Article
Environmental Sciences
Celia Y. Chen, Kate L. Buckman, Amy Shaw, Amanda Curtis, Mariah Taylor, Mario Montesdeoca, Charles Driscoll
Summary: This study examines the interaction between nutrient loading and mercury in shallow coastal estuaries, finding that increased nutrient loading reduces the bioaccumulation of mercury in the food chain to some extent, but also results in greater bioaccumulation of mercury to fish.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Yongjie Wang, Zhigang Wang, Xiangmin Zheng, Limin Zhou
Summary: The study found that the invasion of Spartina alterniflora facilitates mercury storage in wetland sediments, affects sulfur cycling, but has similar effects on MeHg production compared to native plants in the Yangtze River estuarine wetlands.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Baolin Wang, Shunqing Zhong, Kevin Bishop, Mats B. Nilsson, Haiyan Hu, Karin Eklof, Andrea G. Bravo, Staffan Akerblom, Stefan Bertilsson, Erik Bjorn, Ulf Skyllberg
Summary: The availability of electron donors and acceptors in peatlands is closely related to the net formation of MeHg, with differences in younger peatlands potentially contributing to increased Hg(II) solubility and methylation. Understanding these processes can assist in mitigating aquatic MeHg biomagnification in peatland-dominated landscapes.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Eric Capo, Caiyan Feng, Andrea G. Bravo, Stefan Bertilsson, Anne L. Soerensen, Jarone Pinhassi, Moritz Buck, Camilla Karlsson, Jeffrey Hawkes, Erik Bjorn
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between hgc genes and MeHg in the redox-stratified water columns of the Baltic Sea. The findings showed that hgc transcript abundance and the concentration of dissolved Hg-II-sulfide species were strong predictors of Hg-II methylation rate and MeHg concentration. The study also highlighted the versatility of putative Hg-II methylators in the water column of the Baltic Sea through genome reconstruction.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaoyu Xu, Albert L. Bryan, Jasmine R. Parks, Kara N. Gibson
Summary: This study investigated the deposition and accumulation of mercury in a stream ecosystem. The results showed a correlation between labile mercury in porewater and bioaccumulative mercury in biota. The study found that surface sediment had higher mercury concentrations, and most of the sediment mercury existed in non-labile forms. Additionally, sulfate levels influenced mercury methylation and methyl-mercury production in the sediment. Methyl-mercury concentrations in the aquatic food web increased with trophic levels.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Geoffrey Millard, Chris S. Eckley, Todd P. Luxton, David Krabbenhoft, Jennifer Goetz, John McKernan, John DeWild
Summary: This study measured mercury methylation and demethylation rates using stable isotope tracers in sediments and water of a shallow branch of the Nacimiento Reservoir. The results showed high methylmercury concentrations in the hypolimnetic waters and higher methylation rates in littoral sediments during late summer. Modelled results indicated that the remaining hypolimnetic methylmercury could originate from profundal sediments, highlighting the importance of addressing methylation in both the water column and sediment for remediation strategies.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Byran C. Fuhrmann, Marc W. Beutel, Peggy A. O'Day, Christian Tran, Andrew Funk, Sarah Brower, Jeffery Pasek, Mark Seelos
Summary: This study investigated the seasonal patterns of MeHg cycling in a sulfate-rich, hypereutrophic reservoir using microcosm incubations. Results showed that aeration and SRB inhibitor decreased MeHg concentration, while methanogenic inhibitor increased MeHg concentration. The addition of organic carbon and microbial inhibitors also had significant impacts on MeHg concentration.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
R. P. Mason, M. Coulibaly, G. Hansen, H. Inman, P. K. Myer, K. M. Yao
