Global Biogeochemical Cycling of Mercury: A Review

Marine biogeochemical cycling of mercury.

Mercury biogeochemical cycling in the ocean and policy implications.

Anthropogenic activities have enriched mercury in the biosphere by at least a factor of three, leading to increases in total mercury (Hg) in the surface ocean. However, the impacts on ocean fish and associated trends in human exposure as a result of such changes are less clear. Here we review our understanding of global mass budgets for both inorganic and methylated Hg species in ocean seawater...

Global change and mercury cycling: challenges for implementing a global mercury treaty.

The Minamata Convention aims to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury. In the present study, the provisions of the Minamata Convention are examined to assess their influence on global biogeochemical cycling of Hg. Although the convention's scope covers all major categories of atmospheric emissions, the degree to which it will affect future...

Geochemical cycling of mercury in a deep, confined aquifer: Insights from biogeochemical reactive transport modeling

Total dissolved mercury concentrations (HgT) were measured in groundwaters collected along a flow path within a deep, confined aquifer (i.e., the Carrizo Sand) in southeastern Texas, USA, along with major solutes, pH, and redox sensitive parameters that include dissolved iron species [Fe(II), Fe(III)] and sulfide [S(-II)] concentrations. Mercury concentrations range from below detection (<0.43 ...

Spatial variability in mercury cycling and relevant biogeochemical controls in the Florida Everglades.

Spatial patterns in mercury cycling and bioaccumulation at the landscape level in the Everglades were investigated by collecting and analyzing multimedia samples for mercury species and biogeochemical characteristics from 228 randomly located stations. Higher total mercury (THg) in environmental compartments (surface water, soil, flocculent detrital material (floc), and periphyton) generally oc...