Mass balance of mercury in the Mediterranean Sea

Rajar, Rudi; Četina, Matjaž; Horvat, Milena; Žagar, Dušan

doi:10.1016/j.marchem.2006.10.001

Cited by 73 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Finally, as reported by Pirrone et al (2001), Israel and neighbouring countries represent a minor Hg emitter in the Mediterranean basin (0.8% of the regional total impact) and there is no evidence of significantly contaminated rivers in this easternmost part of the Mediterranean. Rajar et al (2007) found very low Hg inputs from the main rivers on the Israel coasts, Haifa and Gush river, amounting to average of 0.03 kmol/year and 0.3 kmol/year, respectively. Thus, Hg concentrations in liver and mainly in muscle samples of dolphins, seem reliably reflect the differences in seawater Hg contamination between the different areas of the Mediterranean basin.…”

Section: Mercury In Tissues Of Dolphins From Different Areasmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…High discharges of toxic metals from the nearby Rhone estuary were documented by Renzoni et al (1986), Cossa & Martin (1991) and Santiago et al (1993). Moreover Rajar et al (2007) reported the contribution of total mercury (HgT) from different rivers to the Mediterranean Sea and in particular that the Po and Rhone are the most polluted rivers with a HgT delivery to the sea of 30 kmol/year and 16 kmol/year, respectively. Also, Cossa et al (1997) reported a higher mean HgT concentration in water samples of the northwestern Mediterranean basin near the Gulf of Lion (2.2 ± 0.2 pM) with pronounced peaks near the termocline (up to 6.4 pM) compared to the lower HgT contents measured in water samples of the Sicily Channel (1.85 ± 0.4 pM).…”

Section: Mercury In Tissues Of Dolphins From Different Areasmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…On the other hand, in the Adriatic Sea, a number of industrial sites, located on the coastal zone, produced evident rise of atmospheric mercury levels (Sprovieri & Pirrone 2007). Also, Rajar et al (2007) and Covelli et al (2007) reported that mainly the rivers Po and Isonzo are responsible for significant input of particulate Hg in Adriatic seawaters. Moreover, as discussed by Foucher et al (2009), the well-known Idrija mercury mine (western Slovenia), which closed in 1995 after a long period of activity, has been one of the largest Hg mining area worldwide.…”

Section: Mercury In Tissues Of Dolphins From Different Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stranded cetaceans as indicators of mercury pollution in the Mediterranean Sea

Bellante

Sprovieri

Buscaino

et al. 2012

Italian Journal of Zoology

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Concentrations of Hg were determined in tissues (muscle, heart, kidney, lung and liver) of two cetacean species (Stenella coeruleoalba and Tursiops truncatus) stranded along the Italian coasts during the period 2000-2009 and compared with those previously reported by other authors from different areas of the Mediterranean basin. The highest concentrations of Hg were found in liver samples of both species (8.4-1752 mg·kg −1 dry weight for S. coeruleoalba and 9.6-1404 mg·kg −1 d.w. for T. truncatus). Statistically significant dissimilarities of Hg concentrations were recorded in muscle and liver tissues of S. coeruleoalba stranded in different geographical areas of the Mediterranean Sea as apparent direct response to uneven impacts of Hg pollution in the basin. A noteworthy outcome was that cetaceans stranded on the French coasts showed significantly higher levels of Hg contamination than those from other Mediterranean areas while the eastern part of the basin evidences the lowest Hg concentrations in the studied organisms. Moreover, the results of this study tentatively suggest the existence of different sub-populations of the two species in the basin.

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Section: Mercury In Tissues Of Dolphins From Different Areasmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Mercury In Tissues Of Dolphins From Different Areasmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Mercury In Tissues Of Dolphins From Different Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Stranded cetaceans as indicators of mercury pollution in the Mediterranean Sea

Bellante

Sprovieri

Buscaino

et al. 2012

Italian Journal of Zoology

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“…In contrast, evasion in the Arctic is negligible as expected (10 t year −1 or 5%), and sedimentation dominates (56% of outputs). Atmospheric flux accounts for more than 90% of global ocean inputs, but slightly less than 50% in the Arctic, similarly to the Mediterranean Sea, [24] another semi-enclosed 'small ocean'. Because the influx from the atmosphere is maximised in the present study (i.e.…”

