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© Lars-Eric Heimbürger-Boavida, Institut méditerranéen d'océanologie (CNRS/ Aix-Marseille Université/ IRD/Université de Toulon)

On the trail of ocean mercury

Environment

Mercury is released by coal combustion and mining activities to the atmosphere as a gaseous pollutant. Following global dispersal, mercury deposits partly to the ocean where it accumulates within the marine food chain—with grave consequences for human health and nutrition. A new study published in Nature on 29 September 2021 reveals that, contrary to earlier hypotheses, rainwater is not the primary deposition vector of this mercury; rather, the ocean breathes mercury, so to speak.1 This research also suggests that the ocean receives less atmospheric mercury than previously estimated, though we cannot yet assume a lower degree of contamination in fish. The Minamata Convention on Mercury,2 which went into effect in 2017, has prompted the adoption of mercury emission reduction policies that should directly impact mercury levels in the ocean and in our plates. This study was conducted by an international team including scientists from Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (CNRS / Université Toulouse III–Paul Sabatier / CNES / IRD), the Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (CNRS / Aix-Marseille University / IRD / University of Toulon) and the Environmental Geosciences laboratory of the University of Basel (Switzerland).

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View from Endoume marine research facility in Marseille (Aix-Marseille University / CNRS) © Lars-Eric Heimbürger-Boavida, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (CNRS / Aix-Marseille University / IRD / University of Toulon)

 

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The RV Antedon II, belonging to France’s DT INSU-CNRS research fleet. These pictures show the two environments sampled by the researchers, with the aim of applying the same methods in other marine regions. © Lars-Eric Heimbürger-Boavida, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (CNRS / Aix-Marseille University / IRD / University of Toulon)

 

  • 1That is, the mercury is absorbed by the surface waters of the ocean through gas exchange.
  • 2The international Minamata Convention on Mercury was drafted under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme. It aims to protect human health and the environment from the harmful effects of mercury.
Bibliography

Mercury stable isotopes constrain atmospheric sources to the ocean. Martin Jiskra, Lars-Eric Heimbürger-Boavida, Marie-Maëlle Desgranges, Mariia V. Petrova, Aurélie Dufour, Beatriz Ferreira-Araujo, Jérémy Masbou, Jérome Chmeleff, Melilotus Thyssen, David Point & Jeroen E. Sonke. 29 september 2021, Nature. DOI : 10.1038/s41586-021-03859-8

Contact

Jeroen Sonke
CNRS Researcher
Lars-Eric Heimbürger-Boavida
CNRS Researcher
Alexiane Agullo
CNRS press officer