Mercury transformation processes in nature: Critical knowledge gaps and perspectives for moving forward

Zhiyuan Gao; Wang Zheng; Yanbin Li; Yurong Liu; Mengjie Wu; Shouying Li; Ping Li; Guangliang Liu; Xuewu Fu; Shuxiao Wang; Feiyue Wang; Yong Cai; Xinbin Feng; Baohua Gu; Huan Zhong; Yongguang Yin

doi:10.1016/j.jes.2022.07.013

Mercury transformation processes in nature: Critical knowledge gaps and perspectives for moving forward

J Environ Sci (China). 2022 Sep:119:152-165. doi: 10.1016/j.jes.2022.07.013. Epub 2022 Jul 20.

Authors

Zhiyuan Gao¹, Wang Zheng², Yanbin Li³, Yurong Liu⁴, Mengjie Wu⁵, Shouying Li⁵, Ping Li⁶, Guangliang Liu⁷, Xuewu Fu⁶, Shuxiao Wang⁸, Feiyue Wang¹, Yong Cai⁷, Xinbin Feng⁶, Baohua Gu⁹, Huan Zhong¹⁰, Yongguang Yin¹¹

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Earth Observation Science, and Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.
² Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300192, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
⁵ School of the Environment, Nanjing University, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Nanjing 210023, China.
⁶ State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China.
⁷ Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA.
⁸ School of Environment and State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
⁹ Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA.
¹⁰ School of the Environment, Nanjing University, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Nanjing 210023, China; Environmental and Life Sciences Program (EnLS), Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario K9L 0G2, Canada. Electronic address: zhonghuan@nju.edu.cn.
¹¹ Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China. Electronic address: ygyin@rcees.ac.cn.

PMID: 35934460
DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2022.07.013

Abstract

The transformation of mercury (Hg) in the environment plays a vital role in the cycling of Hg and its risk to the ecosystem and human health. Of particular importance are Hg oxidation/reduction and methylation/demethylation processes driven or mediated by the dynamics of light, microorganisms, and organic carbon, among others. Advances in understanding those Hg transformation processes determine our capacity of projecting and mitigating Hg risk. Here, we provide a critical analysis of major knowledge gaps in our understanding of Hg transformation in nature, with perspectives on approaches moving forward. Our analysis focuses on Hg transformation processes in the environment, as well as emerging methodology in exploring these processes. Future avenues for improving the understanding of Hg transformation processes to protect ecosystem and human health are also explored.

Keywords: Mercury; demethylation; isotope fractionation; methylation; oxidation; reduction.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Ecosystem
Humans
Mercury*
Methylation
Methylmercury Compounds*

Substances

Methylmercury Compounds
Mercury