Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: To evaluate the path of anthropogenic mercury (Hg) from Asia to the Pacific Ocean, we report mercury stable isotopes in zooplankton from the East China Sea to the Bay of Bengal, and in the Philippine Sea and the Central Pacific. Here, we find that zooplankton mercury concentration decreases and δ202Hg and Δ199Hg increase with distances away from Asia, depicting anthropogenic mercury dilution. Anomalies of even mass-number isotopes (Δ200Hg), used to decipher between near-surface and tropospheric oxidation, suggest that 40–48% of anthropogenic Hg(0) is initially oxidized at the marine boundary layer or via terrestrial vegetation, and >50% of anthropogenic Hg(0) is circulated to the upper atmosphere for oxidation and removal to the Pacific. The fact that both near-surface and atmospheric Hg(0) oxidation supplies bioavailable Hg(II) strengthens the case for mitigating Hg(0) emissions. Recently reported climate-projected increase in riverine mercury fluxes may also benefit by reducing anthropogenic Hg(0) available for vegetative uptake.
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life below water
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,490
OpenAlex ID: W4413408234