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Artificial lake expansion amplifies mercury pollution from gold mining
Jacqueline R Gerson1, Simon N Topp2, Claudia M Vega3,4
1Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA. jgerson1@gmail.com sntopp@live.unc.edu.
Science Advances
|November 28, 2020
Summary
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) dramatically increases mercury pollution. New research shows ASGM-altered landscapes create more lakes, which convert mercury into toxic methylmercury faster than rivers, raising exposure risks.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Geochemistry
- Ecotoxicology
Background:
- Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the primary global source of mercury emissions.
- The transformation of mercury into methylmercury in ASGM-affected environments is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate methylmercury production in ASGM-altered landscapes.
- To assess the role of landscape changes, specifically increased lake area, in mercury bioavailability.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of ASGM-impacted river basins in Peru.
- Quantification of changes in lake area from 1985 to 2018.
- Comparison of mercury to methylmercury conversion rates in lakes versus rivers.
Main Results:
- Lake area in heavily mined Peruvian watersheds expanded by 670% (1985-2018).
- Lakes exhibited methylmercury net conversion rates 5-7 times higher than rivers.
- Increased lake area in other ASGM hotspots indicates a broader trend.
Conclusions:
- Synergistic increases in lake area and mercury loading from ASGM significantly elevate methylmercury exposure risks for ecosystems and humans.
- Hydroscape alteration, particularly lake expansion, is a critical, underrecognized factor in ASGM-related mercury risks.
