remain sporadic, rarely updated, and with almost nothing about the subsea permafrost publicly available. The authors suggest that the global permafrost monitoring system should be real time (within technical and reasonable possibility), often updated and with open access to the data (general way of representing data required). Additionally, it will require robust co-ordination in terms of accessibility, funding, and protocols to avoid either duplication and/or information sharing. Following a brief background, this article will offer three supporting themes, (1) the current state of permafrost data, (2) rationale and methods to share data, and (3) implications for global and national interests.

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Potential impacts of mercury released from thawing permafrost

Cited by 103 publications

References 34 publications

Temporal Baseline of Essesntial and Non-essential Elements Recorded in Baleen of Western Arctic Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus)

Temporal Baseline of Essesntial and Non-essential Elements Recorded in Baleen of Western Arctic Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus)

Permafrost Regions In Transition: Introduction

Scientific Cooperation: Supporting Circumpolar Permafrost Monitoring and Data Sharing

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