During the last decade a new pattern of Hg pollution has been discerned, mostly in Scandinavia and North America. Fish from low productive lakes, even in remote areas, have been found to have a high Hg content. This pollution problem cannot be connected to single Hg discharges but is due to more widespread air pollution and long-range transport of pollutants. A large number of waters are affected and the problem is of a regional character. The national limits for Hg in fish are exceeded in a large number of lakes. In Sweden alone, it has been estimated that the total number of lakes exceeding the blacklisting limit of 1 mg Hg kg-1 in 1-kg pike is about 10 000.

Mercury in the Swedish environment — Recent research on causes, consequences and corrective methods

Trace metals in liver, skin and muscle of Lethrinus lentjan fish species in relation to body length and sex.

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASM) is a poverty-driven activity that provides an important source of livelihood for rural communities. The amount of mercury lost by 10 to 15 million small-scale gold miners can reach as much as 1,000 tonnes a year, potentially contaminating 100 million people worldwide. This document brings simple, replicable and sustainable techniques to be used by environmental and health agencies, mining-related institutions and researchers for monitoring mercury pollution. These are badly needed decision-making tools to support mitigation of a serious problem.

Protocols for Environmental and Health Assessment of Mercury Released by Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners

Potential Relation Between Mercury Concentrations and Necropsy Findings in Cetaceans from sGerman Waters of the North and Baltic Seas

Mercury concentrations in inland waters of gold-mining areas in Rondônia, Brazil.

Beginning with detection of elevated levels of mercury in largemouth bass in 1989 (FSU 1990; Ware et al. 1990), it has become increasingly apparent that the South Florida Ecosystem is extensively contaminated. In response to continuing accretion of reports of significant Hg contamination, the State of Florida has issued human health advisories that ban or restrict consumption of freshwater fishes from over 2 million acres of the Everglades and Big Cypress Swamp. Although Hg contamination has been detected at levels of concern in largemouth bass throughout the State (Lange et al. 1993), maximum concentrations found in Everglades largemouth bass (4.4 mg/kg) and bowfin (>7 mg/kg) are the highest Hg contaminant levels thus far reported from Florida waters. Mercury accumulation through the food chain may reduce the breeding success of wading birds (Frederick and Spalding 1994) and the viability of the endangered Florida panther (Roelke et al. 1991).

S. Mitra

Papers

Mercury in the Ecosystem