Summary: Artisanal and small-scale gold mining, energy production, and other industrial inputs are a major source of anthropogenic mercury in aquatic environments. This study focuses on the understudied estuarine waters of Cote d'Ivoire and suggests that the local population may be exposed to unsafe levels of methylmercury through fish consumption. The findings highlight the importance of addressing local sources of mercury contamination and the transportation of mercury used in gold mining activities.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shuhan Xin, Bingbing Wang, Yin Yuan, Shiliang Wang
Summary: The study measured the content of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MMHg) in Nansi Lake and its inflow river estuaries, and investigated their spatial distribution characteristics and geochemical relationships with sediment mineral phases. The THg and MMHg contents in the lake sediment were lower than those in the inflow river estuary sediment, indicating that the inflow rivers are the primary source of THg and MMHg in Nansi Lake. The distribution of THg and MMHg showed different spatial variations in the sediment, and their relationships with sediment characteristics differed between the estuary and lake sediment.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chenghao Yu, Maodian Liu, Junming Guo, Huiming Lin, Yunyun Yan, Qianru Zhang, Menghan Cheng, Yifan Lu, Xuejun Sun, Xuejun Wang, Xiangliang Pan
Summary: The Yellow River, a high-sediment river, releases significant amounts of mercury and methylmercury into the Bohai Sea. Sediment regulation can increase mercury flux to the ocean, while water diversion has a minimal impact on mercury flux. This study highlights the importance of understanding mercury transport and its impacts on coastal ecosystems.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ying-Jie Li, Qi Lin, Zheng-Hua Zhang, Tai-Bao Wei, Bingbing Shi, Hong Yao, You-Ming Zhang
Summary: Numerous new methods have been developed for synthesizing novel nanomaterials with unique functions. One novel strategy involves forming fluorescent nanoparticles in situ, which can efficiently sense Hg2+ in living cells and separate Hg2+ from water.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ian N. Krout, Thomas Scrimale, Daria Vorojeikina, Eric S. Boyd, Matthew D. Rand
Summary: The organomercurial lyase enzyme MerB is capable of MeHg demethylation without subsequent reduction of Hg(II) by the mercuric reductase enzyme MerA. Demethylation of MeHg without Hg(II) reduction leads to increased cytotoxicity and cell lysis. Microbes carrying only MerB have been recently identified but not characterized. Our findings suggest that mer operons encoding MerB but not MerA put the cell at a disadvantage in the context of MeHg exposure, unless additional mechanisms of reduction or Hg(II) sequestration exist.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Michael S. Owens, Stephen P. Kelly, Thomas A. Frankovich, David T. Rudnick, James W. Fourqurean, Jeffrey C. Cornwell
Summary: The study estimated the net exchange of nitrogen and phosphorus species in estuarine lakes, revealing high efflux of NH4+ in dark conditions and significantly decreased efflux in light conditions. The presence of Chara hornemannii Wallman was found to have a large impact on NH4+ efflux, and it is expected that increased freshwater flow from the Everglades will influence NH4+ release in lakes.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Miyuki Iwai-Shimada, Yayoi Kobayashi, Tomohiko Isobe, Shoji E. Nakayama, Makiko Sekiyama, Yu Taniguchi, Shin Yamazaki, Takehiro Michikawa, Masako Oda, Hiroshi Mitsubuchi, Masafumi Sanefuji, Shouichi Ohga, Nathan Mise, Akihiko Ikegami, Reiko Suga, Masayuki Shimono
Summary: Prenatal exposure to methylmercury can impact child development. This study compared two high-throughput methods for mercury speciation and found relatively good agreement between them. MeHg and IHg concentrations were determined in maternal and cord blood samples, highlighting the importance of analyzing different chemical forms for health effects.
