Mercury concentrations in biota in the Mediterranean Sea, a compilation of 40 years of surveys

S Cinnirella,M Horvat,S Johnson,N Pirrone,E M Sunderland,I Živković,D E Bruno,D C Evers

doi:10.1038/s41597-019-0219-y

Abstract

The Mediterranean Region has a long lasting legacy of mercury mining activities and a high density of sub-marine volcanoes that has strongly contributed to its mercury budget. In the last forty years, there have been recorded increases in mercury concentrations in biota that have spurred a growing number of research activities to assess the impact of mercury pollution on human health and environment. Field investigations that quantify mercury concentrations in marine biota have led to a large amount of experimental data scattered in many peer-reviewed publications making it difficult for modelling applications and regional environmental assessments. This paper reviews existing peer-reviewed literature and datasets on mercury concentration in marine flora and fauna (Animal, Plants and Chromista Kingdoms) in the Mediterranean basin. A total of 24,465 records have been retrieved from 539 sources and included in Mercury in Mediterranean Biota (M2B). Well-defined specimens account for 24,407 observations, while a few records include generic plankton and unidentified fish species. Among all considered species, we selected Diplodus sargus, Sardina pilchardus, Thunnus thynnus and Xiphias gladius to show trends of mercury concentration against WHO and EU limits. Few notes on how M2B is intended to support the implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury by a user-driven Knowledge Hub are finally reported.

Highlights

Background & SummaryHarmful impacts of mercury on ecosystems and human health, including severe impacts on the central nervous system, were highlighted in Minamata Bay in 1953
By 1973, the 2nd Minamata Disease Research Group suggested that there might be chronic effects associated with mercury exposure through fish consumption[1]
This paper reports the methodology adopted to compile M2B and the advanced web services established to share information

Summary

Introduction

Background & SummaryHarmful impacts of mercury on ecosystems and human health, including severe impacts on the central nervous system, were highlighted in Minamata Bay in 1953.

Results

Conclusion