Cycling of mercury in the environment: Sources, fate, and human health implications: A review

Mercury (Hg) is ubiquitary, naturally enriched in volcanic regions, and has wide applications in science, industry, and agriculture. Recently, the increasing awareness of Hg toxicity has led to the replacement of Hg in many areas; however, anthropogenic activities such as coal burning and smelting of metal ores continue to release large amounts of Hg into the environment. In particular, the atmospheric distribution of the highly volatile Hg around the globe can result in the pollution of pristine regions without local emission sources. The chemical speciation of Hg determines its mobility and toxicity; in flooded soils and sediments, microbial methylation can occur. Bioaccumulative (mono)methylmercury (MeHg;…