Article
Ecology
Laura Balzer, Carluvy Baptista-Salazar, Sofi Jonsson, Harald Biester
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between total mercury (THg) and monomethylmercury (MeHg) in sinking seston and chemical changes. The results showed that MeHg proportions were highest in oxygen super saturation at the water surface and at the oxic-suboxic redox boundary. The concentrations of MeHg and THg in seston were strongly influenced by the decomposition of algal biomass in shallow eutrophic lakes.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Haiyan Hu, Baolin Wang, Andrea G. Bravo, Erik Bjorn, Ulf Skyllberg, David Amouroux, Emmanuel Tessier, Jakob Zopfi, Xinbin Feng, Kevin Bishop, Mats B. Nilsson, Stefan Bertilsson
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Baolin Wang, Mats B. Nilsson, Karin Eklof, Haiyan Hu, Betty Ehnvall, Andrea G. Bravo, Shunqing Zhong, Staffan Akeblom, Erik Bjorn, Stefan Bertilsson, Ulf Skyllberg, Kevin Bishop
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Jeffra K. Schaefer, Rose-Marie Kronberg, Erik Bjorn, Ulf Skyllberg
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Staffan Akerblom, Mats B. Nilsson, Ulf Skyllberg, Erik Bjorn, Sofi Jonsson, Bo Ranneby, Kevin Bishop
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2020)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Johannes West, Andrew M. Graham, Van Liem-Nguyen, Sofi Jonsson
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Brittany Tarbier, Gustaf Hugelius, Anna Britta Kristina Sannel, Carluvy Baptista-Salazar, Sofi Jonsson
Summary: The study found that there is significantly greater net methylation of Hg in thermokarst wetlands compared to frozen conditions, which could exacerbate Hg pollution in the environment. Additionally, the reported ratio of HgT to soil organic carbon is valuable for future estimates of circumpolar HgT stocks.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Allauddin Kakar, Van Liem-Nguyen, Qaisar Mahmood, Sofi Jonsson
Summary: Elevated concentrations of total and methylated mercury were observed in the sediments of the Gadani Shipbreaking area compared to a reference area.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Peng Lian, Zhongyu Mou, Connor J. Cooper, Ryne C. Johnston, Scott C. Brooks, Baohua Gu, Niranjan Govind, Sofi Jonsson, Jerry M. Parks
Summary: The study demonstrates that reduced sulfur groups on sulfide mineral surfaces can facilitate the formation of dimethylmercury, allowing for a direct transfer of methyl groups. Coordination of mercury by multiple sulfur atoms stabilizes the transition state and activates the bond for methyl transfer. Additionally, solvation effects play a significant role in reducing the energetic barrier for dimethylmercury formation on the nanoparticle surface compared to the reaction in a vacuum.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY A
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Wei Zhu, Xuewu Fu, Hui Zhang, Chen Liu, Ulf Skyllberg, Jonas Sommar, Ben Yu, Xinbin Feng
Summary: This study reported the results of mercury isotope fractionation during atmosphere-surface exchange, revealing differences in Hg(0) emission from soils affected by background and mercury mining pollution. The emission of Hg(0) from soils is influenced by ambient Hg(0) concentration, and stable Hg isotopes can be used to understand the atmosphere-surface exchange processes.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sofi Jonsson, Van Liem-Nguyen, Agneta Andersson, Ulf Skyllberg, Mats B. Nilsson, Erik Lundberg, Erik Bjorn
Summary: This study investigates the bioaccumulation of mercury in different groups of benthic invertebrates and identifies the factors that control mercury accumulation, including the localization and chemical speciation of mercury in the sediment and the diet composition of the invertebrates.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Antti Piironen, Anthony D. Fox, Hakon Kampe-Persson, Ulf Skyllberg, Ole Roland Therkildsen, Toni Laaksonen
Summary: Migratory connectivity is a metric that measures the co-occurrence of migratory animals from different breeding sites, and it can vary throughout the annual cycle. Tracking taiga bean geese, the study found that connectivity can vary at different times during the nonbreeding period, and total counts might underestimate the population size.
POPULATION ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mareike Gutensohn, Jeffra K. Schaefer, Elena Yunda, Ulf Skyllberg, Erik Bjorn
Summary: In this study, the researchers investigated the combined effects of chemical speciation of divalent, inorganic mercury and cell physiology on microbial formation of methylmercury. They found that low-molecular-mass thiols played a crucial role in enhancing MeHg formation by altering the partitioning and speciation of Hg(II). However, the conversion of cysteine to penicillamine by cells may suppress MeHg formation in cysteine-rich environments like biofilms.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emily Seelen, Van Liem-Nguyen, Urban Wunsch, Zofia Baumann, Robert Mason, Ulf Skyllberg, Erik Bjorn
Summary: This study demonstrates that the concentration of thiol compounds associated with dissolved organic matter controls the bioavailability of methylmercury in aquatic systems.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Carluvy Baptista-Salazar, Gabrielle R. Quadra, Anna Sobek, Sofi Jonsson
Summary: Thousands of dams are currently under construction or planned worldwide to meet the growing need for electricity. However, the creation of reservoirs may lead to the accumulation of mercury in sediments and the production of methylmercury. The study found that reservoir size is an important parameter determining the concentration of THg accumulating in tropical reservoir sediments.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-PROCESSES & IMPACTS
(2021)