Section: The Magnitude Of Fluxes and Inventoriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The synthesis involved in constructing a mass balance also helps to identify priority areas for future research and provides insights for policy makers, as exemplified by an Hg inventory for the Mediterranean Sea. [24] Non-atmospheric pathways of Hg transport into the Arctic include ocean currents, river inflows and coastal erosion [23] but, until recently, scant attention has been paid to these alternative possibilities or to the dynamics of Hg within the ocean itself. However, these neglected pathways are the focus of recent research conducted in Canada under the auspices of the 'ArcticNET' Network of Centres of Excellence into Arctic Climate Change (www.arcticnet-ulaval.ca, accessed 16 March 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A mass balance inventory of mercury in the Arctic Ocean

et al. 2008

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Environmental context. Mercury (Hg) occurs at high concentrations in Arctic marine wildlife, posing a possible health risk to northern peoples who use these animals for food. We find that although the dramatic Hg increases in Arctic Ocean animals since pre-industrial times can be explained by sustained small annual inputs, recent rapid increases probably cannot because of the existing large oceanic Hg reservoir (the 'flywheel' effect). Climate change is a possible alternative force underpinning recent trends.Abstract. The present mercury (Hg) mass balance was developed to gain insights into the sources, sinks and processes regulating biological Hg trends in the Arctic Ocean. Annual total Hg inputs (mainly wet deposition, coastal erosion, seawater import, and 'excess' deposition due to atmospheric Hg depletion events) are nearly in balance with outputs (mainly shelf sedimentation and seawater export), with a net 0.3% year −1 increase in total mass. Marine biota represent a small fraction of the ocean's existing total Hg and methyl-Hg (MeHg) inventories. The inertia associated with these large non-biological reservoirs means that 'bottom-up' processes (control of bioavailable Hg concentrations by mass inputs or Hg speciation) are probably incapable of explaining recent biotic Hg trends, contrary to prevailing opinion. Instead, varying rates of bioaccumulation and trophic transfer from the abiotic MeHg reservoir may be key, and are susceptible to ecological, climatic and biogeochemical influences. Deep and sustained cuts to global anthropogenic Hg emissions are required to return biotic Hg levels to their natural state. However, because of mass inertia and the less dominant role of atmospheric inputs, the decline of seawater and biotic Hg concentrations in the Arctic Ocean will be more gradual than the rate of emission reduction and slower than in other oceans and freshwaters. Climate warming has likely already influenced Arctic Hg dynamics, with shrinking sea-ice cover one of the defining variables. Future warming will probably force more Hg out of the ocean's euphotic zone through greater evasion to air and faster Hg sedimentation driven by higher primary productivity; these losses will be countered by enhanced inputs from coastal erosion and rivers.

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Human mercury exposure and effects in Europe

Višnjevec¹,

Kocman²,

Horvat³

2014

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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The effects of human exposure to mercury (Hg) and its compounds in Europe have been the focus of numerous studies that differed in their design, including recruiting different population groups at different levels of exposure and using different protocols and recruitment strategies. The objective of the present study was to review current studies of Hg exposure in Europe, taking into account the potential routes of Hg exposure, actual Hg exposure levels assessed by different biomarkers, and the effects of Hg to Europeans. All published studies from 2000 onward were reviewed, and exposure and effects studies were compared with known Hg levels in environmental compartments by mapping the various population groups studied and taking into account known sources of Hg. A study of the spatial distribution trends confirmed that the highest exposure levels to Hg, mostly as methylmercury (MeHg), are found in coastal populations, which consume more fish than inland populations. Fewer studies addressed exposure to elemental Hg through inhalation of Hg in air and inorganic Hg in food, particularly in highly contaminated areas. Overall, at the currently low exposure levels of Hg prevalently found in Europe, further studies are needed to confirm the risk to European populations, taking into consideration exposure to various Hg compounds and mixtures of stressors with similar end-points, nutritional status, and a detailed understanding of Hg in fish present in European markets.

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Mass balance of mercury in the Mediterranean Sea

Cited by 73 publications

References 27 publications

Stranded cetaceans as indicators of mercury pollution in the Mediterranean Sea

Stranded cetaceans as indicators of mercury pollution in the Mediterranean Sea

A mass balance inventory of mercury in the Arctic Ocean

Human mercury exposure and effects in Europe

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