Mercury biogeochemistry over the Tibetan Plateau: An overview. Issue 6 (19th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sun, Ruiyang; Sun, Guangyi; Kwon, Sae Yun; Feng, Xinbin; Kang, Shichang; Zhang, Qianggong; Huang, Jie; Yin, Runsheng
• Is Part Of: Critical reviews in environmental science and technology. Volume 51:Issue 6(2021)
• Page Start: 577
• Page End: 602
• Publication Date: 2021-03-19
• Subjects: Mercury -- Tibetan Plateau -- transboundary pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Nature -- Effect of human beings on -- Periodicals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1080/10643389.2020.1733894
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1064-3389

Abstract

Abstract: Since the beginning of the 21st century, our knowledge of the sources and fate of Hg over the Tibetan Plateau (TP), the "Roof of the World, " has been greatly enhanced with growing literature. Here, we reviewed the available literature to obtain a comprehensive understanding of Hg biogeochemistry over the TP. The biogeochemical Hg cycling is characterized by the following features: (1) There are existing but limited local emission sources of anthropogenic Hg in the TP. The Indian Summer Monsoon is an important transporter of atmospheric Hg pollution into the inland TP; (2) "Cold trapping effect" plays an important role in the atmospheric Hg deposition over the TP. Glacier, vegetation, and soil act as important "sinks" of atmospheric Hg pollution; (3) Enhanced anthropogenic activities around the TP, climate warming and glacier melting have the potential impacts to affect the behavior and distribution of Hg; (4) Significant bioaccumulation of MeHg (>100 ng/g) has been found in the Tibetan aquatic food chains. Considering that transboundary transport is responsible for the widespread Hg pollution in the TP, international/regional collaborations regarding Hg emission regulations are needed to reduce the migration of Hg and to mitigate adverse Hg pollution impacts on the TP.