The Dramatic Increase in Toxic Mercury Flows into Oceans through Rivers
Oceanic mercury levels have seen a substantial increase due to a higher riverine discharge of mercury compared to the year 1850. - Oceans are currently receiving substantially greater amounts of mercury from rivers compared to the levels in 1850.
Hey there! Let's dive into some serious stuff – the escalating issue of toxic mercury being transported into our oceans via rivers.
Turns out, as a result of human activities and industrialization, rivers today carry around double the amount of highly toxic mercury into the seas compared to the 1850s, according to an international research team. This was reported in the journal "Science Advances". So what's the deal with mercury? It's a potent neurotoxin that jeopardizes human health, often through fish consumption.
Come on, let's get all "Dr. Doolittle" on this and delve deeper into it. Mercury occurs naturally in the soil, but it's the erosion of this soil that transports the toxic metal into rivers. Previously, it was unclear exactly how much mercury made its way into global rivers. What we do know is that earlier studies mainly focused on mercury concentrations in the atmosphere, soil, and seawater, whereas rivers were left out from the equation.
In their study, the scientists based their model on both mercury erosion in the catchment area and the transport capacity of the rivers. This transport capacity is influenced by the flow and speed of waterways. To ensure their model was on the right track, the team compared their simulation results for 1850 with sediment deposit measurements from some rivers. Turns out, their simulated values were a tad lower than the measured concentrations, making their model a bit conservative when it comes to approximating the amount of mercury entering the oceans via rivers.
So how much mercury are we talking about? In the 1800s, around 390 tons of mercury entered the oceansvia rivers worldwide. Fast forward to today, and it's a whopping 1,000 tons of mercury annually! If you're thinking that's alarming, just wait, it gets worse.
The study found particularly strong increases in mercury levels in rivers across Southeast Asia, South Asia, North, and South America. For example, the mercury budget of the Amazon now exceeds 200 tons annually, with over 75% of it coming from human activities – mostly small-scale mining. Additionally, deforestation in the Amazon region has contributed to increased soil erosion, leading to higher mercury values in the Amazon River.
Intriguingly, there's also a glimmer of hope. Mercury input into the Mediterranean has decreased compared to the 1850s. This is believed to be due to dams in the Nile catchment area in North Africa, such as the Aswan Dam in Egypt, which hold back sediment transported by rivers.
So what's the takeaway here? Mercury, one of the most dangerous toxins out there, can harm the immune and reproductive systems, as well as the central nervous system. It's especially hazardous for unborn children. Pregnant women in some regions are even advised to avoid certain fish due to mercury contamination.
Our planet's rivers are the lifeblood of our ecosystems, so it's crucial that we address this issue and work towards reducing mercury releases. And that's a wrap for today's deep dive into the impact of human activities on our world's rivers! 🐠🌊🌍💧
- The community should be aware of the increase in toxic mercury flows into oceans, as this is a serious environmental issue that threatens human health, particularly through fish consumption.
- The rise of mercury in our rivers is a result of human activities and industrialization, with the level doubling from the 1850s to today, according to scientific research.
- Addressing the issue of mercury in our rivers requires a comprehensive approach, considering the impact on health-and-wellness, medical-conditions, and the environment, as well as addressing climate-change and implementing fisheries policies for the sustainable management of fishing activities.
